THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD: I WANT FOR NOTHING (PS.22, 1)
YES, JESUS IS OUR GOOD SHEPHERD, WHO LOVES US, WHO CARES FOR US, WHO REVIVES US BY FORGIVING US; WHO TAKES THE DARKNESS OF OUR FEARS AWAY, AND LEADS US ON THE RIGHT PATH.
JESUS IS OUR SHEPHERD, WHO SETS FOR US THE TABLE OF HIMSELF AND SERVES US HIS CUP OF JOY... WHO HAS MERCY ON US AND FORGIVES US.
JESUS PRESENTS HIMSELF AS THE "GOOD SHEPHERD". HERE HIS WORDS:
"I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD, AND I KNOW MINE AND MINE KNOW ME, EVEN AS THE FATHER KNOWS ME AND I KNOW THE FATHER; AND I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR MY SHEEP."(JOHN: 10, 14-15)
THE SHEPERD THEME, PERHAPS, IS NOT APPEALING TO US IN MODERN TIMES, WHERE THE TRADITIONAL SHEPHERD HAS ALMOST DESAPPEARED.
THE SHEPHERD'S TASK WAS TO LEAD THEIR FLOCKS TO GOOD GRASS LAND AND TO WATER HOLES, THE SHEEPS LACKED NOTHING IN FOOD AND DRINK.
THE SHEPHERD'S TASK WAS TO WATCH OVER THEIR FLOCKS AND 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.........JESUS USES THIS IMAGE, VERY FAMILIAR AT THAT TIME, TO TELL US HOW HE CARES FOR EACH OF US, "I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD. I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR MY SHEEP"(JOHN: 10, 16)
INDEED, JESUS DID DIE FOR EACH OF US. 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.
Fr. Cipriano Bontacchio