I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them. This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and 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. This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again. This command I have received from my Father."
I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and 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. This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again. This command I have received from my Father."
Jesus uses the image of a good and loving shepherd to demonstrate His relationship with us, His followers. He tells us that He is the Good Shepherd who loves each of His sheep, that is, each of us. He is ready to lay down His life for His sheep - for us. He is divine but is willing to die for mankind. Such is Jesus' love and care for us.
As our Divine Shepherd, Jesus leads us to the Kingdom of the Father, where we will find verdant pastures and restful waters (cf. Ps 23:2). He offers us not just guidance, but loving guidance. He guides us in our life journey because He cares for us so much and He doesn't want any of us to be lost. He desires all men to be saved (cf. 1 Tim 2:4).
Jesus' love for mankind is the reason why His Church is Catholic or universal. His love reaches out beyond His circle of followers and even beyond the Jewish nation. His love is for all. It is even for those who haven't yet heard of Him nor believed in Him. It is also for those who persecute Him, as we clearly see in St. Paul's story. Jesus loves those sheep who haven't entered His fold yet. Truly, Jesus' great love for the human race is magnificent and all-embracing!
The great love and care that our Good Shepherd has for us calls us to respond in faith and obedience. If we truly believe that Jesus is our Good Shepherd, then we will let Him lead us. As good sheep, we must follow the Good Shepherd and faithfully listen to His voice always. In times of trouble, we often feel that Jesus has abandoned us. But probably we only felt that Jesus was absent because we were too busy listening to other voices or to our own convictions. As good sheep, we cannot journey on our own. Being successful in our journey entails entrusting ourselves to Jesus, our shepherd. He is always there because our Good Shepherd never leaves His flock. But we must always keep close to Him.
Today, as we reflect on the great love of Jesus who laid down His life for His sheep, we also join the whole flock of Christ in praying for vocations. Inspired by the Good Shepherd's love, may young people courageously answer God's call for them to serve in the priestly or religious life. And may those who are not called to this service continue to live out their vocation as Christians in whatever state of life they are in.
May we continue our journey towards verdant pastures as good sheep of the Good Shepherd!
As our Divine Shepherd, Jesus leads us to the Kingdom of the Father, where we will find verdant pastures and restful waters (cf. Ps 23:2). He offers us not just guidance, but loving guidance. He guides us in our life journey because He cares for us so much and He doesn't want any of us to be lost. He desires all men to be saved (cf. 1 Tim 2:4).
Jesus' love for mankind is the reason why His Church is Catholic or universal. His love reaches out beyond His circle of followers and even beyond the Jewish nation. His love is for all. It is even for those who haven't yet heard of Him nor believed in Him. It is also for those who persecute Him, as we clearly see in St. Paul's story. Jesus loves those sheep who haven't entered His fold yet. Truly, Jesus' great love for the human race is magnificent and all-embracing!
The great love and care that our Good Shepherd has for us calls us to respond in faith and obedience. If we truly believe that Jesus is our Good Shepherd, then we will let Him lead us. As good sheep, we must follow the Good Shepherd and faithfully listen to His voice always. In times of trouble, we often feel that Jesus has abandoned us. But probably we only felt that Jesus was absent because we were too busy listening to other voices or to our own convictions. As good sheep, we cannot journey on our own. Being successful in our journey entails entrusting ourselves to Jesus, our shepherd. He is always there because our Good Shepherd never leaves His flock. But we must always keep close to Him.
Today, as we reflect on the great love of Jesus who laid down His life for His sheep, we also join the whole flock of Christ in praying for vocations. Inspired by the Good Shepherd's love, may young people courageously answer God's call for them to serve in the priestly or religious life. And may those who are not called to this service continue to live out their vocation as Christians in whatever state of life they are in.
May we continue our journey towards verdant pastures as good sheep of the Good Shepherd!
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