‘The Lord is my shepherd’ is an image that we keep dearest to our hearts! Jesus says, I
am the good shepherd, I lay down my life for my sheep. I know my sheep and they
know me. My sheep hear my voice and follow me. Knowing and listening the Good
Shepherd is building a relationship of friendship and communion with Christ. This
friendship changes our thinking, imagination and decision making; we conform our
minds to the mind of Christ the good shepherd and reflect his way in our life’s journey.
Our friendship with Christ inspires us to say no to voices that dehumanize us, diminish
our dignity, say no to temptation to angry living, or denial of need for change; we refuse
to feel stuck in our grievances [voice of the good shepherd is liberating: ‘your sins are
forgiven-Luke 7:48; ‘I am willing, be cleansed’-Mathew 8:3 etc.]. Jesus said, as the
Father loves me, I love you and there is no greater love than this that you lay down your
life for your friends. In the gospel we see how Jesus risked his life to be with the
vulnerable of society, to heal the sick and give hope to the lost sheep, freeing people
from the grip of sin and despair! Jesus gave himself, his love that we may live by love.
Following the good shepherd is to let his voice echo in us, through us to give comfort
to the fearful, sorrowful and dispirited among us and getting them out of the dark alleys
they might wander. Story of Abraham Lincoln: ‘One day he was visiting a hospital for
soldiers; he walked from room to room cheering and showing compassion for the
wounded soldiers. He came to the bedside of a young soldier who was dying and he
asked. Well, my boy, what can I do for you? The young man looked up and said: will
you write to my mother for me? That I will, Lincoln said and he sat down beside the
bed and wrote what the young man dictated. I will mail this from my office as soon as I
get back, Lincoln said. And he asked, now, is there anything else I can do? The young
man hesitated and whispered, sir, could you stay with me? I want you to hold my hand.
Lincoln did so until he died sometime later. Lincoln acted like the compassionate
Christ! Theresa of Lisieux said, ‘Silently bearing trials, is the place for Jesus to dwell’.
Through our compassionate presence and attitudes, as Lincoln showed, Jesus the
good shepherd comes to dwell in those who carry the cross!
Image of good shepherd is about the generosity of God, who cares even for sheep that
are outside the fold; the whole human family is his sheepfold. He leads all who listen to
his voice to green pastures of redeeming grace. Often we have a selective
understanding of Christ and his gospel, choosing what we like and exclude many as
unredeemable! Jewish story; a man goes to see a Rabbi to all his lectures. Someone
asked; you go to listen to his wisdom! He said: no, I go to see how he ties his shoe
laces! Does the voice of the good shepherd transform our selfish, narrow-minded,
angry self into caring, generous, joy-filled, healing self? Or are we just attracted by the
externals of our religion, like the man fascinated by the shoe laces of the Rabbi and not
his wisdom? We have a shepherd who feeds us by his self, his body and blood, so that
his heart be united with our hearts and that we may lay down our lives for love! The
good shepherd leads us through hills and valleys; he said he would walk with us
through valleys deep with pain, to pass the hills burdened with much care. We are told
to trust in him, find in him comfort and peace. Someday we will dwell in pastures that
are green!