Dear Parish Family,

We celebrate “The Good Shepherd Sunday” this week end. We all know how popular pictures of Jesus the Good Shepherd are. In some of these images we see Jesus holding a sheep/lamb over his shoulders, holding the two front legs of the lamb/sheep in his right hand and the two rear legs in his left hand (see the next page). This image or those similar to it appeals to us because of the tenderness of Jesus, his care for the lamb/sheep and his compassion. When we see this image our minds naturally begin to wander and we realize its personal meaning for us. We are that lamb who is being carried by Jesus on his shoulders. Such an image is reassuring for us; Jesus is our support on our journey through life. When crosses and problems come our way or some personal disasters occurs this image of Jesus the Good Shepherd reassures us that we are not abandoned, that Jesus is supporting and holding us up. This is portrayed very beautifully in the famous poem “Footprints” which concludes in this way,
I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life
There has only been one set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?”
The Lord replied,
“The years when you have seen only one set of footprints,
My child, is when I carried you.”

Jesus proclaims in the Gospel today that he is the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep (John 10:11). A hired man, Jesus says, has no concern for his sheep and abandons them even to the wolves but Jesus lays down his life for his sheep (John 10:12-14).  So Jesus laid down his life for them by teaching them the true way of living. Metaphorically, Jesus carried the sick on his shoulder, and those burdened by a huge number of laws interpreting the Torah. So at the beginning of his ministry in Nazareth Jesus proclaimed a Jubilee, “a year acceptable to the Lord.” (Luke 4:19)  Then the beautiful prophecy of Ezekiel 34 was fulfilled in Jesus.

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…I myself will look after and tend my sheep. (Ezek 34:8-9, 11)

In our time people are also given over to pillage and are food for every wild beast because they are being exploited by the materialistic culture of the West and have forgotten that Jesus is the Good Shepherd. We need to be reminded again and again that we are spiritual beings, with an eternal future as second reading today states, “Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is”. (1 John 3:2)

We need to be reminded as Peter reminded his listeners in our first reading, that it is only in Jesus’ name we are saved, “There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved”. (Acts 4:12)
Since Jesus is the Good Shepherd and not a hired hand, he does not run away when the wolf comes, instead he lays down his life for his sheep, he died on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. The Good Shepherd became ‘the Lamb of God’ who takes away the sins of the world.
Today let us pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life, that many will be inspired to show true love, to the point of sacrificing many other attractive options to become priests of Jesus, to follow him in religious life. In our time, as in Ezekiel’s people are given over to destructive domination of others. May Jesus the Good Shepherd raise up many shepherds after his own heart to lay down their lives and carry his sheep on their shoulders.

Fr. Tom Kunnel C.O.