The Good Shepherd
The Luke 11:9 series: The Good Shepherd
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." [John 3:16-17]
Psalm 23: The Lord is My Shepherd
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
He makes me lie down in pastures green
Near restful waters, he leads me to revive my drooping spirits
He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil
For you art with me; your rod and you staff they comfort me.
You have set a table before me in the presence of my enemies
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
What the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) teaches us
- The Good Shepherd’s role is not just to lead and guide but to lay down His life for His sheep. This self-sacrificial love is at the heart of Christ’s mission of salvation (CCC 608).
- Jesus, as the Good Shepherd, protects His flock from dangers, just as a shepherd defends his sheep from predators. This role highlights His vigilance and concern for the well-being of each individual (CCC 754).
- The Church as a Shepherd: The mission of the Church is to continue the work of the Good Shepherd by proclaiming the Gospel and gathering people into the fold of Christ. (CCC 852, CCC 853)
A Shepherd and his flock
The trust relationship between a shepherd and his sheep is built on communication, attention and care. Sheep recognize the voice of their shepherd. By calling the sheep, the shepherd can gather them together, protecting them from predators or potential threats. Sheep often need direction to find food, water, and safety. The shepherd's call helps lead them to better pastures and away from danger.
Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd came to save sinners
Three figures of speech combine to make up the phrase 'The Good Shepherd' to validate the divine mission of Jesus as our Saviour and Redeemer: the perfect ruler was a shepherd of his flock, the loving guardian of his followers, leading them to happiness and prosperity; and the commanding ruler of his kingdom ready to lay his life to save that of the sheep.
Thus, when Jesus says with authority, "I am the good Shepherd," the qualities of a benevolent leader, guardian, and ruler are all seen combined in Him.
Jesus spoke this parable to them: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine [in safety], and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbours, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I say to you that, likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance." [Luke 15:3-7]
He reiterated his mission of saving sinners (lost sheep) when the Scribes and the Pharisees complained to His disciples, saying, “Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but those who are sick do. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” [Luke 5:30-32]
Voice of the Good Shepherd
Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, “How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me. But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand." [John 10:24-29]
Just as full knowledge exists between God the Father and God the Son, so too does the Good Shepherd have complete knowledge of each of His sheep, the faithful flock.
The flock, in turn, know the Good Shepherd's voice because the Holy Spirit gives us the wisdom to discern his voice; the result is that the true disciple turns and flees from the unfamiliar, misleading voice of Satan with his empty promises, even when that voice is disguised as a convincing pseudo-religious quoting the Bible. Being known by and knowing the Good Shepherd implies that not only do his faithful flock know His voice, but they have an intimate understanding of the way He thinks and they are ready to follow His way of doing things.
A Good Shepherd who willingly gave his life for us
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd, I know My sheep and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd". [John 10:11-16]
Jesus willingly laid down his life for us following the wishes of his Father. This we know from John 10:17-18: “Therefore My Father loves Me because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down for Myself. I have the power to lay it down, and I have the power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”
The Eternal Good Shepherd
‘For thus says the Lord GOD: “Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them in good pasture, and their fold shall be on the high mountains of Israel. There they shall lie down in a good fold and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down. I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgment.” [Ezekiel 34:11-16]
Jesus is the Eternal Good Shepherd as we see in Hebrews 4:14-16: "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses but he was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
Beware of false prophets
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him, the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” [John 10:1-5]
Jesus said, "
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
You and I are called to be Good Shepherds
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. [Matthew 28:18-20]
As baptised Christians, we have received the Holy Spirit. At the end of each mass the priest says these words after the final blessing, "Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life." - this is a reminder to live our lives as disciples of Christ spreading his Gospel, behaving like Good Shepherd to reach out to the outcast, the lonely, the poor, the sick and all those in need.
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