Dear parishioner,
On this Fourth Sunday of Easter, Good Shepherd Sunday, the Gospel invites us to dwell again on one of the most reassuring images Jesus gives us; that of the shepherd and his sheep. Yet in this passage Jesus speaks not only as the shepherd, but also as the doorway, the one through whom the sheep enter into safety, freedom, and life.
This might seem an unusual image at first. We are perhaps more familiar with Jesus as the one who leads, protects, and searches for the lost. But here, He tells us something even more fundamental; He is the way in. “I am the door” He says, “If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture”. In other words, Jesus is not only our guide, He is our access to life itself.
There is a quiet but powerful promise in these words. To be “saved” does not mean a life without difficulty or challenge, but rather a life held securely in God’s love. To “go in and out” suggests a relationship of trust, not fear, a life where we are not confined, but truly alive. And to “find pasture” speaks of nourishment, rest, and the deep satisfaction that only God can give.
Jesus contrasts this with the voices that do not come from Him, voices that confuse, distract, or even harm. In every age, including our own, there are many such voices competing for our attention. Some promise happiness but leave us empty; others appeal to our fears or anxieties. The challenge for us is to recognise the voice of the Good Shepherd which is a voice that is never harsh or coercive, but always calls us by name, leading us gently towards what is good and true.
Perhaps this Sunday offers us an opportunity to pause and listen more carefully? How do we hear the voice of Christ in our daily lives? Often it comes quietly in prayer, in Scripture, in the wisdom of the Church, or even in the kindness and example of others. It may not always be the loudest voice, but it is the one that brings peace.
Jesus also tells us why He has come: “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” This is not a distant or abstract promise. It is for here and now. The fullness of life Jesus offers is not measured by success or comfort, but by love, a life rooted in God, open to others, and shaped by compassion, generosity, and hope.
As we continue through this Easter season, we are reminded that the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for us is now risen and alive. He continues to lead His flock, calling each one of us into a deeper relationship with Him.
May we learn to recognise His voice more clearly. And may we have the courage to follow where He leads, confident that in Him we will always find safety, freedom, and life in abundance.
Yours in Christ,
Deacon Ian
