THE WORD BECAME FLESH

Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter, 2023 

Acts 11:1-18

Ps 42

John 10:11-18

The Good Shepherd

According to this morning’s gospel reading (Jn 10:11-18), Jesus shows himself to be the good shepherd in two ways. 

He lays down his life for his flock; he is faithful to his flock, even unto death. Jesus revealed God’s faithfulness to us; he loved us even when we put him to death. As St Paul says, ‘While we were still sinners, Christ died for us’. He is the good shepherd because he is the faithful shepherd. He remains faithful to us, even when we are less than faithful to him. 

Jesus shows himself to be the good shepherd in a second way; he knows us through and through, just as he knows the Father and the Father knows him. He is not a stranger to his flock nor are they strangers to him. We are not strangers to the Lord; he knows us deeply, better than we know ourselves. He understands what we are made, why we do what we do, and fail to do what we fail to do. It has been said that to understand all is to forgive all. 

If the Lord is the good shepherd in those two ways, we are called to be good disciples of the Lord in the same two ways. We are to be as faithful to the Lord as he is to us, by striving to live as he calls us to, with the help of the Holy Spirit, and we are to keep growing in our knowledge of him, so that we come to know him just as he knows us, knowing him not just with our heads but with our hearts.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, you always lead me in the way of true peace and safety. May I never doubt your care not stray from your ways. Keep me safe in the shelter of your presence. Amen.

+Remain blessed