“I am the good shepherd,” thus says the Lord: Reflection by Cynthia Abegail

“I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.  The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away —- and the wolf snatched them and scatters them.  The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep.  I am the good shepherd, I know my  own and my own know me just as the Father knows me and I know the Father.  And I lay down my life for the sheep.  I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold.  I shall bring them also and they will listen to my voice.  So there will be one flock, one shepherd.  For this reason, the Father loves me because I lay down my life in order to take it up again.”  Jn10:11-18

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This gospel is one of the most beautiful imagery in the New Testament.  It shows a loving sacrifice, care, love and concern of the Good Shepherd to his sheep.

The sheep is an allegory for the people, the faithful and the lost.  I can see in this scenario an encompassing Love not only for those who follow the Lord.  It is a love beyond human understanding!  It is a love that gathers—-that outreach—-a love that breaks barriers.

In the same way as the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit are One:  the final goal is definitive communion and unity!  Just as Jesus loves all, we must help one another, save one another, reach out to the poor, marginalised, the depressed, the homeless and the lost!  It’s not an elitist ideology like, “I am better than others.”  It is a caring approach, a selfless life dedicated to God and others.  How sweet that life is!  Let us imitate the Lord, our Good Shepherd.  Praise the Lord forever and ever!!!