Our Lord Jesus Christ: The Good Shepherd

For this Sunday's Gospel reading, we listen to the words of our Lord Jesus Christ on John 10: 11-18, aimed at our bishops, priests and servant leaders of lay communities.

[Jesus said,] "I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 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. 13 This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep.

16 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. 17 This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again.18 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."

It is logical to say that a hired shepherd doesn't really care for the sheep he is caring the way the real owner of the sheep would do. But Jesus is addressing a certain group of people whom the Catholic Church reveals are our bishops and priests and in today's very active Lay Communities to their servant leaders, who also act as shepherds to their respective communities. When Jesus said, "I have also other sheep that do not belong to this fold." I can only think that he meant of other Christian denominations or even the Muslims.

If you're curious, you'd probably ask, "Why did our Lord Jesus Christ put an emphasis on being a Good Shepherd? Is it possible that there were "Bad Shepherds?" So let's find out about this and open your Bibles to Ezekiel 34 entitled the Parable of the Shepherds, where our Lord Jesus reads from the Prophet Ezekiel. On chapter 34: 1-11.

"Thus the word of the Lord came to me; 2 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, in these words prophesy to them [to the shepherds]: Thus says the Lord God: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who have been pasturing themselves! Should not shepherds, rather, pasture sheep? 3 You have fed off their milk, worn their wool, and slaughtered the fatlings, but the sheep you have not pastured.

4 you did not strengthen the weak nor heal the sick nor bind up the injured. You did not bring back the strayed nor seek the lost, but you lorded it over them harshly and brutally. 5 So they were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and became food for all the wild beasts. My sheep were scattered 6 and wandered over all the mountains and high hills; my sheep were scattered over the whole earth, with no one to look after them or to search for them.

7 Therefore, shepherds, heard the word of the Lord: 8 As I live, says the Lord God, because my sheep have been given over to pillage, and because my sheep have become food for every wild beast, for lack of a shepherd; because my shepherds did not look after my sheep, but pastured themselves and did not pasture my sheep; 9 because of this, shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 10 Thus says the Lord God: I swear I am coming against these shepherds. I will claim my sheep from them and put a stop to their shepherding my sheep so that they may no longer pasture themselves. I will save my sheep, and they may no longer be food for their mouths. 11 For thus says the Lord God: I myself will look after and tend my sheep.

This is a prophesy by Ezekiel as to what God himself would do for his people whom he regards as his sheep, who were literally abandoned by their shepherds (he most probably meant the Pharisees). On verse 22-24 we read, "22 I will save my sheep so that they may no longer be despoiled, and I will judge between one sheep and another. 23 I will appoint one shepherd over them to pasture them, my servant David; 24 I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I, the Lord have spoken." That our Lord Jesus Christ came to earth to be our Shepherd was emphasized during his birth, which we can read in Luke 2: 8-12, "There were some shepherds in that part of the country who were spending the night in the fields, taking care of their flocks. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them. They were terribly afraid, 10 but the angel said to them, 'Don't be afraid! I am here with good news for you, which will bring great joy to all the people. 11 This very day in David's town your Savior was born-Christ the Lord! 12 And this is what will prove it to you; you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.'" All these passages points to our Lord Jesus Christ as the true Shepherd, which all those who follow his path must also become themselves.

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