In Dura-Europas, close to the modern day Syrian border with Iraq, just about a century ago, archaeologists discovered what they determined was an early Christian domus ecclesia (or house church) from the mid 200s AD. Beside the main area of the church was a room, with paintings still preserved, in which baptism was administered. Directly above this oldest baptistry in the world, the painting which all would see as they watched catechumens being born into new life in the waters of baptism, was a painting of a shepherd guiding a flock of sheep and carrying one upon his shoulders. The Good Shepherd, praised by the psalmist, and speaking to us in the Gospel today, has been the focus of Easter meditations by the newly baptized, and by all of us remembering our baptism into Christ, for nearly two millenia.
What do we hear our Shepherd teaching us today? He calls his sheep by name, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice (John 10:3-4). In her conversation with the Risen Christ, Saint Mary Magdalene came to recognize him mid-conversation only when the Good Shepherd called her by her name (John 20:16). When each of us was baptized, we were not baptized anonymously. At the beginning of the rite, the priest asked our parents and godparents what name they had given us. When we were held over those waters, the priest addressed us by our name before saying, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” The Risen One who has laid down His life for us, knows us by name, calls us by name. As we go to meet our Good Shepherd in the Eucharist today, let us ask for the grace to follow Him, to conform our lives to His, to enter into abundant life through Him, the Gate. May we come to know in Christ, He who knows us. May we come to love in Christ, He who has loved us with the greatest love.