This past Sunday we celebrate Christ as the Good Shepherd, we also take time to reflect on vocations to the priesthood, religious life and the diaconate.
The Gospels in the lectionary of the week progress through John chapter 10.
Here in first world North America we have lost the impact of what it means to be a shepherd … much less a “Good Shepherd”.
This is the image we keep of what a “Good Shepherd” is, Jesus lifting up a a cute little lamb onto his shoulders to make the journey easier, a little more tolerable.
It is no wonder that we become frustrated or feel forgotten at times with ” the Good Shepherd” because our “Christian journey” is not as tolerable or as easy as we feel it should be… I blame the “prosperity Gospel” mindset from popular megachurch ministers who sell a lot of books, live in mansions and drive fancy cars.
Think of this when you feel you life is not quite the way you feel it should be…
When a lamb is not staying with the fold, wandering off and putting itself into danger, a shepherd who cares about his flock and each individual lamb will purposely break one the legs of the straying lamb.
He will them bandage up the leg and place the lamb on his shoulder and carry them around until the leg is healed.
As a result, there is a new bond that forms between the shepherd and the lamb that results in the lamb staying with the shepherd, and not straying away from the benefits that being close to the shepherd provides.
When parts our lives seem to be broken, could it be that the ‘Good Shepherd’ is invited us to surrender ourselves, you allow him to come and bandage us up and carry us… so that be can reconcile our attachment to him.
Peace,
DG
The Deacon Guy 