"THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD;THERE IS NOTHING I SHALL WANT"
"I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep and my sheep Know me -as the Father knows me and I know the Father- and I lay down my life for the sheep"(John 10, 14-15)
The shepherd theme is perhaps not appealing to us in modern times, where the traditional shepherd has almost disappeared, Yet it is very prominent in the Bible and in the ancient literature.
The shepherd’s task was to lead their flocks to good grassland and to water holes, so the sheeps lacked nothing in food and drink.
The shepherd"s task was to watch over their flocks and to protect them against robbers and beasts of prey, even at the risk of their lives.The shepherd’s task was also, to nurse the sick and wounded, to bring back stray sheeps etc...
Jesus uses this image, very familiar at that time, to tell us how He cares for each of us.
Yes, Jesus is our good shepherd who loves us, who knows what we are in need of. He knows our sufferings, our worries, our distress.
He is very attentive to our needs. He revives us by forgiving us, who takes the darkness of our fears away and leads us on the right path. He really laid down his life to save us, to lead us to life.
Jesus is our good shepherd and host:who sets for us the table of Himself and serves us his cup of joy in the Eucharistic Banquet.
What material food produces in our bodily life, the holy Comunion wonderfully achieves in our spiritual life. The holy Comunion preserves, increases and renews the life of grace received at Baptism.
We are very happy to have Jesus as our Shepherd. We want to give Him thanks and praise.
We want to ask Him to make us care for one another as He cares for us, to make us share in His compassion for all those in any need.
Fr. Cipriano Bontacchio