4th Sunday of Easter, Year A

13th April, 2008      4th Sunday of Easter, Year A

 

I have to smile at a rather amusing, but all-too-true Latin proverb that goes something like this: 

 

“It is the role of a good shepherd to shear their flock, not to fleece them!!” (Latin proverb, adapted).

 

We hear all too many examples of examples of poor leadership…. where people in positions of influence seem to be ‘in it for their own personal gain or prestige’ and do not seem to have the best interests of the people they are called to serve…..   History is littered with more examples of bad leadership than good…..    

 

surely, most Good leaders are not born that way, but rather, they are formed that way………// True, they may have some unique and priceless personal qualities that are inherent in their personality….  but even so, these qualities are honed to good, or to ill, by attitudes and values learnt from people of wisdom and goodwill….

 

Responsible, servant-leaders are formed, By God’s grace, (mediated in and through the community), by the wisdom of family, friends, school, parish, and other positive influences and the wider community.  the ways of ensuring good leadership, whether it be in the church, civic society, or in the workplace and clubs and homes…. is to foster the values and attitudes that produce good leadership, and it takes a whole community to do that, (and all that work is fruitless if not for God’s grace enlivening our humble work, with effectiveness, direction and vision).

 

to paraphrase another saying…..   “show me where your treasure lies and I will show you what kind of person you are”….  the things that are considered the most valuable possessions in any community, will strongly influence the kind of values and priorities that the same community fosters…..    and one would have to say that possessions and money do seem to factor big-time in the eyes of many people in our modern world…..  

 

in these times of tightening belts and rising costs and interest rates….   people are having to make really tough decisions about just what IS necessary and what is not… in order to make ends meet…..//    certainly, there are two alternative ways of having a sense of financial well-being..... one is the standard wisdom of the world:  get more and more money…to be able to have the things we want .…//. the alternative……is the way of the ‘road less travelled, and requires a whole transformation of mindset… and it is far less easy……. and that is “having more by wanting less”…… // (as the charity saying goes:  live simply so that others may simply live)….// we live in a world which “amplifies desire”….    that is geared to advertising to increase people’s sense of need for ‘things’ // We have industries geared to sell to us a sense of NEED for possessions/….and so the sense of urgency  to get these so-called ‘necessary things.’   Oh, to be free enough to want less of the extras in life… and need less…..    but the million dollar question is, what are the things we really need…that is not an easy answer… we know that we need healthy food, adequate shelter, education, health…..peace, family goodwill……  //   but there are other things that may very well  increase our sense of wellbeing and happiness….       //   again …   too many examples in our media remind us that a lot of leaders seem to be urging us to tighten our belt whilst being seen to be ensuring that their own needs are happily satisfied first…..    

 

in actual fact ….  the highest possession we can attain in this life, is to have and to give  unconditional love……    and to have life and life to the full……  but many would say….no… the best news you could give me tonight is not ‘love unconditionally….”  but that ‘you just won 19 million in gold lotto.”        but a world where people experience and give unconditional love and care to each other…  now:  wouldn’t THAT be NICE!” 

 

 

Jesus gives an example of himself as a good shepherd, the perfect leader……   he puts his people first…. he knows them each personally…..  and he is not in it for himself…. he gives himself fully for us…..    what a superb example and model for leadership/../….    he uses the image of the ‘shepherd BEING the gate….. they would lie across the opening of the sheepfold and their body would act as a human gate…..    nothing could pass by without disturbing the shepherd…. who would risk life and limb to protect his sheep……     the true leader puts themselves on the line…. their body on the line….  

 

It is interesting that in the gospel today, it says “the sheep know their master’s voice and will not follow a stranger…”  that would follow a stranger?    but here is the modern problem.,…..   with internet, so many different types of media and communication, advertising, and so many competing values in the world…. all telling us… ‘pick me, pick me…”  I am GOOD for you… you need this…..   this is healthy……   

 

I think it is true to say…..   we are being bombarded with false shepherds….  assailed with voices claiming to be our friends….  to be the voice of our master… and so… we are tempted to follow those voices out into the wilderness………    we need to be alert to the fact that we need to really, really discern and learn to distinguish the voice of our lord, from the voice of fakes……    it is not easy… but more necessary than ever………   we too need to reflect on the values of Jesus in the gospels, the wisdom of trusted family and friends… and the tradition of the church to help us recognize the true voice of the good shepherd… and the big test of authenticity is this… the real shepherd is not acting to feather their own nest… but acts in the best interest of the other….    willing to give up things for others…not take advantage… and that is a dead give away for the fake shepherds….. There is often something in it for them at a very clear point….

 

Maybe, in church life, civic life and community work…. etc.. this should be the help wanted sign put out: “Help Wanted: One Shepherd – dangerous occupation. No personal gain, concern only for others, no wages, willing to sacrifice for others… willing to risk life…”   I wonder how many takers we would get?  

 

(From Paul Kelly, some thoughts taken from: Celebrating the Gospels, by Gaynell Cronin, also Preaching the Word resource).