Saint Peter sends Saint Apollinaris to Ravenna by Filippo Pasquali (1651 – 1697) – Duomo – Ravenna
Gospel Reading : John 10:11-16
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
He who is a hireling and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hireling and cares nothing for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.
And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd.
What do the Fathers say?
The good Shepherd gave His life for the sheep. He did what He asked, He set the example of what He commanded: He laid down His life for the sheep, that He might convert His body and blood into our Sacrament, and feed with His flesh the sheep He had redeemed.
A path is shown to us wherein to walk, despising death; a stamp is applied to us, and we must submit to the impression. Our first duty is to spend our outward possessions upon the sheep; our last, if it be necessary, is to sacrifice our life for the same sheep.
There are some who love earthly possessions more than the sheep, and do not deserve the name of a shepherd. He who feeds the Lord’s flock for the sake of temporal hire, and not for love, is a hireling, not a shepherd. A hireling is he who holds the place of shepherd, but seeks not the gain of souls, who pants after the good things of earth, and rejoices in the pride of station.
But whether a man is a shepherd or a hireling, cannot be told for certain, except in a time of trial. In tranquil times, the hireling generally stands watch like the shepherd. But when the wolf comes, then every one shows with what spirit he stood watch over the flock.
The wolf comes upon the sheep, whenever any unjust person oppresses the humble believers. And he who seems to be shepherd, but leaves the sheep and flees, is he who dares not to resist his violence, from fear of danger to himself. The hireling is inflamed with no zeal against this injustice. He only looks to outward comforts, and overlooks the internal suffering of his flock.
The hireling flees, because he is a hireling, and does not care for the sheep. He cannot stand at the approach of danger, who does not love the sheep that he is set over, but seeks earthly gain. Such a one dares not face danger, for fear he should lose what he so much loves.
But as He came to redeem not only the Jews, but the Gentiles, He adds, And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold.
Of two flocks He makes one fold, uniting the Jews and Gentiles in His faith.