Good Shepherd Sunday
Acts 2:14,36-41
1 Pet 2:20-25
Jn 10:1-10
“Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture”
Those of us who frequent bookstores will no doubt be familiar with a particular section known as ‘self-help’, where you can find books related to psychology and leadership. That this is usually the most-frequented section of a bookstore speaks volumes (pun intended) about the general need for guidance in management of self and other. In fact, the two are more connected than we often realise. In order to lead others, we must first exercise strong mastery over ourselves.
This connection between leadership of self and other has not gone unnoticed by many of today’s self-help gurus, as evidenced by the recent surge of self-help books written in the Greek Stoic tradition, which evinces mastery over pride, and desire as the stepping stone to becoming a good leader. Yet on closer inspection, it becomes clear that many of these books deal in truisms rather than truths. For instance, our modern stoics advise those who hope to overcome desire to develop detachment from objects of desire. The ‘how’ and ‘why’ of it is often glossed over.
In today’s gospel, Jesus gives us a lesson in true leadership. He first describes the leader as the shepherd who enters through the gate and whose voice is recognised by the sheep. By entering through the gate and not climbing over it like the thief, the shepherd establishes his moral authority to lead. He has obtained his mandate to lead through just means. But more importantly, the shepherd is able to lead because the sheep recognise and listen to him. He possesses the legitimacy to lead by speaking truth to his followers.
Jesus then goes on to explain that He is, in fact, the gate through which both shepherd and sheep are to pass through if they want to be saved. This means that the shepherd’s mandate comes from Jesus the gate, and his legitimacy is derived from being spiritually and morally one with the sheep who have similarly passed through the gate that is Jesus. Christian leadership should therefore be rooted in Christ. This applies to leaders in the church, as well as those of us who are called to exercise leadership in our families and workplaces.
But what is this gate? And how do we, whether sheep or shepherd, pass through it?
For many of us, our first encounter with the gate was our baptism in the faith. Through water and spirit, the gate was first opened. Through our openness to the faith and our obedience to God, we entered the gate. But as we know, this is by no means the be all and end all. In most instances, we fall from grace when we sin or forget to exercise our leadership in the grace of God. Have I been inconsiderate to my subordinates at work? Have I been impatient or absent as a father? Have I caused those who depend on me to lose heart? There is no doubt that I have tried my very hardest, but without Christ and God, my human efforts often fall short.
Truth be told, there is no such thing as ‘self-help’. Can the patient cure himself, or the student teach herself? It is perhaps human hubris to believe that we can help ourselves, or that reading a book will overcome all our deficiencies and make us good leaders. On this Good Shepherd Sunday, may we remember that it is Jesus the Good Shepherd who can truly help and guide us to become better leaders and followers. May we remember to step through the gate that is Jesus in our every decision.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Jacob Woo)
Prayer: Lord, we pray for the wisdom to lead our lives through You and in You. May we continue to trust and depend on You for guidance and leadership.
Thanksgiving: We are thankful for the priests who have dedicated their lives to serving others, and for all parents who continue to shepherd their children in ways that are right and just.
OXYGEN 
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