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On the second Sunday of the liturgical calendar year, the church is celebrating the Feast of the Dedication of the Church, known as Hoodhosh Eetho. The Gospel reading appointed for the day is from the Gospel according to Saint John, chapter 10, verses 22 to 39. The passage begins with Jesus Christ present in the temple during the Feast of the Dedication. This Jewish festival was also referred to as the Festival of Lights, or Hanukkah. It commemorates the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem after it had been desecrated by King Antiochus IV Epiphanes in 167 BC.
During this festival, all the former leaders of Israel are commemorated, many of whom were themselves shepherds. This gospel passage therefore has a strong contextual connection with the feast of dedication, as Jesus Christ is presented as the True Shepherd. The entirety of chapter 10 of Saint John specifically speaks about Jesus Christ, the True Shepherd, and His relationship with His sheep. This particular gospel portion provides a clear understanding that there are sheep who follow the True Shepherd, Jesus Christ, and there are sheep who do not follow Him.
We Christians claim that we are the type of sheep who follow Jesus. However, before that, let us evaluate ourselves by examining the true characteristics of the sheep who follow Jesus, as mentioned in this Gospel passage.
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The sheep believe the true Shepherd. Believing is more than simply agreeing in our minds that something might be true; believing in God means a commitment to God and living our lives in the way He wants us to live. As a sheep, are we living the faithful life that demands true commitment?
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The sheep hear the voice of the true Shepherd. This is very important in today's context, as the faithful often hear many other voices and get attracted or distracted by them. Hearing the voice of the Shepherd demands more attention; according to the Church, meditation is one of the best ways to listen to God.
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The sheep always follow the true Shepherd. Sheep are very social and will follow the flock no matter where it takes them. The danger in that is they can lose the path and might end up in the hands of wolves. Only the true Shepherd can lead the sheep to the quiet waters, so following the true Shepherd provides the safety and security of reaching the destination.
This gospel passage also tells us what the shepherd does for his sheep. The benefits of following this true shepherd are:
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Eternal Fellowship: Followers will enjoy the everlasting companionship and fellowship of angels and saints in eternity.
Preservation: The sheep shall never perish. All of the Lord's sheep will be preserved. While they may be tried, troubled, or broken down to the point of being barely able to carry on, they will, under no circumstances, ever perish.
Security: No one will be able to snatch the sheep away from the shepherd. Here we see the security we enjoy is entirely in God's hands. We are His possession; He clutches us as a person holds something and claims it as their own.
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Dearly beloved, the Good Shepherd requires a response from us: to believe and to follow. It necessitates the use of our free will to participate in the will of God. This relationship is neither forced nor automatic. Thus, it implies that we can also be like some of the Jews who, despite Jesus speaking directly to them, still did not believe. My brothers and sisters, do we hear the voice of the Good Shepherd? Do we recognize His voice? Do we trust Him and obediently follow Him?
If we do so, we will attain eternal life, and the purpose of His incarnation will be fulfilled. On this Feast of Dedication, let us rededicate our lives to our Lord, the Good Shepherd, through a sacramental life. May we all be united with the Good Shepherd and become one flock, which is the Church.
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