The fouth Sunday of Easter each year is always one of the Good Shepherd accounts. Although we are accustomed to this image for Jesus, it was not the case in Jesus' day. The majority of shepherds were scoundrels who couldn't get a job anywhere else. Their main goal was to put a few coins in their pockets. Hence, the comparison to the Pharisees.
As the Good Shepherd, Jesus is most concerned with
our best interest, not his own. With the self-centered attitude of society today, it is difficult at time to comprehend this. Hense, each week we remind ourselves in the Creed, "For us and our salvation, he came down from heaven." As we continue celebrating the Resurrection, hopefully, we keep this in mind and strengthen our resolve to follow Christ more faithfully.