Scripture for meditation: John
10:11-15
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.
Fr. Kevin O'Sullivan, O.F.M. tells
us: The image of
Christ as our Good Shepherd has always appealed to human nature. One of the
earliest paintings of Christ in the Roman catacombs represents him as carrying
an injured sheep on his shoulders. This is a manifestation of love which
touches our innermost feelings. We do not mind being likened to sheep in this
context. There is something guileless about a sheep, and at the same time a lot
of foolishness. Does not this describe the vast majority of men, even many of
those who openly oppose Christ? Is there not something very sheep-like about
the man who, because God gave him a limited intellect, thinks he knows all
things and needs no further help from God? The sheep who thinks it knows as
much, and even more, than the shepherd and sets out to fend for itself, is no
more foolish than the man who thinks he can do without God's revelation and
God's Church. Indeed we all act like sheep on many occasions, when it comes to
the things that concern our spiritual welfare. We often ramble off from the
flock to nibble at little bits of forbidden pasture. However, we have a
Shepherd who understands us, one whose patience and love are infinite. He is
always ready to go after us when we stray too far; his voice is constantly
reaching out to us in missions, retreats, sicknesses, crosses and other various
ways. How many times have we already felt his loving grace calling and helping
us back to the safety of his fold? If (man) truly loves God, he must truly love
his neighbor and must want him to have a share in his own good fortune. He
knows there is welcome and room in heaven for all men, and he knows that the
greater the number there the greater will be God's eternal glory. He will
strive then by every available means to help his neighbor into Christ's fold. After
good example, prayer will be his most potent weapon. Day in, day out the devout
Christian must pray for the conversion of his fellowmen who are wandering
aimlessly in the barren desert of this life far from God. He must also learn
all he can about the truths of his faith in order to be able to help honest
enquirers. He must also cooperate with any parochial or diocesan societies for
the propagation of the faith, insofar as his family and financial state allow
him. The sermon preached by our Savior nearly two thousand years ago is still
echoing and re-echoing around the world, calling on his faithful flock to do
all in their power to help those other children of God who are still outside
the fold. Do not shut your ears to this call of Christ today. Give him a
helping hand by helping your fellowman to see the light of the true faith.
Excerpted
from The Sunday Readings, www.catholicculture.orgHe makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Amen.
My thoughts: I like the way Father O’Sullivan
describes us as sheep, wandering away to nibble at forbidden fruits. Sheep, as
we all know, are blind and fairly stupid. They honestly must follow the shepherd
in order to live. That describes us perfectly. We think we know so much about
the truth, life and our futures, yet we do not have intimate knowledge of
anything. Who can predict the car accident that changes his life? Who foresaw
the stroke that limited his body forever? Who knew that one comment in the
public eye would end a career? We honestly don’t know anything about our
futures, but God does. He gave us a way to follow, and He is always beside us
to guide us back onto it. We must, in turn, help our fellow man to find this
wonderful shepherd, to trust that He honestly knows more about life than they
do, and to turn their lives over to Him. Then let us all dwell in the house of
the Lord forever.
Our prayer to God: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmFM4jZasvs&feature=related
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