Thieves And Robbers

Fourth Sunday of Easter; John 10:1-10

The thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy.

When our boys were young, going to church as a family was not optional. They really didn’t resist too much because they had plenty of friends they’d see there. They sat through Mass obediently, just waiting for the end. Their "Thanks be to God!" at the end of mass was always heartfelt. They would quickly bug out to the social hall to have their donut and juice, while the parents chatted in the back of church. We didn’t worry too much about them, because we were pretty well known and everybody in the parish knew the three boys were with us. We would tell them that they could not get away with anything because we would hear about it from somebody.

One Sunday, the sugar from the donuts must have kicked in hard, because the kids (ours and others) were running through the church. This was, of course, unacceptable, and they knew it. But peer pressure and energy had overridden common sense. They were running down a side aisle, and I was standing in the center aisle. And that’s why we have parents. I looked over, saw the behavior, and reacted instantly. I snapped my fingers. I’ve never created a louder crack with my fingers. It literally reverberated throughout the church. Our boys knew exactly who had snapped his finger and came to a screeching halt. In fact, they stopped so fast, it was actually rather comical.

In this Gospel, we are tempted to envision a bucolic setting. A herd of pretty, white, fluffy, sheep, gently gazing in the meadow on grass, being watched over by a kindly shepherd (with or without white cloak and red sash), a lovely little wooden gate with a gatekeeper, and hiding in the bushes, some troublesome thieves. We have been taught the metaphor that Jesus is the gate, and that the sheep must pass through it to rise to an understanding of God’s love.

However, the reality of sheep and a shepherd are starkly different. Sheep are stubborn and seem to try and find ways to be obstinate. Sheep are wanderers. It's their nature. Even in the best and safest of places, places that provide protection, water, and food, sheep are known to wander off, get lost, and sometimes eaten by predators. Sheep are followers. There was a report of a flock of 1,500 sheep that followed the lead sheep, and leapt off a cliff to their death. Sheep are cute and lovely, but they need to be led.

And then there are the shepherds. In the 1st Century, shepherds lived in the fields with the Rock. It would be months, sometimes many months, before the shepherd would return to their home. As a result, the shepherd was a fairly dirty (filthy?) person. Pope Francis told priests in 2021, that they need to be "shepherds with 'the smell of the sheep"'.  While that sounds gross, the sheep would understand that their shepherd loves them so much, they even smell like them.

Jesus is teaching his followers, and us today, that we are sheep. (There’s a part of me that’s a little insulted, but we'll let it go.) The deeper lesson is this: not everyone who claims to guide us can be trusted. Some present themselves as shepherds but are, in truth, imposters. In Jesus’ day, he pointed to corrupt leaders and religious authorities who abused their power, those he called "thieves" and "robbers." That reality has not disappeared. Today, we encounter voices that distract and mislead, drawing us away from peace. Political figures sow division, even manipulating faith to do so. Social media systems often pull us toward anxiety, resentment, and empty pursuits. The presence of these "thieves and robbers" is still very real.

Sheep may be smelly, but they are not stupid. Far from it. They recognize the voice and face of their shepherd. They know who a stranger is. If I am one of Jesus’ flock, I know his voice and his face. I know what is true and what is misleading or false. There will always be those who use scripture to justify their ways, but that does not mean they are a Good Shepherd.

In my day-to-day life, I may well be presented with opportunities to discuss current events. The "herd mentality" of sheep drives many to just follow and accept. While I probably won’t snap my fingers, I do need to speak up. Jesus offers another alternative to avoid the thieves and robbers. It’s called love. As one of Jesus’ flock, I am called to love. And to forgive. And to show mercy.

Every Day.

© 2026 by Timothy J. Doppel

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