Summary of a Fr. Gerry Creedon homily from April 17, 2005
"They recognize his voice."
AS A YOUNG BOY I loved to help my uncle save the turf at the bog. He had a hundred sheep on the hillside a mile way. Sometimes the sheep would drift west to a craggy area by a dangerous river. My uncle would send Shep, his sheepdog, on a mission to protect the sheep. The dog would reach the sheep, stand on a rock and look down to the moorland below for instructions. By pointing his stick to left or right, my uncle guided Shep as he herded the sheep to safe pasture.
However, it was only during my time in Banica, in the Dominican Republic, that I learned to interpret today's gospel.
The farming women knew more about sheep than I did. Coming from West Cork, I knew about the ways of sheepdogs and their masters. In Banica the campesinos do not use dogs. They are too hard to feed. Instead the women go out to the commons where the villagers pasture their flocks. Each woman calls "Ton! Ton!" the usual shout. However, each person says the words in a unique tone. Without error each sheep follows the voice of her owner and no other.
Jesus, using the experience of his listeners, evokes from us a level of trust and faith. "I am the gate for the sheep".
The Bedouin gather their sheep in an enclosure for safe keeping for the night. Usually there is no gate to the sheep pen. Wolves and other wild animals may find their way through the gap to attack the flock. The shepherd lays his body down along the gap in place of a gate. The marauder would need to cross over the body of the shepherd to get to the prey.
This farming custom throws fresh light on the saying of Jesus, "I lay down my life for my sheep."
During the coming days of Conclave, our Cardinals will discern our universal church's next shepherd. We pray for them. However we ourselves are also called to follow and to lead. Each of us needs to hear the unique call of the Shepherd so that we can in turn be a gateway to others. In the power of Pentecost the Spirit calls each one to discipleship and to leadership in our church. To paraphrase John, I am called to recognize his voice so that I may be a gate for the sheep.