Good Shepherd –Divine Mercy Challenge before Pentecost: Can We Also Lay Down Our Own Lives to Be One with Christ?

In the Gospel reading for Good Shepherd Sunday (4^th Sunday of Paschaltide) on Cycle B, John 10:11-18, Jesus identifies himself as the Good Shepherd, who lays down his own life for his sheep to save them from any harms (v.11). Theologically, this reminds us that Jesus is Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi (John 1:29), as the salvific Zebah Pesach (Exodus 12:1-12).

 

As our Good Shepherd laid down his own life on the Cross, his blood and water gushed out (John 19:34) as a fount of the Divine Mercy for us to trust in Jesus (Diary of St. Faustina, 84), reflected by the red ray and blue ray of the Divine Mercy light to save and justify us (Diary of St. Faustina, 299). This means that our Good Shepherd himself is the Divine Mercy and love, as well (Diary of St. Faustina, 1074).

The Gospel story of the Good Shepherd Sunday, in light of Divine Mercy, does not simply end with our salvation and justification. Having been saved and justified, as Jesus the Good Shepherd has laid his life on Good Friday and rose from the dead on Resurrection Sunday, we are now called to respond to this great favor he has done.  To help us discern our Paschaltide calling in reference to the Good Shepherd and Divine Mercy, it is important to listen to these words of Jesus, as spoken to St. Faustina in his revelation:

When I was dying on the cross, I was not thinking about myself, but about poor sinners, and I prayed for them to my Father. I want your last moments to be completely similar to mine on the cross. There is but one price at which souls are bought, and that is suffering united to my suffering on the cross. Pure love understands these words; carnal love will never understand them (Diary, 324).

Jesus, having saved us, by laying his own life as the Good Shepherd, now challenges us to imitate him – to be love and mercy to one another. Ultimately, Jesus invites us to unite ourselves with him as we also lay our own lives for one another or for him. In history, many have laid their own lives for others to be saved, while others have did so for Christ to be glorified. They are heroes and martyrs.

How about us? Can we take up this challenging call by Jesus, our Good Shepherd, to imitate him? If not, what is the point for us to celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday and Good Shepherd Sunday during Paschaltide to prepare for our Pentecost commissioning? We shall be sent out, ultimately to lay our own lives for one another and for Christ. It is the surest way to be united with Christ, our Good Shepherd and the Divine Mercy.

As the Good Shepherd’s sheep, we hear his voice to follow him (John 10:14,27). Hasn’t he spoken to us, “Take up your cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34; Matthew 16:24; Luke 9:23)? It means to die to ourselves, as our ego gets in the way to hear his voice and follow him. Our ego sure keeps us from laying our own lives. It means that our ego is a stumbling block to be united with him in his suffering. Therefore, we must overcome our ego and put others ahead of ourselves, in remembering these words of Padre Pedro Arrupe, S.J., hombres para los demás, in light of Mandatum Novum of Jesus, “Diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos ut et vos diligatis invice” (John 13:34). The ultimate way to observe this mandatum of our Good Shepherd is to imitate his love by laying our own lives for others, as he has done for us.

As our Good Shepherd desires his beloved sheep to be united with him for eternal life, as he is one with the Father (John 10:27-30, cf. John 10:38; 14:10-11,20; 17:23). Therefore, bearing our shares of his suffering of laying his life for us for one another and for his glorification is also for our eternal life –namely, our salvation.

In our preparation for Pentecost, during this Paschaltide, let us make ourselves ready to imitate Christ (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:1) in his suffering as the Good Shepherd, who has laid his life to save and justify us, also as the Divine Mercy.

After all, the Good Shepherd is the Divine Mercy to unite us with him as one as the way to the Father in heaven. We may lose our lives for this but it is only to gain eternal life.