Fourth Sunday of Easter

“My sheep will never perish”

Faith sees what – and who - there was and is. Charity loves what – and who - there is but hope loves what – and who - there will be. And God is with us in the past, present and future.

We will fall. But we can always get up. God’s love does not depend on our behaviour. Hope – like God  - is always there. Clouds – our mistakes – can hide the sun but they do not destroy that sun.

We are created for eternity. Our relationship with God – our soul – is always there; no matter how old we may be and feel.

Like gravity, God is always with us. However, as we can forget – or ignore – gravity, we can forget and ignore God – and feel alone.

Jesus saw himself as a shepherd caring for our spiritual lives.

Years ago, while taking a minibus full of boys camping in the grounds of a large school in Herefordshire, I came across a flock of piebald - dark-coloured with areas of white wool - and multi-horned Jacobs Sheep and was informed by the headmaster’s wife that they prefer to be led rather than herded. If a sheep dog tries to drive them, they turn and with their four horns soon see him or her off on their way. As the headmaster’s wife moved on, they followed her. They trusted her.

Jesus sees us his Jacobs sheep. He does not herd us. He leads us. If we follow Him, we will never spiritually perish.

I see you as my Jacobs sheep. My homilies, I hope lead – and not herd – you.