May 10, 2022
Paulist Fr. Rich Andre preached this homily on the Fourth Sunday of Easter (Year C) on May 8, 2022, at St. Austin Catholic Parish in Austin, TX. The homily is based on the day’s readings: Acts 13:14, 43-52; Psalm 100; Revelation 7:9, 14b-17; and John 10:27-30.
The Fourth Sunday of Easter is called “Good Shepherd Sunday.” However, this year, we’re not going to hear the more typical Scripture passages about sheep and shepherds. Fore example, listen to two paradoxes in our familiar second reading from the Book of Revelation: (1) we will be shepherded by a Lamb, and (2) the robes are made white by washing them in the blood of the Lamb.
But our main focus today will be on Jesus’ declaration that his sheep hear his voice. Let us pray that we may remain attentive to Jesus’ voice throughout our lives.
Revelation also says that God will wipe the tears away from those who have been led to the life-giving water. Let us rejoice in God’s love and mercy as we are sprinkled with life-giving water.
When my parents got married, they agreed that any girls they had would be raised Catholic like my mother, and any boys would be raised in my father’s faith tradition… the Hungarian Reformed Church. (It’s very similar to being Presbyterian.) But when I was four years old and my father had not taken any significant steps to have me raised in his faith tradition, my mother started taking me to church with my sister.
So, unlike most Catholics, I remember the first Mass that I ever attended. It was at my mother’s home parish on a Saturday night, and the priest was the incredibly dynamic and creative Fr. John Marcucci. He has greatly influenced my concept of priesthood. As I say, I would have been a great priest in 1978!
As a child, I had only one opportunity to speak with Fr. John at any length. When my great-uncle died in 1982, Fr. John talked with my sister and me at the funeral home. Fr. John soon moved on to his next assignment, but his homilies stuck with me. In fact, you’d be surprised how often my homilies are based on something he preached more than 40 years ago. One time, for example, when preaching on the nature of the Trinity, Fr. John apologized that the first part of his homily would be rather academic, so he brought an alarm clock for anyone who wanted to doze through the first part of the homily. I’m going to try to do the same thing right now. [Pull out phone.] I’ll wake you up when we’re done with the heavy theology, so you can listen to the more practical part at the end.
Today’s little gospel passage is not from Jesus’ extended discourse about sheep and shepherds, when Jesus declared “I am the gate” and “I am the good shepherd” two times each. Today’s passage comes later in the chapter, after a change of time and place. It is now winter, during the feast of Hanukkah, and Jesus is teaching in the Temple. The people challenge Jesus, saying, “If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” Jesus responds, “I told you and you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me. But you do not believe.” Then, he leads into the passage we heard today.
To say that the people are not happy with this response is an understatement. They pick up stones to try to kill him. Why? Because they misunderstand what he means by saying, “The Father and I are one.” They think he is saying the equivalent of “I am the Father,” and that would be heresy to Jews and Christians alike!
When we hear Jesus say “The Father and I are one,” we probably misunderstand it, too. We think of the Trinitarian nature of God, codified by the theological debates of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th centuries. In the old translation of the Nicene Creed, we described Christ as “one in being with the Father.” Today’s translation says “consubstantial with the Father” – Christ is made of the same stuff as the Father.
But scripture scholars agree: when Jesus says “The Father and I are one,” he is not talking about being consubstantial or “one in being” with the Father. Jesus is declaring his unique relationship with the Father. People ask him if he is the Messiah, God’s anointed one. He is. He is the one sent by the Father. He knows the Father better than anyone else has ever known the Father. His purpose is perfectly aligned with the will of the Father. Just as “the sheep” can never be taken out of the Father’s hand, “the sheep” likewise cannot be taken out of Jesus’ hand.
[Activate the alarm on my phone.] OK! We’re moving into the practical application part of the homily, so it’s time to wake up!
Jesus also says today, “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” Think about the first person to see the resurrected Jesus: Mary Magdalene. She doesn’t recognize Jesus until he calls her name. But what does it mean for us to hear Jesus’ voice today?
In May of 2001, I experienced a jolt: I suddenly wanted to consider the Catholic priesthood. I was confused. What, or who, was inviting me? Was this the voice of God? I needed help figuring it out. I contacted the vocation office of the Diocese of Pittsburgh and met with the vocation director. He encouraged me to come to some events at the seminary that fall. He took down my contact information and promised to send me information.
But something – or, more likely, someone – prompted me to look up Fr. Marcucci, too. I hadn’t seen him in decades. It turned out that he was now the pastor of a parish close to where I was living. Fr. John was just as dynamic and creative as ever, although his jet black hair was now white. I re-introduced myself to him, and he invited me to come see him.
It was kind of strange, having a conversation as an adult with someone I hadn’t seen since he had been a “rock star” in my life as a child. But over the course of the intervening 19 years, no one had removed me from God’s hand. John was great, helping me to realize that perhaps I had indeed heard God’s voice. And thank goodness… because it turns out the vocation director had the wrong e-mail address and phone number for me. Without Fr. John Marcucci, I’m not sure how the discernment process would have played out!
Mary Magdalene needed help in recognizing the voice of Jesus. So do each of us. We need others we know to speak to us – so perhaps the Holy Spirit can enable us to recognize the voice of Jesus through them. Here’s another wild and crazy idea: we may feel as if we cannot hear God’s voice, but other people may recognize God’s voice when we speak to them! How is that possible? We are certainly not consubstantial with the Father or one in being with the Father. But through the Holy Spirit, we strive to be “one” with the Father. We need to endeavor to align our desires… with God’s desires for us. Perhaps St. Oscar Romero said it best: “Each one of you has to be God’s microphone. Each one of you has to be a messenger, a prophet.”
And then, when we speak – whether it’s a whisper or a joyful noise – perhaps others will hear the voice of the Good Shepherd through us!