In the Roman Catholic liturgical and lectionary calendar, the fourth Sunday of Easter is traditionally called Good Shepherd Sunday, and in the Gospel for this Sunday — April 22, 2018 — we hear Jesus describe himself as the good shepherd who willingly lays down his life for his sheep (John 10:11-18). Jesus contrasts a good shepherd with someone who is only a hired hand, who watches over the sheep for pay. But to a hired hand the sheep aren’t his own, so when danger approaches, such as a wolf, he abandons the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters the sheep. Not so with a “good shepherd.”

Now, someone could reply that this is all very idyllic to think that every shepherd willingly dies for his sheep. In actuality today, many shepherds and/or farmers would probably try really hard to prevent their sheep, or other livestock, from being hurt or killed, but may ultimately consider such losses as one of the acceptable costs of doing business — that such losses are inevitable.

Of course in all of this, Jesus isn’t talking about actual sheep (Ovis aries), but about people. Yes, the Chosen People — the Jews — but also ALL people. Jesus said, “I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd.” (John 10:16) In Jesus’ discourse sheep equal people who need someone to lead, to nurture, to protect, and even willing to die for them.

And, Jesus did just that; he led, nurtured, and protected them, and he gave his life for them — his people — and for the Church he formed. A God who loves us that much would not begin something as important as the Church and then leave it, hands-off, alone, as if to say, “Well guys, it’s time for me to go now. Goodbye and good luck! And oh, by the way, remember what I taught you, and that it’s very important to follow my commandments. See you later, at the end of time.” No; after his resurrection, Jesus drew near to the remaining 11 apostles — those men he had personally chosen — and said to them:

“I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20. emphasis added)

Jesus left the Church in the hands of his chosen Apostles to shepherd her, under the leadership of the chief shepherd, Peter.

Q. Where does that come from? A. “And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:18-19) And from a post-resurrection encounter in John’s Gospel, when Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him, following each of Peter’s three affirmatives, Jesus said to Peter, sequentially: “Feed my lambs,” “Tend my sheep,” and “Feed my sheep” (John 21:15-17) — things a “good shepherd” does.

Q. Why would Jesus form his Church with this kind of hierarchical structure of shepherds (the Apostles and their successors, i.e. Bishops), with a chief shepherd (Peter and his successors, i.e. the Popes)? A. God knows us better than we know ourselves, and unless “the end of the age” meant only one generation, the Church that Jesus formed needed, and still needs, a structure with designated shepherds, and a lead shepherd, in order to maintain unity. Q. Are we sure Jesus intended for there to be unity in only one Church? A. In addition to Matthew 16:18-19 (above), remember that in this Sunday’s Gospel regarding the good shepherd, Jesus said he must lead all the sheep so “there will be one flock, one shepherd” (John 10:16), not many flocks. And later in John’s Gospel, “Jesus prayed, saying: ‘Holy Father, I pray not only for them [the Apostles], but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one … so that they be one, as we are one … that they may be brought to perfection as one … that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them.'” (John 17:20-26) Yeah, I’m pretty sure Jesus intended there to be one unified Church.

Oh boy, what does that mean for us now, with there being so many Christian “churches” and “denominations” just right here in Alpena, let alone throughout the world? Well, it means there needs to be a lot ± yes, a lot — of sincere prayer, with earnest discernment and honest soul searching, if we are ever to end the scandal of disunity within Christianity, and realize Jesus’ prayer “that they may all be one.” (John 17:21)