Justice, Peace and Good Stewardship (Jn 14:27-31)

Jesus offers his peace to his disciples as an alternative to the peace that the world offers.  Although Jesus does not explain how his peace differs from worldly peace, he gives a clear indication in that regard at the beginning of his public ministry.  Soon after his baptism, Jesus enters the synagogue and characterizes the purpose of his mission in a way that connects his peace with justice.  Jesus makes that connection when he quotes a passage from Isaiah to those gathered: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed…” (Lk 4:18; Is 61:1).

A succinct version of this same characterization is found in Psalm 85, which reads:  Near indeed is his salvation for those who fear him; glory will dwell in our land.  Love and truth will meet; justice and peace will kiss (Ps 85:10-11).  The implication is that the peace of Jesus is inseparable from justice.  We cannot have one without the other.  Jesus qualifies his offer of peace with justice not as a call to abandon the world, but to transform it.  The peace that Jesus offers is therefore the outcome of right living, that is, living in a manner consistent with his values rather than the values of the world (Phil 4:8-9). 

Paul appeals to this responsibility of ours in his letter to the Romans.  In that letter, Paul claims that “the kingdom of God is not a matter of food and drink, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit; whoever serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by others.  Let us then pursue what leads to peace and to building up one another (Rm 14:17-19).  Realizing peace on these terms is the natural outcome of exercising justice in our relationships with each other.

The principle of justice extends beyond our relationships with each other, however.  Because God created the world and all that is in it, including those who live here, everything in creation belongs to God (Ps 24:1).  Therefore, despite long held views of our right to exploit nature’s resources however we see fit, we do not have such a right.  The goods of the world do not belong to us; they belong to God.   

For that reason, God calls us to exercise justice in our relationship to creation itself.  This is a call to be good stewards of what belongs to God.  On these terms, good stewardship is not a way of managing our possessions.  Rather, good stewardship is paying attention to and caring for what God has entrusted to our care.  Good stewardship is what God expects of us.  He trusts us to be good stewards of his creation for ourselves and for those who come after us.

In short, justice and peace are not only a part of what Jesus came to do.  Justice and peace are the heart of his mission on earth.  For this reason, justice, peace, and integrity of creation are central to faithful living.  Our relationship with each other and with God’s creation derives from a keen awareness and consistent practice of mutuality, solidarity, respect, and justice.  If we follow the commandments of Jesus in this way, justice will indeed bring about peace, not just for some but for all (Is 32:17), and our peace will flow like a river (Is 48:18). 

Shepherd or Hired Hand? (B 4 Easter 24; Jn 10:11-18)

Jesus offers a metaphor of sheep and shepherd to call attention to our spiritual vulnerability and our need to be on guard about which shepherd we follow.  With this metaphor, he illustrates his relationship with us as our good shepherd and thus our relationship with him and to each other.  He aims to show that his steadfast love and concern for us are the only motivation for his service.  Indeed, his devoted love includes voluntarily giving up his life for us. 

Isaiah uses this same language when he identifies the reason Jesus came into the world.  Isaiah declares that Jesus came into the world because “We had all gone astray like sheep, all following our own way” (Is 53:6).  Because we could not find our way back to the right spiritual path, Jesus came searching for us and suffered dire consequences.  As Isaiah says about that: “Though harshly treated, he submitted and did not open his mouth; Like a lamb led to slaughter or a sheep silent before shearers, he did not open his mouth” (Is 53:7).

Jesus is the trustworthy and reliable shepherd, unlike the hired hand who has no real concern for the flock.  In fact, this scoundrel runs off in fear at the first sign of danger and heads for the high country, leaving the sheep to scatter and fend for themselves.  Jesus, on the other hand, is the sure and safe gate.  Whoever enters through him will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture (Jn 10:9).  Jesus is the one true shepherd who knows his sheep and his sheep know him, just as the father knows him and he knows the father (Jn 10:14-15). 

Not only does Jesus want us to follow him rather than someone who pretends to be a shepherd.  He also wants us to avoid giving in to peer pressure like scattered sheep.  Sometimes we follow the crowd because we seek the approval of others, or because we fear their rejection, ridicule, or humiliation.  Our fear can drive us to abandon our own spiritual wisdom, and instead, follow those who appear strong and confident.  We follow them, even though they have no wisdom because they too are driven by fear.

With Jesus as our Good Shepherd, however, there is nothing that we lack.  In green pastures he makes us lie down; to still waters he leads us; he restores our souls.  He guides us along right paths, for the sake of his name.  Even though we walk through the valley of death, we have no reason to fear evil, for he is with us; his rod and his staff comfort us (Ps 23:1-4). No wonder Jesus says that he knows his sheep and his know him.  Jesus came to be like us and remain steadfast in his relationship with us to the bitter end.

The metaphor of good shepherd and sheep emphasizes exactly this bond of loyalty between Jesus and us.  So precious are we to Jesus that he stayed true to his mission and gave up his life for us (Jn 10:11, 14).  He came for us in the world and loved us to the end (Jn 13:1).  For he says, “I have come from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me” (Jn 6:38).  This is the will of him who sent me—that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me” (Jn 6:39).  Because Jesus is the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn 1:29), he will not reject anyone who comes to him (Jn 6:37).

As our good shepherd, he is the door through which we exit and enter and find pasture (Jn 10:9).  His true followers acknowledge only his voice, not that of a stranger (Jn 10:5). Jesus is the Good Shepherd, who goes in search of us and finds us where we are.  As odd as it sounds, he willingly leaves the 99 to find the one who is lost (Lk 15:4-7).  In the ordinary circumstances of our lives, Jesus offers his message of liberation and reconciliation, of justice and peace, of hope and love.

Through our Good Shepherd, we are connected to God the Father.  Jesus is the Protector, and we are the Protected.  Jesus is our gift from the Father.  Jesus comes not only as messenger.  He also comes as our ambassador.  In this sense, Jesus is not a barrier or a wall between God and us.  Rather, he is our bridge to the father.  Jesus pleads to God on our behalf when needed, just as he also intercedes for us when needed.

Thus, we have reason to place our trust in Jesus.  He is the trustworthy Shepherd who has power to lay down his own life and to pick it up again (Jn 10:17-18).  He therefore has the power to raise all those who believe in him (Jn 6:39-40).  In the meantime, Jesus makes it clear that those who believe in him will imitate his good works (Jn 9:4).  For this reason, Jesus calls us to be more like him when he says, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love (Jn 15:9).

We know what this means, and we know how difficult loving others can be at times.  For the most part, however, love often requires very little.  A kind word, a helping hand, or a show of compassion is all that is needed.  At other times, love compels us to refrain from judging others.  This is really all that it means to live in the spirit of Christ.

Living this way is possible especially when Jesus Christ is our Good Shepherd and the central model of our lives, while love is the overarching moral principle and measure of all our personal projects and good works.  With the help of the Holy Spirit, our conduct then is a freely chosen, transforming participation in divine life.  This is really what Christ the Good Shepherd is all about and all that he wants to show with his metaphor of shepherd and sheep—following him by living the truth in love (Ep 4:15).