Acts 4:8-12,
Psalm 118:1, 8-9, 21-23, 26, 28, 29,
1 Jn 3:1-2
Jesus the Chief and Good Shepherd
Brethren, this Good Shepherd Sunday, is mostly dedicated to praying for increase in vocations in the church as well as praying for priests, and religious so that they may serve God and his people diligently and with love following the example of Jesus the Good Shepherd.
The image of the shepherd comes from the Old Testament which is used to explain the relationship God had with His chosen people Israel. He was a protector, one who leads them from slavery to the promised Land, provider, one who cares and with all the good qualities we can think of. This can be pointed out in some Bible verses and Psalms like: The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want (Psalm 23:1). Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! (Psalm 80:1) We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture (Psalm 100:3). The Messiah is also pictured as the shepherd of God's people: He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs in his arms (Isaiah 40:11) and many others texts.
God also chose his chosen ones among his flock to shepherd his people like Moses, Joshua, Kings, Judges and Prophets. These were to lead his people in the right way according to the ordinances of the Lord. He however warned them to be good shepherds, otherwise they would face his wrath if they misled His people or instead of feeding the sheep they feed themselves (Ezekiel 34:2). This warning still stands for the shepherds of today.
Jesus comes as a fulfillment of the Messiah talked about in the Old Testament, a new Shepherd, the chief shepherd and the one who lays down his life for his sheep and who doesn't run away when danger comes. He does not run away because he owns us, we are his people, sheep of his flock. He is the Good Shepherd.
Jesus also points out the bad shepherds as those who run away when the wolf is coming and leave the sheep to scatter. They run away because they are hired and so don't care much about the sheep but their life. This is a challenge for us today especially those of us who are assigned to take care on behalf of others may be on behalf of a boss or an employer. Do we really care and do our work with love or we are just after money? Do we play the role of a good shepherd in that whatever we are entrusted with we handle with care and don't lose any or make any irregularities with intention? Brethren, let us imitate the Good Shepherd who despite any situation won't run away from us. Let us own our jobs, work, families, and all our responsibilities because when we own them, we shall serve diligently and with love.
Brethren, do we recognize the voice of Jesus as a Good Shepherd. Jesus says my own know me, they hear my voice and follow me. The truth is that there are a lot of voices calling us and to recognize the voice of Jesus we first need the Holy Spirit to open our minds but we also need to get used to that voice frequently through His Word: the scripture, meditation, reflections, Eucharist and through his chosen ones who break the word for us daily. There we will be able to recognize his voice easily because we are used to it as we get used to the voice of our mothers, fathers and friends.
When we hear that voice let us follow him knowing that he will never mislead us. He is a Good Shepherd who will never abandoned us and always looking for the lost sheep as he says in the Gospel: "And there are other sheep I have that are not of this fold, and these I have to lead as well...there will be one flock and one shepherd;" these are the lost sheep. He will risk his life to seek out and save the stray sheep (Matthew 18:12, Luke 15:4). He is the Shepherd and Guardian of our souls (1 Peter 2:25). Let us therefore follow him and come to him always.
Reflect today on: the word of God, how Jesus knows you by name, how he is always calling you to lead you to his green pastures and restful waters and how you have responded to that voice. How have you been a good shepherd as a mother, a father, a priest, a Reverend sister, a bother, a friend, an employer, an employee, a politician and in whatever responsibility you hold? Ask God to always open your mind to imitate Jesus, the Good Shepherd.
Let us pray.
Lord send your Spirit into our lives so that our minds may always be open to hear and listen to the voice of Christ the Good Shepherd and follow it always. May we become good shepherds as Christ is and be a source of joy to everyone we serve. Amen.
Blessed Sunday
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