2024/07/21 SCRIPTURE REFLECTION

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

- Jeremy Kiolbassa, Director of Liturgy & Music

Christus Paradox

The image of Jesus as both shepherd and sacrificial lamb is a familiar one. This Sunday’s readings focus on the former, yet the latter must equally color our understanding. Christ’s dual nature: both man and God, lamb and shepherd, is an integral part of the paschal mystery. At first blush, this duality might seem like a paradox. How can a good shepherd also be the sacrificial lamb?  

As I reflected upon today’s readings, a hymn text came to mind which beautifully ponders this great mystery. Below is the text of “Christus Paradox” by Sylvia Dunstan. You can listen to the hymn here.

You, Lord, are both Lamb and Shepherd.
You, Lord, are both prince and slave.
You, peacemaker and sword-bringer
Of the way you took and gave.
You the everlasting instant;
You, whom we both scorn and crave.

Clothed in light upon the mountain,
Stripped of might upon the cross,
Shining in eternal glory,
Beggar’d by a soldier’s toss,
You, the everlasting instant;
You, who are both gift and cost.

You, who walk each day beside us,
Sit in power at God’s side.
You, who preach a way that’s narrow,
Have a love that reaches wide.
You, the everlasting instant;
You, who are our pilgrim guide.

Worthy is our earthly Jesus!
Worthy is our cosmic Christ!
Worthy your defeat and vict’ry.
Worthy still your peace and strife.
You, the everlasting instant;
You, who are our death and life.
Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
You, who are our death and our life.

Sylvia Dunstan (1955-1993)

Though we cannot ever fully grasp this paradox, it serves as a wonderful example as to how we can live out the Gospel. Jesus guides us as a shepherd yet is sacrificed for us as a lamb. Today the psalmist proclaims “Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side… You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes…”  We know that Christ is with us, even in the darkest of times, and continues to set a table of sacrifice for us in the Eucharist.

As Christians we are called to lead others toward Christ. If we are to truly follow his example, we must emulate Christ’s duality in our own lives. Just as the Good Shepherd embraces us, so must we embrace others, regardless of our differences. In doing so, we must also sacrifice ourselves in some way. In our ever more polarized political environment, one does not need to look far for opportunities to exercise such self-sacrifice. Can we listen and embrace rather than judge and argue? Further, can we sacrifice our own ego in the name of bringing Christ’s light to others, even those with whom we disagree?

As we are reminded in today’s scripture, Christ is always at our side; he is both lamb and shepherd. Knowing this, how can we be afraid to spread the Gospel?!