A sermon on John 10:1-10, The Good Shepherd

Fr. Mike Paraniuk
HCP columnist

There is a video on the internet that breaks my heart. I get very emotional when I see it. I'll describe it for you.

A man parks on a side street late at night. He gets out of the car and opens his trunk. He pulls out a small pet bed and stuffed toy, placing them on the sidewalk. A beautiful brown Labrador dog is sitting in the passenger seat watching this. 

The dog has a puzzled look. "Are daddy and I going to live here now?" 

The man opens the passenger car door and lets his dog out. The dog jumps with excitement about his new home on the sidewalk, running back and forth between his bed and his owner.

What happens next breaks my heart. The man hurriedly runs to the door on the driver side and gets in. I can now see the dog getting confused. The dog stands up to look through the passenger side window at his owner, begging to get into the car with him. The man ignores his dog's entreaties. The dog then runs around to the driver side jumping up and down as if to say, "Daddy, don't forget me. Let me in!"

The man quickly pulls out onto the street. He drives away leaving his dog behind. The dog can't believe his daddy is abandoning him. He grabs the toy with his mouth and runs for dear life after his dad. The faster the car drove, the faster the dog ran. "Hey, don't forget me. I need you!"

The scene ends with the car speeding away. The dog stops running. He sits in the middle of the road, sad, confused and frightened. This is not the end of the story.

Jesus uses the "Good Shepherd" image to reveal a divine truth: "I will never abandon you."

God clearly says in Deuteronomy 31:6, “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be afraid of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will not leave you or forsake you.” 

Jesus says in John 14:18, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." 

God wants you to believe He is present in all the circumstances of your life. God's Grace (His Love in action) is unwavering. God's Love for you is relentless. 

I learned how important a shepherd was to his sheep. Sheep were completely dependent on the shepherd. The shepherd protected them and guided them to food. He kept them safe and fat. With the setting of the sun the shepherd would lead the sheep into a stone walled sheepfold through a narrow opening or gap in the wall. The shepherd lays his body across the gap, blocking the entrance with his own body. He becomes the gate. A wondering sheep would have to step on him to get out. He would be the first one to encounter a predator trying to get in. 

Jesus lays His Body across the gap as a gate. Jesus sacrificed His Body to keep you safe from the evil forces in this world that try to get into your soul, tempting you to despair, to fear, to doubt God cares for you. Jesus stands between you and forces of this world whose main goal is to destroy your soul. The devil offered one last temptation to Jesus as he hung on the Cross. It's this: "If your Father really loved you, why did He not stop all this suffering you endure?" Jesus used the last bit of air in His lungs to rebuke Satan. "Jesus called out with a loud voice, 'Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.' When he had said this, he breathed his last." (Luke 23:46.) Take that, Satan. You lose.

The sheep listen only to the shepherd's voice. He protects them. Jesus calls to you with a loud voice. Listen only to Him who will keep you safe. Commit your entire life into His hands. Don't listen to the voice of the evil one who wants to steal your peace, slaughter your hope and destroy your faith. Jesus begs you to choose Him. "I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly." (John 10:10.) The choice is easy which voice you must follow.

There was a very happy ending for the abandoned dog. A lonely elderly man adopted him from the shelter. He rarely left the house due to sickness. He wanted a companion by his side in his big empty house. The dog was happy not to leave the house for fear of being abandoned again. They spent many happy days on the couch watching TV. Love wins. 

Blessings, Fr. Mike Paraniuk.