A 4 East Jn 10.1-10 Apr 26-26 Faith’s Breaking Point: Surviving the Crisis of Trust

One of the techniques that Jesus used was using situations that the people would be familiar with.  The readings today are no exception.  The people would be familiar with the gate keeper for the sheep.  To give you some background, most villages had a walled in field where the local shepherds would bring their flocks for the night.  The shepherds would take their turn guarding the gate to make sure no one came it to hurt any of the sheep.  I am thinking of people who might want to have lamb chops for supper.  This arrangement allowed the shepherds to spend time with their families.  In the morning the shepherds would come and literally call their sheep out by name.  

This teaching focuses on the protective aspect of our God.  This is not the only example of God’s protective stance. Do you have a sense of God’s protective love?  Sadly, many do not feel this protective love and more than once felt abandoned or wonder if God actually cares or has taken a hands-off approach.   

Complete our 1 Minute Survey

Transcript

Jn 10.1-10 Apr 26-26 Faith’s Breaking Point: Surviving the Crisis of Trust 

Hello, everyone—a huge, warm welcome to my faithful regulars and all you newcomers tuning in today! Thank you so much for joining me!

I am Peter Doherty, a Catholic priest and psychologist who absolutely loves exploring the beautiful bridge between psychology and spirituality. For years, these worlds eyed each other warily, but isn't it funny? Healthy psychology actually deepens our spiritual lives, and authentic spirituality—built on strong psychological foundations—gives us real meaning and bounce-back power.

In this quick podcast, we will dive into the Gospel reading for the week ahead. It's perfect for preachers crafting homilies, teachers unpacking Scripture, or anyone hungry for deeper insights. If you're craving more, check out my earlier episodes—they're full of gems! I weave in fresh psychology research, top Scripture scholarship, and cultural wisdom to bring the Gospel right into our everyday lives.

I see the Scriptures as timeless companions for our faith journey. The biblical writers saw history through a spiritual lens, not just like modern timelines. The Bible isn't merely a history book—it's packed with layers of wisdom on our identity, faith, and souls. There's always fresh treasure to discover!

If this resonates with you, hit that subscribe button! Drop a question or comment below—I'd love to chat and hear your thoughts. Share it with friends and family walking the path of faith and growth. And if you're on YouTube, subscribe there too, and tell me where you're joining from!

 (shout out to?)

One of the techniques that Jesus used was using situations that the people would be familiar with.  The readings today are no exception.  The people would be familiar with the gate keeper for the sheep.  To give you some background, most villages had a walled in field where the local shepherds would bring their flocks for the night.  The shepherds would take their turn guarding the gate to make sure no one came it to hurt any of the sheep.  I am thinking of people who might want to have lamb chops for supper.  This arrangement allowed the shepherds to spend time with their families.  In the morning the shepherds would come and literally call their sheep out by name.  

This teaching focuses on the protective aspect of our God.  This is not the only example of God’s protective stance, in Matthew 23:37 Jesus laments over Jerusalem, “How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” In John 10:11–15, Jesus calls himself the “good shepherd” who lays down his life for the sheep, knows them by name, and guards them against danger. This is one of the clearest Gospel images of his protective love, contrasting Him with the hired worker who runs from threats. In Matthew 18:12–14 and Luke 15:3–7, Jesus tells of the shepherd who leaves the ninety‑nine to search for the one lost sheep. This parable highlights His protective concern for individuals who are vulnerable, wandering, or broken.  

Do you have a sense of God’s protective love?  Sadly, many do not feel this protective love and more than once felt abandoned or wonder if God actually cares or has taken a hands-off approach.  The Gospels challenge this notion and point out a God who is actively involved in his creation.  God’s promise of a protected love feels empty when we see people experiencing danger, pain and difficult trials.  In most cases the pain they are experiencing is  not from anything they have done.   Life can feel unfair at times.  There are many books written on the subject, one is “When Bad Things Happen to Good People” written by Harold S. Kushner.  His book is a classic modern reflection on suffering, and faith, written after Kushner’s son died of a rare disease. “Why Do Good People Suffer Bad Things?” Written by T. R. Williams is another example.   A more recent work exploring why suffering comes to morally upright people and how faith, growth, and meaning can emerge from it is titled “A Grace Disguised: How the Soul Grows Through Loss” written by Jerry Sittser.  This book is a Christian reflection on grief and suffering written after the author loses several family members, asking why God allows good people to experience devastating loss.  

I suspect many of us are not fully aware of all that we have been protected from.  None the less many people do question if God truly loves and protects His people.  These people may feel a disconnect from the words of Jesus to their own experience.  Some may go as far as not being able to trust God even believing that bad things in their lives are a result of divine judgement.  Unfortunately, people who have had punitive childhoods are most susceptible to this view.  Critical and controlling childhood experiences can have a major impact on how we see God.  It is hard to trust and believe in a loving God if our earliest childhood memories are of judgement and punishment.  Even if they want to be trusting it does not come naturally to them.  

Adult children of alcoholic parents are especially prone to trust issues. Many adult children of alcoholics do struggle with trusting in God, though not all do. Their difficulty usually stems from how chronic family dysfunction reshapes their view of authority, love, and reliability. Adult children of alcoholic parents often grew up with inconsistent, unpredictable care, so they may internalize the idea that “love is conditional” or an “I must earn safety”.mentality.  This can distort their image of God: they may see the divine as distant, harsh, or indifferent rather than tender and trustworthy.

S. Niranjan Rodrigo wrote his 2009 dissertation entitled “How religious education and Christian spirituality can restore lost trust and foster interdependent relationships among adult children of alcoholics” focussed on the tendency of children of alcoholics to have difficulty trusting significant people in their lives, he also made recommendations for their healing.

People can also lose their trust in God’s protective love when they experience something painful in their life.  I am not suggesting that they ignore their pain.  But rather focus upon what God may be teaching us or calling us to do.  God is focussed on both our personal and spiritual development.  We may not always understand the loss of something important to us and I recognize that it won’t be easy.  Sometimes we may need a spiritual director, or a therapist or a good friend to help us work through the issue.  We may learn that we are more resilient than we thought.  God’s protection is not a removal of the problem but rather inviting us to growth and maturity.

We need to resist the urge to become bitter.  Bitterness stops the growth process.   Sometimes choosing to be forgiving and striving for reconciliation can help.  There are many theories developed to help explain the process of loss and grief.   For example, the Dual Process Model developed by Dr. Margaret Stroebe and Dr. Henk Schutt in 2010. This model views grieving as an oscillation between “loss‑oriented” coping, focusing on the pain, memories, and yearning and “restoration‑oriented” coping (handling life changes, new roles, and practical demands). The key clinical takeaway is that healthy adaptation involves flexible movement between these poles rather than “getting over” the loss.  Another model is the “Meaning Reconstruction Theory” developed by Robert Neimeyer where the individual attempts to reaffirm or reconstruct a world of meaning that has been challenged by their loss.  There are other theories but these two  indicate that we can recover and grow deeper into our humanity rather than being overwhelmed and paralysed.

In conclusion God’s protection doesn’t remove  personal trials we will still experience challenges and obstacles in our life.   Let us take courage with the assurances we have heard in the Scripture today and live our life with less fear.

Thank you for joining me!

Next Sunday, May 3, 2026, we will be reflecting on Jn 14.1-12 where Jesus focuses on reassuring the disciples that great things will be offered for those who stay on the path. 

New episodes release every Sunday for the next week's Gospel. Big thanks to Heather Patel Doherty and Richard Coulombe for their wonderful help.

Questions or comments? Email me at peter.dohertyomi@gmail.com.

May God richly bless you!