Dear brothers and sister, in this fourth Sunday of Easter, called also the Sunday of the “good shepherd”, the Church pray for vocations, vocation to consecrated life, vocation to priesthood. The image of the good shepherd who calls his sheeps and know them one by one reminds us the every baptized has his own vocation by God. Vocation means to be called by the Lord. In the Church there are bishops, priests, religious, nuns but there are also spouses, family men and women who lives their christian life loving each other and conveying faith to their children. This is an equally important vocation and witness. Don’t forget this!

Dear brothers and sisters, Jesus is risen, he has returned to live 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, the words that Jesus said at that time echo now in this assembly. Soon, whoever is prepared will receive Jesus Christ in the sacrament of Eucharist. Do you want to meet Jesus Christ? Please, pray, go to the Mass, at least every Sunday, listen to the Word of God, attend to the banquet of life. If we really meet Jesus our life can change. When you will come back home you will meet your family. In the next days you will meet other people, perhaps poor and marginalized people. Jesus will be there and it will be another way to meet him in brothers and sister around us.

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 follow their owners without understanding and in silence. 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.

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 sheeps ate the flowers around my house. The shepherd stopped them from time to time to sell milk from house to house. When the sheeps 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 together: 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. Expecially moms are very able to decodify also the cry of their babies and the babies recognize the voice of his parents. The sheep sometimes stumbles, gets lost or is attacked by wild beasts, and in those situations the shepherd’s call is very important: every sheep knows that the shepherd and the other sheeps 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 when you were children 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, recognizing his voice and 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.

How can we learn to recognize the voice of the Lord? Also for us it is a question of time. The more time we stay with him, the more we learn to recognize and decodify his voice. Who really listens to Lord’s voice chooses a way of life as that one of Jesus, with the commitment to work for the good of humanity. And for this people Jesus pledges eternal life, a full life that is superior even to death.

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.

Christ is risen! Jesus Christ is the good shepherd. He calls you to follow him. Don’t be afraid, entrust to him! You will live eternal life! Peace be with you!