April 26, 2015
4th Sunday of Easter
Research confirms what many already know: human beings have a special bond with dogs. A study published in “Science†magazine shows an increase of a particular hormone – oxytocin – in both human beings and dogs when they stare at each other. This hormone is associated with intimacy, bonding and attachment. Along the path of domestication, dogs learned to evoke the same love that parents feel for their children. The analogy of God caring for the Jewish people like a shepherd guarding the sheep is found both poetically in Psalm 23 and in prophesy of Ezekiel. Jesus himself assumes the office of Good Shepherd. The special bond between shepherd and sheep is not so much created through the sense of seeing (like humans and dogs staring) but through the senses of voice and hearing. The Good Shepherd calls the sheep by name and the sheep recognize the voice of the shepherd. Jesus also speaks of the Good Shepherd risking his life to protect the flock from harm. Although many of us are not familiar with a rural setting where the economy is dependent on the meat, wool and lanolin of the sheep, we can readily imagine Jesus as the Good Shepherd. In our Catholic Christian tradition, a youthful, beardless shepherd carrying a lamb on his shoulders is the first depiction of Jesus in art. Today we pray for the grace to listen attentively to the voice of Jesus in the Gospels and to the gentle whispering sound of God’s voice in our hearts. We pray for a consciousness of Jesus close to us in time of need. Jesus as Good Shepherd sets an example for those people who care for others at risk of their own safety far away like “Doctors and Nurses without Borders,†and close to home like EMTs, police and fire personnel. Do we ever thank them for the selfless service they provide?
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3rd Sunday of Easter
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5th Sunday of Easter
