Third Sunday of Easter

Next Sunday, the fourth Sunday of Easter, is commonly known as Good Shepherd Sunday, because of the Gospel regarding the sheep who hear the Master’s voice. And for that reason, it is also regarded as day when speak about vocations - to the priesthood specifically, though most homilists include all vocations. However, my experience has taught me that today’s Gospel is really the more accurate one about vocations – especially to the priesthood. Next week is the nice version – the much more attractive version. This week is about the hard reality. “Do you love me”, Jesus asks. Then follow me to where you do not want to go. Follow me and you will die, and it will be glorious. This is the life of service and sacrifice. This is priesthood. And it is not that I don’t want to go, but rather, I am mindful of the death that is required. These days there is a lot of talk about priesthood and a great deal of criticism (for good reasons), but today I think I would like to speak about it all from a different point of view – from that of today’s Gospel where love leads us to follow no matter the costs.