Dear children, today is the fourth Sunday of Easter. I am dressed in white, the color of the resurrection, the color of every baptized. Jesus is risen, he has returned to life after he died and even if we cannot see him with our eyes today he is here among us and our earth can rejoice. We have just heard the Word of God and whoever is prepared will be able to receive Jesus Christ in the sacrament of Eucharist. Today’s readings, especially the Gospel, tell us how much Jesus loves us. We heard the Gospel of John. Jesus said: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me”. It is an image: Jesus does not mean that we are sheep or goats who without understanding and in silence follow their owners. Jesus explains something profound using an image that everyone, adults, and children, can understand. At that time, many Jews were shepherds or farmers, so they could understand these images and the deep meaning hidden in them.

The sheep represent the most precious good for every shepherd; they provide food (milk, meat, cheese) and wool to shelter from the cold. Furthermore, a very strong tie is created between the shepherd and his flock: they stay together every day and travel a long way together, sometimes encountering dangers or facing unexpected events together. The shepherd, to call and guide them, invents calls: whistles or sounds that seem like words. I don’t know if you have ever seen a shepherd at work: when I was a child, every day I saw a flock of sheep and goats passing on the road by my house. And I also remember my mom complaining that the sheep ate the flowers around my house. The shepherd stopped them from time to time to sell milk from house to house. When the sheep went astray or get into some danger, I was surprised at how the shepherd managed to call them back with a kind of language made up of strange noises. They listened to him and obeyed, returning among the flock.

But how does the shepherd make himself heard and understood? It takes a long time: he is like a mom or dad with their baby! The child cannot speak yet, but he needs his father and mother to live, to be happy and safe. The sheep sometimes stumbles, gets lost or is attacked, and in those situations the shepherd’s call is very important: every sheep knows that the shepherd and the other sheep are not far away, therefore every sheep is not alone and can count on the shepherd’s help. When they are all together, everyone is safe. More or less the same thing happens to children: did you ever happen to fall and hurt yourself or to get lost? It was enough to hear the voice of one of your parents to know you were safe! ”.

I believe that Jesus wants to convey the same message to us: those who believe in him, listening to his Word are certain of his closeness. Anything can happen but the Word of God knows how to reach our hearts and console us if we are sad, reassure us if we are worried… and from this we know that we are not alone.

The words of Jesus, reported by the evangelist, go further: our Lord and Master knows us personally, he has the key that opens our hearts; he assures us of his closeness and again says: “My father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand”. It is a strong assurance. Jesus guarantees us that whatever person or idea tried to take us away from His protection, He and the Father will be stronger and will not let any of the “sheep” remain alone or lost. Are you afraid? Don’t be afraid! Entrust yourself to Jesus the good shepherd! Do you feel alone? Are you sad? Ask for the gift of feeling God’s great and strong hand that supports you! You will feel in your heart the good shepherd’s voice that guides and reassures you.

In any situation we can repeat the prayer that Jesus taught us, the Word of him will not fail to work within us.

Peace be with you!