It is hard to preach on a passage that we are so familiar with, especially because this image of Jesus is a favorite. We have a God who cares for us, searches for us, heals us. We are all familiar with the image of the shepherd holding the sheep on his shoulders. All of this true of any shepherd but there is a part of shepherding we do not like looking at.
Sheep are stubborn animals who really do not like being led. They can be very strong-willed because the grass a little further up the slope and looks better. They do not see the wolf or the one who might be looking to steal them. All they care about is what they want. We can all be like those sheep. We become very strong willed and think we know more than the shepherd. Our ego or how view of church/theology is the correct one even if is not what the Church herself asks. To allow Christ to be our shepherd demands humility from each of us, including those who have been called to shepherd. To be led is to trust those who have been called to lead. But, even then, we need to discern who is leading us to Christ, not to a certain way of thinking. The beauty of our Catholic Faith is that the Good Shepherd, appointed Peter and his successors, the Pope to shepherd the sheep it and lead it in the way of Christ. Pope Leo has been showing us this recently.
Sheep are kind of smelly, especially in the summer. Yet, the shepherd still loves them. Think of the beautiful image of the Good Shepherd with the sheep around his neck. Now think of mud, brambles, stuff, etc. that close to your nose. But the sheep is more important to the shepherd, and so are we to God. We matter to God. We are important to God. We are God’s. So, why do we worry about it? Because we stray and get smelly? Because we have learned we are not good enough? Just like the shepherd leads the sheep to sheep to good grazing grace, protects them from the wolf and other predators, heals and washes them, so will God for us, even when we do not think he will.
Finally, the shepherd loves his sheep. Watch a shepherd in the field. He or she is there when they are sheared, when they give birth, when they are lost and scared, when they feed. The sheep know his voice. God does the same thing. He is there when we are scared, hurt, vulnerable, hungry, cold, and lonely, etc. He comes looking for us when we are lost and keeps looking when he hide from us.
Being a shepherd is not a glamorous job, but our Good Shepherd knew this. He knew the pain of death and struggle, but he showed us that he has conquered it. May you be found by the Good Shepherd today and rest in His arms. Let yourself be found.
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