LED BY THE SHEPHERD
Acts 13:14, 43-52; Revelation 7:9, 14b-17; John 10:27-30
Barbara Taylor narrates a conversation she had with a friend who grew up on a sheep farm. He contends that sheep are not dumb: “The cattle ranchers are responsible for spreading that ugly rumour, and all because sheep do not behave like cows. Cows are herded from the rear by hooting cowboys with cracking whips, but that will not work with sheep. Stand behind them making loud noises and all they will do is run around behind you, because they prefer to be led. You push cows, but you lead sheep, and they will not go anywhere that someone else does not go first—namely, their shepherd—who goes ahead of them to show them that everything is all right.”
Jesus knew what he was saying when he used the shepherd-sheep analogy!
Shepherds have names for their sheep and know their personality. Isolated for days with his herd, the shepherd talks and sings to them, and sleeps among them. Shepherds may place several flocks in one sheepfold. But when the shepherd calls out, the sheep of his flock will sort themselves and follow him; they follow their shepherd only. Shepherds do not need brands to recognize their sheep!
When Jesus uses the shepherd-sheep analogy, it’s consoling; it’s a wonderful and loving image of care and protection! Our shepherd knows us: he knows us personally.
He calls out to us. But in this sheepfold called the world, many voices call out to us: materialism and consumerism, regionalism and communalism. False shepherds make promises of love, happiness, and security, if only I follow one path or another.
If you and I are his sheep, we will listen to his voice and follow him. We will not let the hooting and loud noises of the world and its values drive us; we will not let our passions and fears drive us.
How do we discern the voice of the shepherd? We form and listen to our conscience, the voice of our shepherd within us! Pope Francis calls it “the most secret core and sanctuary of a person. There each one is alone with God, whose voice echoes in the depths of the heart.” We need to rediscover this secret core!
What happens when we follow our shepherd? We have eternal life; we shall never perish—through sorrow and suffering, we will survive; we will always be in the hands of Jesus and the Father! What more can we want? What more do we need?
Will I listen to my shepherd’s voice and follow him?
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