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The 3^rd Sunday of Easter, also known as Good Shepherd Sunday, emphasizes the call to serve and shepherd God’s flock. The gospel reading focuses on Jesus’ restoration of Peter and his subsequent mission to tend to the sheep. This Sunday encourages reflection on how we, too, are called to be shepherds of God’s people, offering love, care, and the word of life, just as Jesus does. By serving others, we tend and feed as Jesus instructed Peter.

 I found an interesting fact: the number 153 of fish caught in this Sunday’s gospel scene was a symbolic number because 153 were the number of nations known at the time of Jesus, as well as the number of known species of fish. Jesus was basically indicating through the unbroken nets of 153 large fish that Peter and the others would catch every type of man and woman in every nation on earth. Maybe we should be reminded by this that Jesus wanted ALL people to be cared for and tended to. Ignoring the poor, the homeless, downgrading people of different nationalities in our communities, criticizing people who choose to live by the feelings they have re their sexual identity is not what He wants us to do. We are to be kind, tolerant and non-judgemental of all Jesus’ people while trying to help as much as we can.

Each moment of the day we make a choice: between people and things. Things, of course, are usually easier to deal with. “Things” don’t require emotional engagement. When it comes to “things” we can disengage anytime, walk away, have a cup of coffee, even forget them entirely. It’s a different story when it comes to “people”. Engaging with people usually takes more time that we anticipate. We have to slow down, or speed up, to meet their pace. We have to listen and be willing to be present for their needs. People require our patience, our tenderness and our compassion. As Jesus pointed out – we must feed His lambs, tend and feed His sheep. Why? Because there’s a big wide world out there in desperate need of rescue. People around us are falling apart every day for want of a word of hope, consolation and mercy. We can use a rescue – one precious person at a time.

Distressingly, lately, we are witnessing that the people with power in our lives, leaders of countries, say, do they not sometimes behave as if they were God? There are some that believe that they have the power and that we must give way to them, to worship them if you will and so obey, unquestionably, their rules, their agendas. But Peter is reminding us that the duty of all is to honour Jesus by using our power to heal and build up, to forgive and to serve . We can live our faith with simplicity in everyday family relationships, work relationships, friendship. We can find ways to help those in need, the poor, the disenfranchised and truly ” feed my lambs, look after my sheep”.

Peter became the Church’s first Pope. Ironically, we have just lost our Pope – Pope Francis – a man dedicated to the principles of the Good Shepherd. Pope Francis did not use his power and influence to ‘control’ others. Instead he sought to guide others to recognize we must tend to those who are in need of our love and compassion: the poor, the marginalized. An example of this occurred in July 2013. In response to a reporter’s question He stated: ” If a person is gay and seeks God and has goodwill, who am I to judge?” Pope Francis encourages us to tend also to our own families, friends, community members by showing we care and want to help in any way we can. Pope Francis is recognized world wide as witnessed by the accolades that have been pouring in from all corners of the world. In his humble way he epitomized what we needed for a role model – a true leader who tended to his flock so completely, so lovingly. One of the comments said ” … will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions around the world. For those suffering he ignited a spirit of hope.”

I’ll end this reflection with this thought: I wish I could be a little mouse in the corner of heaven to overhear the conversation between Jesus and Pope Francis. Jesus would be bursting with pride, saying ” Jorge Mario Bergoglio, you have tended my lambs, looked after my sheep as I have asked you to. It’s time to rest with me!”

~Cathy  Keirstead