In today’s gospel, we hear Jesus talk about his role as a shepherd, not of sheep but of his faithful followers. For this reason, the Church has traditionally named this Sunday, “Good Shepherd Sunday.” For many generations of Christians, this image of the good shepherd has brought great comfort and consolation. But for those of us who are urban dwellers, and I assume that is most of us, we might not appreciate the full power of this pastoral image until we understand the role of the shepherd in the ancient world, during the time of Jesus.
In the Middle-East, when Jesus was preaching, shepherding was quite different than it is now. Most shepherds who tended their sheep kept them for many years for the wool they produced and did not slaughter them for meat. Shepherds led their animals - they did not drive them from behind, and they stayed with their flock both day and night, often putting them in a cave when it was night and blocking the entrance from hungry predators and thieves using their very own body. A shepherd also had a staff with hook on one end which he used for two purposes: to protect the sheep from wild animals and retrieve them from dangerous situations by putting that hook around the animal's body and dragging it to safety. The shepherd went ahead of his sheep to find safe, nourishing places of pasture and every waking hour was spent caring for them.
Because they kept their animals for years, they came to know them well and the sheep in turn knew and trusted them. As a matter of fact, most shepherds would name their sheep and all shepherds had a certain call or song the sheep knew. This call or song was the crucial bond between sheep and shepherd; Oftentimes, because places of pasture and shelter could be scarce and hard to find, several flocks might mix together while feeding or sleeping for the night. However, when it was time to sort out the sheep, one of the shepherds would stand some distance away from the group and make his unique call, which his sheep knew. As the sheep of his flock heard him, they would run to him, leaving behind the other shepherd with his sheep who refused to come to the first shepherd because they did not know his voice.
This was the relationship that existed between sheep and shepherd. The shepherd was devoted entirely to the care, comfort, and protection of his sheep and the sheep were completely obedient to shepherd, trusting in him for all of their needs. With this background information, we begin to truly appreciate the power of Jesus’ statement when he states: “I am the good shepherd,
and I know mine and mine know me. I will lay down my life for the sheep.
I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice,
and there will be one flock, one shepherd.”
These beautiful words should give us great comfort. We need to remember that God, like a shepherd, helps his sheep; he helps us. There is nothing we need to do to deserve that help. Because of Christ’simmeasurable love, it is always there for us. It was won for us on the cross of Jesus, and secured for us forever by his resurrection.
Like a good shepherd, God watches over and protects his flock. When we cry out, he comes to us, when we search for him, he is there to assist us, and when we are in danger, he protects us. But the most marvelous thing of all is this: when we wander off and stray away from him, he seeks us out and calls us back to him. Through the Eucharist and the other sacraments he continues to nourish and bring us back to the safety and the comfort of his fold.
It is so easy to get lost in our world, to run around doing all the things that must be done, losing track of where we are, and where we should be. It is so easy to be busy and we get tired, discouraged, and find ourselves hungering for peace, but not knowing how to find it. It is so easy to stray from the Lord’s voice and end up in need of help. Far too often you and I spend too much time wandering around, unaware that we are lost, hungry, and without the Shepherd. When we finally realize our need for his helping hand, when we realize that we cannot see the shepherd, and we cannot see the other members of our fold, then we need to call out to him. We know the good shepherd is looking out for us at all times, and when he hears our cry for help he will find us in our hour of need.
It is so important for us to make time to be still. Stop doing things for a moment. Stop and listen for that comforting and life-giving voice of our divine shepherd. He will lead us to a place of peace, spiritual nourishment, and life, where our souls can be refreshed. This church is such a place. God has led you here today, and here at this Mass there is food for your journey, here there is water to refresh your soul, here you will find what your soul needs: a time of rest, a time of strengthening, a time of healing, in the presence of the Lord and his people.
I know this is a busy time for all of us: this is the season of weddings, graduations, confirmations, ordinations, first communions, exams, baseball, and so many other things. Yes, it is a busy time for many of us, and much, if not all, of what we are doing needs to be done. But these times of activity will not drain or discourage us if we stay close to Christ, our good shepherd, and remember that he is here to comfort, nourish, and restore our souls.
As we prepare to enter into the liturgy of the Eucharist, pause for a moment, close your eyes, and sense his presence in this place...Take comfort in knowing that God knows where you are and will answer your call... He knows each one of us by name and is ready to give us all we need...Jesus is the good shepherd, who lays down his life for us; there is nothing that you and I shall want if we follow him and trust in his care.
