The Fourth Sunday of Easter usually known as the Good Shepherd Sunday reminds us that, Christ is our gateway to life and salvation. On this day, we are encouraged by the Church to reflect on the meaning of the Resurrection. That is, we celebrate the Risen Christ as the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep.
The celebration of Christ as the Good Shepherd assures of an empathic Lord and Saviour who loves and cares about us. There is no more beautiful and consoling theme or readings for our current condition and situation of life than the theme of Risen Christ as our Good Shepherd. He is not only the Lord and Saviour of our life, hearts, soul, and body.
He is the Good Shepherd who laid his life down for us, but he also leads and guides us to healthy, ever-greener pastures and living running water and protects us from all harm, evil, and danger. Good Shepherd provides guides, leads, protects, cares and blesses our lives, our souls and our daily efforts.
One thing that is obvious celebrating the good shepherd Sunday is that the imagery of the Christ the Good Shepherd implies the image of loyal and good sheep. Traditionally, the fourth Sunday after Easter is called the Good Shepherd Sunday and it is also the “World Day of Prayer for Vocations. When we pray priestly for and religious vocations, as well as for martial life since the good shepherd role is also in the family.
The Resurrected Christ is the Good Shepherd who laid down his life for his sheep. The concept of the Good Shepherd is one of the most beautiful titles of Jesus Christ in the Bible. It reminds us of a God-man who is loving, caring, tender, and empathetic with us.