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The image of Christ as Shepherd is one, of course, that He himself claims here in this tenth chapter of the Gospel of John. And it is an image that we find depicted on the walls of the catecombs in Rome and in many a religious painting, the latter often being very sentimental versions of reality. Jesus’ claim to be a shepherd gives us an insight, I believe, into his own self-image, when we consider the realities of a shepherd’s life and social standing at that time. In first century Palestine, the shepherd was rather a despised member of the community although very much in demand and very much a productive member of society. He was a nomad, and so in the eyes of those in the settled community he was suspect. Because of his job it was impossible for him to observe all of the religious ceremonies that were required by Jewish law and so, the shepherd was judged to be a sinner, a religious outcast. The shepherd lived out in the wild, far from civilization, a harsh dangerous existence, closer to his animals than to humans. And so, he was at the very bottom of the social ladder.

So, when Jesus claims to be a shepherd, He is consciously aligning himself with the unsettled, the nomads and the wanderers of the world. And, from the beginning of time, there has been tension between the wanderers and the settled, between shepherds and farmers. And, as you know well, it is a classical theme in American folklore, particularly the folklore of the West, the pioneer, the restless adventurer forever moving west, and the settlers in the towns always suspicious of this character. and their leaders, the sheriff, the mayor, the judge, urging him to move on and not to disturb the easy-going ways of this settled community.

Well, Jesus was a wanderer. He had no permanent address. He himself said, “The Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head,” and His arrival in any town or in any district, particularly in Jerusalem, had a very unsettling affect on the settled, the Jewish and Roman authorities. And when He wouldn’t just move on, they killed Him. Well, tensions between wanderers and the settled persist to this day. Homeless people disturb the settled. Those who choose to live on the edges of society and those who advocate fundamental change, whether in society at large or in our Church in particular, well, they are considered dangerous by those of us who would prefer a nice, comfortable, settled life, those of us who find security in conformity.

I believe that the Second Vatican Council came down on the side of the wanderer, the explorer, the one who seeks new lands, who has a vision of a better life and a better way of living. And it has been opposed. It has been told that it is not needed, that it is disturbing the peace and there are many who cannot wait to see it disappear over the horizon.

What side would Jesus be on? Well, he would probably say, “That’s a stupid, simplistic question!” He would probably say, “I am the Good Shepherd, and there is one characteristic of a good shepherd that all, even the settled, agree on. The Good Shepherd cares deeply about all of the sheep and he tries to lead even the most stubborn to good pastures. I care about all of you,” Jesus would say. “I want to give you life and to give it more abundantly, and so I need you to have faith in me.” And that means, “I need you to be ready to risk. Don’t get too settled. Don’t get too comfortable. My sheep should be always on the move, following me as their Good Shepherd, and trusting, trusting that I will lead them to sweet waters and green pastures.”

It may be stupid to ask Jesus what side He is on, but it may be a very legitimate question for us. Are we settled and complacent? Are we uncritical and unquestioning? Are we happy with stultifying regulations? Do we automatically reject anyone we suspect might disturb the status quo? Are we content to live in the twentieth century, whose fields are now parched and lifeless, or move on to new pastures in the twenty-first?

The Christian life is a glorious adventure, often into the unknown, often risky. Do we trust our guide, the Holy Spirit? Do we trust our Shepherd, Jesus, who will guard us from danger? Or, are we like the disciples of Paul and Barnabas, people who know only how to be filled with joy and the Holy Spirit? Isn’t that a wonderful vision? A people who only know how to be filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. This, I believe, is a vision of a people aligned with Jesus, the wanderer, the unsettled and the unsettling one, aligned with Jesus who chose to be in solidarity with the outcasts and the rejects, and was proud to call himself a shepherd, one who cares, one who forever seeks new pastures. Can we be part of that vision? Amen.