“The Good Shepherd“
Father Peter Fitzgibbons
April 24 – 25, 2021
Gospel: John 10:11-18
I have been meditating on the Gospel of the Good Shepherd. Where in the Gospel do we first hear about the Good Shepherd? You’ll find it in Genesis when God went looking for Adam and Eve. They had sinned and were trying to hide, but God looked for them to bring them back. Why did they run from God? They were “necked.” That’s naked for all you Yankees. They hid because they had sinned. They ran away from God, but God went after them. God goes after sinners, because He does not want us to succumb to the evil one. Adam and Eve were afraid, because sin causes fear. They were afraid of the One who loves us. Sin makes us stay away from the One who has the power to heal sin. “We’re going to be punished!” But, this is a great act of love as we see on the Crucifix. He asks us to partake of His love by receiving and asking for His forgiveness. If we run from God after we have sinned, it is an offense against God.
I have heard this statement from a number of priests and others: “I have to forgive myself.” Excuse me..WHAT?? That’s a sin right there. The sin wasn’t against you. You egotistical jerk! The sin was against God and no one else. That statement is blasphemous. It’s pop psychology, and it’s blasphemous. It’s your own fertilizer excuse…you know the word. It’s a fertilizer excuse justifying the act. “I have to forgive myself.” You cannot bring healing to yourself. That would require penance and divine forgiveness. Only God can absolve sin, and only God can heal it. Sin in this world is made manifest by fear. What do people do when they are afraid? They try to hide. They lay down conditions for coming back. “I’m not coming back to the Church until priests can get married.” Do you ask any of the professionals in your life if they are married? “I’m not coming back until Mass is in English, until Confession is face-to-face, or until people can marry whoever or whatever they want.” Really?
Sin causes fear and anger which distorts reality. So, people try to deny that they did anything wrong. “I didn’t do anything!” “It wasn’t that bad.” “You cops are all crooked.” “You priests are all perverts.” They try to deny what they’ve done by lashing out. When a dog is afraid, it may snarl at you. People try to deny their sin and will do anything but say “I’ve done wrong, and I’m sorry.” That fear changes your perspective and it changes your attitude.
I was driving up to the VA hospital the other day, and I always try to find the State Troopers and the Sheriff’s deputies. It keeps you aware, and it’s kind of fun to see where they might be hiding. I appreciate the art form. But, I can always tell where they are just by watching people in front of me slam on their brakes. Why are you afraid? Just do the speed limit. Come on! But, they are afraid. What are they afraid of? They are only afraid if they’ve done something wrong. But, God’s love casts out all fear…not self-love… but God’s love.
God is love itself. We see His love when we look at the Crucifix. We see that love portrayed at every altar, at every confession, at every hospital visit by a priest, at every marriage ceremony, and at every baptism and confirmation. This is God’s great love manifested. I’ll give you some homework for tonight. Read the poem, “Hound of Heaven” by Francis Thompson. Francis was a drug addict and alcoholic. He had fear, and he kept running and running afraid a great beast was going to kill him. Finally, he ran out of energy and said, “Fine, kill me. I don’t care anymore.” When he stopped, he saw that the beast was actually a puppy that wanted to kiss him. The last part of the poem is: “Whom wilt thou find to love ignoble thee, Save Me, save only Me?”
God is the Good Shepherd. But, we have to be willing to be led. Remember what the first sin was? It wasn’t by Adam and Eve, but by Lucifer who would not serve. It’s the same thing when we want to be led by God. We have to say, “I will serve.” “I will follow.” It is sinful to say, “I will not serve.” “I will not listen to you.” “I know what’s best.” We are all sinners, that’s why we are all here. He is the Good Shepherd and brings us home if we want to be led.
How will you apply this message to your life? Are you running from God? Are you fearful and angry? Stop running and let God lead you.
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