Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“I am the good shepherd.”

John 10:11-18

Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them. This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd. This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again. This command I have received from my Father.”

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus calls himself the Good Shepherd. He tells us that “The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” He is telling us that he is willing to lay down his life for the salvation of the world. The purpose of the Good Shepherd is to bring all the sheep of the world into one fold not just the Israelites. He states that he “other sheep that do not belong to this fold.” So who are these sheep. They are you and I. The folk does not just include the Israelites, it includes everyone in the world. Jesus’ mission extends to every flock no matter what their background. He desires us all to be one under one shepherd. He also cautions us against the hirelings. The hirelings are hired men who “see the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.” The hirelings are those who are out for their own glory and not the glory of God. Their will is weak and when danger approaches, they quickly cower and retreat. The shepherd on the other hand is willing to continually sacrifice himself for his sheep. The Good Shepherd goes out looking for all the sheep to be one flock. There are many false leaders in the world today including maybe some of our friends or possibly our ideals. We must make sure that we are listening to the one true shepherd. The one who laid his life down for us. We do not want to be associated with hirelings. They do not lead us to the gate but scatter us among the winds. The lead us away from the kingdom of God.

Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep.” Jesus says that he knows his sheep. He knows his sheep by name and more importantly, his sheep know him. All a good shepherd needs do is call the sheep and they know his voice and they come running. When Christ calls your name, what do you do. He knows you, but do you know him? When he calls your name, do you remain wondering in the field or do you come to the shepherd? If we do not know his name, then we are easy prey for the wolf. The wolf scatters those who are not under the protection of the shepherd. We know God when we know the Gospel.

A Simple Prayer

Lord you are the Good Shepherd who keeps watch over us.

Give me the ability to hear you call my name.

Give me the strength to be a member of your flock.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon