Homily (Reflection) for Fourth Sunday of Easter,
Year C (17th April, 2016) on the Gospel
Acts 13:14.43-52;
Ps 99:1-3.5. (R.v. 3);Rev 7:9.14-17;
Jn 10:27-30.
A string ensemble was rehearsing for their concert at a
downtown church. The evening’s programme included a wonderful piece for the
oboe. The oboist was exceptionally talented, but for some reason, the music
sounded terrible.
The leader of the ensemble insisted that the oboe was out of
tune, so the oboist adjusted the reed of her instrument to bring it in tune
with the other instruments. But the music continued to sound distorted and out
of key. The other musicians were becoming increasingly critical and impatient.
After several attempts, the leader proposed that the oboe part be dropped from
the piece.
An elderly gentleman was sitting in the church during the
ensemble’s rehearsal. He quietly went to the leader during a break in their
practice and said, “Please forgive my intruding, but don’t orchestras tune
their instruments to the oboe?” The members of the ensemble were dumbfounded.
They had overlooked a basic performance principle: an oboe sounds the proper
pitch – it was the other instruments, tuned to one another, that were out of
tune. When the other musicians tuned their instruments to the oboe, the music
began to sound like music again.[1]
Topic: Christ and His flock.
The flock of Christ is the one He
died for, cf. Jn 10:15. And we know
that He died for us, Rom 5:8; 1Cor 15:3; 1Thess 5:10. He came that we
may have life, and have it abundantly, cf. Jn
10:10. In the Old Testament, the Psalmist warns, “Know that the LORD is
God! It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of
his pasture” (Ps 100:3; cf. Ps 74:1).
And God also spoke through the prophet Ezekiel, “And you are my sheep, the
sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, says the Lord GOD” (Ezek 34:31; cf. Jer 23:1).
Today’s
gospel forms part of Jesus’ response to the Jews who came to Him and asked:
“How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us
plainly” (Jn 10:24). And in today’s
gospel Jesus said to them: “My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they
follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.”
It might be difficult to see anyone who will admit that he/she is not
Christ’s sheep. In Christ’s response to the Jews we see listening to His voice
and following Him as distinguishing characteristics of Christ’s sheep. Based on
these, we ask: ‘How many listen to Christ’s voice toady?’ Again, ‘Do we really follow
Christ?’
And just like the musicians in our introductory part who expected
the oboe to be tuned to other instruments, to worsen the situation we want
Christ to listen to us and to follow us. It never worked for the ensemble
because other instruments are to be tuned to the oboe. Similarly, we are to
listen to Christ and to follow Him and not the reverse. And until we do our
part, the harmony that ought to exist between Christ, the good Shepherd and His
sheep will continue to elude us. A sheep can never be the shepherd of its
shepherd, cf. Matt 10:24.
Again, a shepherd in Scotland when asked if his sheep would
follow the voice of a stranger replied: “Yes, when they are sick; but never
when they are well. A sick sheep will follow anybody.”[2]
In the same way, Christ’s sheep must follow the voice of Christ the good
Shepherd. Irrespective of how others appear and/or speak, they come only to
steal and kill and destroy, cf. Jn
10:10a.
Bible Reading: Jn 15:1-17; Eph 1:17-23; Col 1:15-23.
Thought for today:
Christ is the head of the Church.
Let us pray: Christ the good Shepherd, assist us
to listen to you and to follow you alone – Amen.
Sharing is caring. You are very free to share our daily reflections with your friends and
loved ones. They need them.
For
more homilies (reflections):
Visit our website: www.thepulpitonline.com
Send us Email: thepulpitonline@gmail.com
To
Contact and/or to support this ministry:
Tel: +234 813 305 0302
+234 905 655 4466
Email: thepulpitonline@gmail.com
Post a Comment
Great indeed! Our world today needs to attune to the voice of the Lord so as to have a peaceful world and fulfiment.
Post a Comment