Between Aerosmith & Adrien Brody

4th Sunday of Easter (C)

(Good Shepherd Sunday)

Readings: Acts 13:14, 43-52; Psalm 99 (100):1-3, 5; Apocalypse 7:9, 14-17; John 10:27-30

Picture: By Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

My dear friends, what will you say, if someone were to tell us that life’s a journey, not a destination? Would you agree? Actually, these words are taken from an old song, sung by the rock band Aerosmith. And aren’t they a helpful reminder, particularly for us who live in Singapore? Prone as so many of us are to overwork? Much as we feel driven to keep striving hard to achieve our various goals and KPIs in life, we mustn’t forget to stop and smell the roses. To take time to rest and to enjoy the process. After all, if life is truly a journey, and not a destination, then best not to waste it, by obsessing over our estimated time of arrival. Surely this is good and important advice. But there is also another side to the story.

I’m not sure if any of us have watched The Brutalist, one of last year’s award-winning films, starring Adrien Brody as László Tóth, a fictional Hungarian-Jewish architect. My apologies to those who haven’t watched it. What I’m about to say is likely to contain spoilers! Anyway, in the film’s final scene, László is said to have often given his niece this piece of advice: Don’t let anyone fool you… No matter what the others try and sell you, it is the destination, not the journey. What do we make of this blatant contradiction of what we said before? To be honest, I’m tempted simply to reject it. But we can appreciate why László holds this opposing view, when we consider his own difficult journey in the film. To escape the horrors of the Holocaust, he migrates to the USA, only to be subjected to other forms of violence, including poverty and discrimination, manipulation and victimisation at the hands of the rich and powerful, and even sexual abuse. When one’s life is filled with so much unjust suffering, isn’t it natural to want to keep striving to reach a better and safer destination? Not just for oneself, but also for those whom one loves? Easy enough to focus on life’s journey, when the way is smooth and bright. Far more difficult, when it’s strewn with the sharp edges of trauma, and other horrors of the night.

What has all this to do with Vocation Sunday? As we know, the word vocation means call. And we rightly devote this day to praying that more will heed the call to the priesthood and religious life. But our scriptures also offer us a timely reminder that, before each of us is called to any particular state of life, all of us are first called to eternal life. In the gospel, eternal life is the gift Jesus offers to the sheep who belong to him, to all who listen to his voice. And, in the first reading, eternal life is the grace, to which Paul and his companions encourage their fellow disciples to remain faithful. The same grace they offer to all their listeners, Jews and Gentiles alike. But unlike the song by Aerosmith, and the film starring Adrien Brody, our readings do not force us to choose between two opposing views of life. Instead, eternal life is portrayed not as either-or, but as both journey and destination.

On the one hand, Jesus speaks of eternal life clearly as a kind of journey, on which he calls his sheep to follow him. And it’s no coincidence that, in the first reading, we find Paul and his companions on a missionary journey. Bearing witness to the new life they have received in Christ. On the other hand, however, the second reading presents us with a vision of eternal life as a heavenly destination. Where countless people are gathered triumphantly around the throne of God, after having washed their robes white again in the blood of the Lamb. And where everyone enjoys the safety of God’s protection. For God will spread his tent over them, and neither the sun nor scorching wind will ever plague them, because the Lamb… will lead them to springs of living water; and God will wipe away the tears from their eyes.

Nor is this destination only high up in the heavens, or far away into the future. Paul and his companions experience it already here and now, while they are still on their way. Despite having to endure the dangers of jealousy and rejection, slander and persecution, they are filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. Which motivates and energises them to keep on following the Lord, to keep engaging in the struggle for justice and peace. To help lead ever more people to the safety of God's kingdom. And isn’t this the fruit of the great Mystery we celebrate at Easter? Isn’t this the marvellous effect of the Dying and Rising of Christ? The bright Light that our world needs so much, shrouded as it is in the darkness of injustice and conflict. And not just the world at large, but also our nation and our church, our families and our own selves. To live the fullness of life both as a journey to savour, and as a destination toward which to aim. Whether we are single or married, priest, religious or lay, this is the call, the common vocation, that the Good Shepherd addresses to us all.

Sisters and brothers, how might we help one another to listen more closely to his gentle and loving voice today?