Fourth Sunday of Easter: The Good Shepherd: “The sheep follow the Good Shepherd because they recognize his voice.”

by Rev. Kilian McCaffrey  |  04/18/2024  |  Pastor's Letter

Every Fourth Sunday of Easter is called Good Shepherd Sunday and is one of the traditional days of Vocations awareness. This classic image of Jesus Christ as The Good Shepherd is the enduring and shows God’s care and love for all of us. Not surprisingly, no one wants to be called a sheep. 1t has some strange connotations. However, in the eyes of God, we are these most profoundly gentle and pastoral creatures. The idea of the good shepherd is as ancient as the Bible. Yet we see how little has changed over thousands of years: we still need good leadership in our world and in our Church. Indeed it was St. John the Baptist who pointed Jesus out as “the Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the World.”

If Jesus can be likened to a lamb, why can’t we? There is something so essential about how God sees us, loves us and wants us in turn to be gentle, meek, humble and kind. As your shepherd, I have worked very hard to serve and protect you all and it has been an amazing experience, despite all challenges, and it is so good to see Blessed Sacrament Parish really flourishing. Each week, we have spread the table before you, we sacramentally anoint many heads and hands in with oil; our cup truly overflows. With Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, we will always triumph!

“This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again” (John 10:17). You don’t meet many shepherds in the city, especially in Scottsdale. I met a real shepherd a few years ago up in Oregon, Dan Kraemer was his name. It was a pleasure to know him. He was a good man and a good shepherd. I will speak a little about Dan this Sunday. Here is an excerpt from his 2017 obituary: “Dan was a farmer, as was his father, and his grandfather. Though farming defined much of his life, it was only one part of who he was. It would be more accurate to say that his true callings were to nurture, to grow and to build. He built a farm alongside the entire extended Kraemer family; he was a voracious reader who never tired of learning new things, growing in spirit and knowledge until the day he left us; and he nurtured his crops, his animals, his family and, truly, anyone he ever met.

Dan possessed a warmth of spirit, a depth of character and a wealth of generosity which led him to help others wherever and whenever he could. Dan was the sort of man whose instinct was to share, to treat others with respect and equanimity, to trust others implicitly, and to forgive, always. Anyone who walked into his home was treated as an honored guest; anyone who spent enough time with him became a member of his family.”

The whole world needs to be evangelized with great examples of faith in action, with new ways, new enthusiasm and even languages. However, a good shepherd has to first spend time with and listen to the voice of Jesus, the Good Shepherd and this comes through deep faith, Adoration and Prayer time.

Fr. Kilian, Fr. Joe, our Deacons and great Parish Staff, Disciples and Volunteers