Praise be Jesus Christ for ever and ever. Amen
Today’s gospel is about Jesus the Good Shepherd. In this gospel, Jesus says, "I know my mine and mine know me." Reflecting on this gospel, I am reminded of my grandparents.
Many years ago, my papaw gave my mamaw a little red and white orphaned calf he purchased at the sale barn. She raised that small little spindly leg calf on a bottle. Caring for and loving it. That spindly leg red and white calf grew into a big ole Hereford bull that weighed over 2000 lbs.
My papaw named it after my mamaw. They called the bull “Daisy.” People looked at that big heavily muscled bull and saw a dangerous beast. That is not what my mamaw saw. She still saw this sweet little calf that followed her around like a puppy dog.
At that time, the hills and bottoms in that part of the country were considered open range and the cattle roamed the woods. In the evening, my mamaw would go out to the hill behind the house and call that Bull “Daaay-zeeee!”
Daisy knew her voice and she knew his bellow. He would answer her and come running along with all his harem of cows. The woods would come alive with response as the sound of the cows coming home. They would all gather on the side of the hill next to my grandparents’ home.
I can still remember my little French grandmother walking the cattle to pasture followed by a giant bull and all these cows. She fed them. She cared for them. She doctored them when they needed doctoring. My mamaw was the shepherd; those cattle were her flock and they followed her. Since it was a free open range, many times in all the following cows would not just be my papaw and mamaw’s, but others following for the peace, safety, and refuge provided by the fold.
Jesus says I am the good shepherd not just to us, but many others.
What makes a good shepherd? Love.... In his love for us, Jesus gladly laid down his life for our salvation. It is his love, that is the rock, the cornerstone, upon which is built this community of faith, the church. From a community that began as a small flock, love spread to others seeking God's grace and the safety and refuge of Christ redemptive salvation. There is no salvation except through him, the good shepherd.
It is a transformative love (agape). A love that transforms those who believe in Jesus into children of God. And, the world that rejected Jesus rejects us.
The world does not want us. The world does not tell us why it rejects Jesus or those of us who are believers. The world boldly rejects all that he brings and all that he teaches. Maybe, it rejects peace. Maybe, it rejects goodness. Maybe, it rejects love.
In this world, God calls his children to be shepherds. Shepherds like Pope Francis, Bishop Malone and all the Bishops. He calls shepherds in priest, Fr. John Paul, and Father Tobias, sent to shepherd our flock in faith. These good people give their life to shepherd us, to watch over us, and bring us to realize the gift of God’s saving grace. They feed us. They care for us. They pray for us. These shepherds lead us to the peace, safety, and refuge of God’s redeeming grace and salvation in Jesus Christ.
“Beloved, we are God’s children now.” We are called to be shepherds leading those we love to the fold of Christ. We are to shepherd those who know our voice and whose voice we know. We are to be shepherds to those around us and in our community and by example lead them to Jesus.
Hopefully, we will hear the sound of many coming to Christ.
Be good, be holy and preach the gospel by the way you live your life and love one another. Praise be Jesus Christ for ever and ever. Amen.
