Good Shepherd

 

I spoke about sheep and goats before, but today I am going to talk about people who take care of sheep. Do you know what we call people who care for sheep? We call them shepherds.

Have you ever met a shepherd? I have never met one. I have seen plenty of sheep, but never met a shepherd. I mention shepherds because in today’s Gospel Jesus calls himself the Good Shepherd.

Why do you think he calls himself the Good Shepherd? It’s because he will do anything to save his sheep. Jesus would even give up his own life to save them.

And do you know who Jesus means when he talks about his sheep? He means you and me and everyone who follows him.

I think Jesus was inspired or got his idea about the Good Shepherd from another shepherd. That shepherd is King David. Before he was King David, he was a military leader. Before that he was an actual shepherd.

After he became a king, David wrote the Psalms. One of everybody’s favorite Psalms is the one we heard today, Psalm 23. It begins with the words, “The Lord is my shepherd.”

Have you ever thought of the Lord as your shepherd? Have you ever thought of the Lord as someone who takes care of you? Jesus is Lord and He takes care of you. He gave you everything you need to trust in God: His Promise, His Word. Through Baptism, he promised us new life. He gives us His Body and Blood for the forgiveness of our sins. Jesus is our Good Shepherd and he cares for us with love.

With that, let us pray. Heavenly Father, from whom all fatherhood in heaven and earth is named: Bless these and all children, and give their parents the spirit of wisdom and love, so that the homes in which they grow up may be to them an image of Your Kingdom, and the care of their parents a likeness of Your love. We pray in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.