Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter
Today’s Reflection
Gospel: Jn 10: 11-18
May 1, 2023 | Monday
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. Not so the hired hand, or any other person who is not the shepherd, and to whom the sheep do not belong. They abandon the sheep as soon as they see the wolf coming; then the wolf snatches and scatters the sheep. This is because the hired hand works for pay and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, as the Father knows me and I know the Father. Because of this, I give my life for my sheep. I have other sheep which are not of this fold. These I have to lead as well, and they shall listen to my voice. Then there will be one flock, since there is one shepherd. The Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down freely. It is mine to lay down and to take up again: this mission I received from my Father.”
Today’s Reflection:
Shepherding is one of the oldest occupations. Thus, it is not surprising that the care of a shepherd and his relationship with his flock was a common metaphor in the ancient Near East for the leadership of people, especially kingship. Also, various gods of the nations were occasionally spoken of as shepherds. In the Bible, civil and religious leaders are also called shepherds, and the imagery is connected to kingship, especially with David. God has also often been called a shepherd.
We live in a modern, urban world. Shepherding in the ancient world was in many ways simpler than our busy lives since it involved a lot of time watching animals eat. But it was far from mundane. To this day, caring for animals always presents unique difficulties, especially with needy sheep, besides the challenges of the environment. We could summarize the life of a shepherd as one of constant care. All these elements show how close of a bond there was between a shepherd and his sheep. He was their constant companion and would need to know them individually and intimately to properly care for them. The sheep would learn to trust their shepherd, follow his lead, and listen to his voice. This is the kind of leadership and following we see in our relationship with God. In today’s gospel, we realize the costliness of God’s constant care for us as seen in Jesus, who declared. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” /Vulnerasti, 2023
