From the Luke’s Emmaus Story (the 3rd Sunday of Easter Year A) to John’s Good Shepherd Story (Good Shepherd Sunday Year A) - Jesus “Shepherds” the spiritually ignorant into enlightenment without necessarily making himself look like leading the way.

In the Good Shepherd Sunday’s Gospel story of Year A (John 10:1-10), Jesus describes himself as the Good Shepherd and the sheep gate. And, we are his sheep, listening to his voice and following him.

There is an interesting change of perspective in terms of Jesus’ position to us, compared to the 3^rd Sunday Gospel story (Luke 24:13-35).

In this Gospel story from Luke, Jesus was accompanying Cleopas and the other disciple, not necessarily leading their way. Jesus was neither ahead of them, not behind them. In fact, at first, Jesus appeared to be an ignorant person, who did not know anything about what happened to Jesus in Jerusalem, his death and the resurrection.  In this first part of the story, Jesus looks behind the two disciples in terms of a popular current affairs topic, compared to them.  Cleopas and the other disciple were leading the conversation, while Jesus simply followed in their verbal exchange.

However, this mode changes completely, upon Jesus frankly pointed their ignorance about the meaning of the fact they knew. He said how foolish they were and slow of heart to understand, as they still did not understand why what they knew about Jesus had to happen.  Jesus showed a bit of his frustration over their prolonging ignorance – even though he was already risen from the dead, fulfilling the scriptural prophecy, which he had taught.  Upon this point (Luke 24: 25), Jesus led the two disciples all the way to Emmaus, leading the conversation, while he was still walking with them in the same position – neither ahead of nor behind them.  In this latter part of the 3^rd Sunday Gospel story, Jesus was leading the two disciples’ spiritual path, while physically remaining on the same level as they were, as he continued walk with them. 

As Jesus turned out to be the leading person in the latter part of the 3^rd Sunday Gospel, it makes a smooth thematic transition to the focus of the 4^th Sunday – Good Shepherd Sunday – Gospel story.

The way Jesus shepherds us is rather spiritual than physical.  That is why Jesus, who has not been physically present ever since the Ascension (Luke 24:50-53) , after 40 days from the Resurrection, can still shepherd us, and we can listen to his voice in following him, because he continues to be with us through the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete (John 14: 15-31; 15:26),  upon the Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13).  Our Good Shepherd is, after all, the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, which means “advocate”.  It also teaches us (John 14:26). Thus, we listen to our Good Shepherd’s voice through the Holy Spirit – until Jesus’ return, the Parousia, (Revelation 19:11-21). 

Though Christian know that it is indispensable to follow the Good Shepherd for salvation, in reality, it is not easy to do so. Though everyone wants salvation, many fail to listen to and follow the Good Shepherd. That is why many people today feel “lost”.  

This is a phenomenon of a loss of meaning in life.  And, it can lead to suicide through depression and despair. 

But, for those who turn to the Good Shepherd, there is always a new fresh hope, which enables us to rekindle not only our hearts but also reactivate our innate resilience.  

Not to mention, as indicated in Matthew 15, the Good Shepherd in the Paraclete, will find us even we get “lost”, because it is his expressed desire, especially in his message of the Divine Mercy to St. Faustina, that he wants us to be saved.  

And, Mary, the Theotokos, will help us find the voice of our Good Shepherd, when we get “lost”, as she helped wedding reception server in trouble (John 2:15).

Jesus, the Christ, the Good Shepherd, sure can lead us, even though he does not physically appear leading - even though he is not physically present at all, because it is the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, in which Jesus is currently present with us and shepherding us. His mother, Mary, is also with us to help us, especially when we get "lost", so that we can find his voice, again.

There is a default system in our Good Shepherd’s care.  Thanks be to God! Praise the Lord! Alleluia!