Each year on this Fourth Sunday of Easter the Liturgy highlights the imagery of the risen Christ being our Good Shepherd. Today’s gospel begins with the words, “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” In the Book of Revelation today the risen Christ says, I will “shepherd them and lead them to springs of life-giving water.” Christ leads and we follow.
The grace of this Easter message is that we do not journey through life aimlessly. We are not headed down a dead-end street. Our Christian faith is about allowing ourselves to be led. Christ has opened up the way for us. As we gather Sunday after Sunday for the Eucharist we are told more and more about what this way looks like for us. So this way has two dimensions to it: we must be willing to be led by Christ who goes before us. And we are to follow faithfully and sincerely.
How willing are you to be led by the Spirit of the risen Christ? What helps you to be a faithful follower?