Jeus The Shepherd

For many centuries the image of the Good Shepherd, in addition to the 23rd Psalm, has brought a sense of comfort and promise to Christian people.  During the times of persecution, in moments of sickness and death, the understanding that Jesus is our Shepherd who stands near us, and offers us courage and strength to stand against all sorts of Evil.  The small band of disciples who were once huddled together in an upper room, now have the ability to stand before sometimes hostile crowds, preaching the Word of God, and healing the sick.

 

The image demands that we understand the relationship between the Father and the Son.  John's Gospel repeats several times that the Son, the Word made flesh, comes to reveal the Father.  More over John's Jesus states quite clearly that he does not speak or act on his own accord, but by the inspiration of the Father.  And in a few weeks we will be reminded that he and the Father are 'One.'  This is important because now we are called to live in this same relationship.  Just as Jesus shares the life of the Father, through the Paschal Mystery we now share life with the Father.

 

This hopefully can help us to understand the sacraments and the Church in a different way.  Sacraments cannot be 'things' that we get when we go to church; rather they are stepping stones along the way in the Body of Christ.  Joined to this entity of divine love, we live the mystery that we celebrate.  We take responsibility for the faith we profess and additionally for the faith of one another.  St. Paul will talk about where there is hurt in one part of the body, the entire body hurts.

 

Which brings us to Jesus looking out over the crowd and seeing that they are like sheep without a shepherd.  As Church we too stand with Jesus and see those afflicted by poverty, violence, abuse, sickness, loneliness, and disease.  The Good Shepherd enables us a voice, and healing capacity, to stand against Sin and Evil.  And even if we are in the dark valley with our brother and sister, we should not be afraid of evil, but work to bring the light of Christ to our brothers and sisters.  By the sacraments we have received the Lord has anointed us with the Spirit, so s to lean on the Shepherd, as we are busy about the mission and ministry of the Christ.

 

The Good Shepherd reminds us the the Lord has lifted his Church up upon his shoulders, carrying us through the darkness, into the waters that give life.  But we do not fear evil; our cup overflows.