Fourth Sunday of Easter – 21st April 2024
When I was a child there was a simple game that we used to play in the school yard at lunch time. It was called ‘Follow the leader’. One person would be picked and what they did and said, the rest of us copied. We followed what they did. The last person to be still standing was the winner and then they became the leader and the game continued.
There are many powerful images and symbols used to talk about and describe Jesus. He even described himself as the Bread of Life, the Vine, the Light of the world and the Water of life. However, perhaps the most universally well-known is Jesus the Good Shepherd. He is shown in many paintings, posters and prayer cards as the shepherd carrying a lamb on his shoulders.
We live in a modern world and society of famous, glamorous people; celebrities. They are on our televisions most evenings. There are magazines dedicated to them and their wealthy lifestyles. And now because of the internet and social media, we are told we can ‘follow’ them as they keep us up to date and informed as to what they are doing on a daily basis. Some of these celebrities claim to have millions of followers. However, as we are all aware, celebrities come and go very quickly. What is fashionable and trendy one month may not be as popular the next.