Acts. 2:14A, 36-41
1 Pet. 2: 20B-25
Jn.10:1-10
“I have come that they may have life, life in all its fullness.”(Jn.10:10) An image of Jesus that we cherish so much is that of the Good Shepherd. The rearing of sheep was a common job among the Israelites. However, it was not a mere job for them. It was their life itself. The shepherd takes care of his flock, just like His children. He knew each one by their name and their needs. There is a strong bond between the sheep and the shepherd. The sheep blindly follow their shepherd. They have such a strong trust in their Master that He will not lead them astray. He will save them from any danger even at the cost of his own life. They don’t follow the voice of a stranger; just like the shepherd knows the smell of the sheep similarly they too recognize his bodily presence through his words, touch, and smell.
Jesus uses this imagery of a shepherd to explain his salvific mission. When we analyze our salvation history, we understand that all the great patriarchs were shepherds: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, etc. It is interesting to note that God calls them while they were rearing their sheep. However, Jesus was a carpenter by profession but he possessed this shepherding heart; His disciples, the people whom He served were his sheep. In today’s gospel, we see that Jesus summarizes his mission in one verse: “I have come that they may have life in all its fullness.” We were dead to sin and through His sacrifice on the cross, we receive new life in all its fullness… the eternal life with Abba Father
All of us are called to possess a shepherding heart like Jesus wherever we are. In the first reading, we see Peter who was a fisherman was transformed as a shepherd and guides his flock. He courageously speaks to them about Jesus and lead them to green pastures and provide them the living water through the sacrament of baptism. In the second reading, Peter emphasizes the message that all those who receive baptism are no more a stray sheep, because they are with Jesus, Who is the shepherd and guardian of our soul, who saved us from eternal death by dying on the cross.
The responsorial psalm of the day Ps. 23, was written by King David who was a shepherd boy, and experienced the shepherding heart of God and became a shepherd after His own heart. He proclaims: “The Lord is my shepherd there is nothing I shall want…” as we journey through these difficult times, let this be our consoling prayer and let us be a good shepherd to one another especially all those who are entrusted to our care. Let us lead them to Jesus who is the source of life… that they may experience life in its fullness…