Gospel John, 10:11-18
Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them. This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me,
just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd. This is why 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 on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again. This command I have received from my Father.”
Homily
A few years ago, I preached the homily at the funeral of a friend of mine. I have a habit of using the readings for the day to preach for any occasion, whether it be funeral or wedding. The Gospel reading for that day was the reading which we have for today, the passage of the Good Shepherd. While the Gospel was being read, one of the children asked the mother why this Gospel passage was chosen for her father’s funeral. The mother of course just replied that it was the gospel reading for the day. Later on the child who had asked understood that her father was indeed a good shepherd looking after the flock given to him, his family.
In this guide, you can see the explanation of how long your students are sitting in a desk, often made of hard wood or plastic, as well as purchase cheap levitra how much time you are spending standing on your feet. The reality is, penis enhancement supplements perfectly can enhance the length and thickness of your http://davidfraymusic.com/2015/02/ cheap levitra penis, only if you keep consuming the product. Because it comes in liquid form, Kamagra buy levitra uk http://davidfraymusic.com/events/nfm-wroclaw-poland/ jelly has the same contents which other sildenafil tablets have. It improves blood buy online viagra circulation and ensures upbeat health. As I meditated on the Gospel reading for this Sunday, I remembered that incident because in a very true way when Jesus was speaking about the Good Shepherd he was speaking to each one of us who has care for others. Sometimes these others may be young and need nurturing, sometimes they may be old and need special care, sometimes they may be inclined to be wayward and need to be trained to remain in line, sometimes they may be too timid and need to be taught to fend for themselves. Good shepherds know the needs of their sheep and dedicate themselves to ensuring that their sheep live in the best way possible.
Jesus begins this passage by presenting himself as the model shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep. Unfortunately today, the primary shepherds, parents, are often too busy to really look after or lay down their lives for those in their charge. They very often delegate this shepherding role to others or worse still to the Television station. So often those to whom this shepherding role is delegated have no care for the sheep and let in ravenous wolves. What children learn from the television very often does them more harm than good. The Television may quiet them down for a while but it may leave disastrous effects on their psyche and their souls. Parents, as the first shepherds have the prime responsibility of educating their children and this responsibility cannot be delegated. In fact quality time has to be set aside so that parents really come to know their children. “I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me just as the Father knows me and I know the Father;” Good shepherding demands knowledge of the sheep or on the contrary the shepherd will not know the needs of his flock and will not be able to provide for those needs. It is important to remember however that the most important needs are of course the spiritual needs which as disciples of Jesus we must satisfy. The good shepherding of parents ensures that spiritual needs are not forgotten and that children are educated to understand their need of the deep relationship with Almighty God. Teachers are also shepherds, children are in their care for a great portion of the day and so too teachers must recognize their responsibility in either reinforcing the good that parents teach their children or in supplementing what is lacking from the home. Above all good shepherds lead by the example of their lives.
As we look at the role of shepherding which we are all, at some level called to play, we must ask ourselves if we are good shepherds according to the criteria given us by the Lord. Shepherds who are willing to give their lives for the sheep, protecting them from all that is harmful, shepherds who give quality time to their sheep so that they know them very well; shepherd who lead by the example of their lives. As we thank God for those who have been good shepherds to us, let us strive to follow their example and be good shepherds to others.
Prayer
All powerful and ever-loving God, You sent your son to the world to be the good shepherd par excellence. He gave his life for the Sheep and He knew your sheep and they knew Him. You call us to be shepherds also but we will only be shepherds after your heart if we imitate your Son Jesus in his shepherding role. Be with us Lord and form our hearts so that the love with which Jesus shepherded will be in us and we will be shepherds knowing our sheep; Leading them by example and giving our lives for them. We ask this through the intercession of Mary the divine shepherdess and Jesus, your Son. Amen
