I am the good shepherd,
and I know mine and mine know me,
just as the Father knows me and I know the Father;
and I will lay down my life for the sheep.

Amen, alleluia! This is good news! Jesus not only cares for us as our shepherd, but He knows us. He knows us through and through. He knows us, and even though we are weak and sinful, still loves us enough to voluntarily lay down His life for us.

If you were standing with Jesus the day He said this would you be amazed, confused, happy, or angry? What would you feel? What would you think? Why would you even be there? What are you looking for?

Well, you would know about sheep and shepherds. You would know about the dangers of shepherding. You might even know of someone who was killed by wolves or bandits while protecting his sheep. This wouldn’t be unfamiliar territory.

In John 9 and 10 Jesus is continuing His teaching. All the while He is being tailed by the Pharisees. He is engaged by them and there is a series of accusations and retorts. At one point, later in Chapter 10 the Jews say to Jesus:

“How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
Jesus answered them, “I told you and you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me. But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep.

He’s told them, He’s shown them, and even if He said, right there and then, —I am the Messiah— they wouldn’t have believed Him.

They were not looking for honesty or the Messiah. They were looking for evidence.

This Sunday our parish honors the Blessed Virgin Mary. The young women of the parish will crown this image of the Blessed Mother.

Why?

You well know that our Church does not follow or proclaim dogmas about Mary. We don’t proclaim the ‘Assumption’ or the ‘Immaculate Conception’. At the same time this very parish honors Mary and is dedicated to her. We seek her intercession constantly.

The loyal few who show up on Wednesday evening for Holy Mass, Exposition, a novena to Our Lady of Czestochowa, and Benediction have first hand experience of our love for Jesus’ mother. Every Wednesday and on Friday’s in May we specifically pray for all of your needs and we pray for all the sick by name. We offer up those names to Jesus through Mary.

Why?

Because Mary wasn’t looking for evidence; Mary didn’t demand proof. Mary just said yes. She accepted God’s will and God’s request without asking all the ‘W’ questions.

This past week we read about Ananias. Ananias was the disciple in Damascus who was sent by Jesus to Saul of Tarsus. Ananias, like so many others said yes to Jesus. And, like others he said yes, but…

But Ananias replied,
—Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man,
what evil things he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem.
And here he has authority from the chief priests
to imprison all who call upon your name.—

Maybe Ananias thought that he had to bring the Lord up-to-date with current events. You know Lord, since Your Ascension a lot of stuff has been going on —“ let me fill You in…

Mary simply said yes. Mary became the Theotokos —“ the God bearer. Mary bore Jesus to us in all His humanity and in all His nature as God.

So today, and every May, we crown Mary, Mary the God bearer, Mary who simply said yes. Mary —“ an example in human flesh of what we are called to be.

As you reflect on Mary’s example and as you reflect on the scripture of the day, recall the words of praise found in our psalm:

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD;
we bless you from the house of the LORD.
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me
and have been my savior.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
for his kindness endures forever.

Praise and bless the shepherd. Praise and bless Him:

“There is no salvation through anyone else,
nor is there any other name under heaven
given to the human race by which we are to be saved.—

This is the Good News of our salvation. Rejoice in it.

Amen.

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