Friar’s Corner: Jesus is our best Shepherd
Fr. Bob Hilz, TOR
Acts 13:14. 35-52; Psalm 100:1-3, 5; Revelation 7:14b-17; John 10:27-30
These forty days after Easter and the nine-day novena preparing for Pentecost have us reading for St. Luke’s Acts of the Apostles, the history of the earliest church. The first half of Acts recounts the teaching and ministry of St. Peter. The second half deals with the work of St. Paul. Last Friday, we read about how Jesus appeared personally to Paul, Acts 9:1-20, and turned him around to become one of the greatest preachers of the early church.
The gospel stories these weeks are from St. John, Jesus’ special friend and companion. St. John is different than the other gospels. He had a lot of time meditating on the life of Christ and knowing the other gospels, he uses a great way in explaining the uniqueness of who Jesus is as our savior in these great “I AM.” These help us go deeper into the life of Jesus.
Jesus is the “Light of the world,” the “Fountain of living water,” “our Bread of Life,” “the door and gate” of his sheep, God’s new kingdom. Jesus is the “Good Shepherd,” guiding us along the ways of our life by the power of his Holy Spirit, whom we have received part of in various sacraments. Jesus is also the “resurrection from the dead and our new life,” He is the only way to heaven by his truth and new life, and “Jesus is vine,” we are the branches. To get to heaven we must stay connected and follow Jesus our source of new life and power.
Jesus, our Shepherd
This Sunday we look briefly at Jesus as our teacher, guide and shepherd. The little section at the end of the chapter 10 today does not say much about how Jesus is our shepherd. Sheep can be very dumb and can get easily separated from their flock and get lost. The shepherd has a rod with a crook to pull the sheep out of dangerous places. Sheep are important for the shepherd’s income as the wool is sold for profit. Every lamb and sheep is important for the owner. Psalm 23 is a nice example of Jesus caring for us.
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me;
He refreshes my soul.
He guides me in right paths
For his name’s sake.Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
That gives me courage.You spread the table before me
In the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil,
And my cup overflows.Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life.
And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
For years to come.”
The special programming of Mothers
Most of us experience that life is not all that pleasant. We can go through some dark times yet God is with us and can lead and protect us from harm. Jesus is the only one who can go back into our past and heal our past wounds and brokenness. As a shepherd retrieves a lost lamb or sheep and puts it in his arms to comfort that one, so can Jesus provide healing for us of past wounds.
When we look at the ways a shepherd cares for his flock we see the special programming God has placed in the brains and hearts of some women who will become mothers. A different “program” is placed in men for their fatherhood role. Those programs are there even at our first fertilized cell at conception.
If mothers are following that program and accept God’s graces through their development in their parental home, the children of a good marriage are blessed. If there have been some rough spots and hurts, Jesus is the only one who can go back into our past and bring us his healing love. God has prepared and chosen some people who can bring us his healing love. Let us thank our mothers for all the care and love they have provided for us in our lifetime. If your mother is still living, do something very loving for her today and let us pray special blessings for them on this Mother’s Day.
May our Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, bless you and keep you. May he show his face to you and give you his great peace and joy as I bless you all,
(© 2019 Fr. Bob Hilz, TOR)
