Jesus is Our Good Shepherd

04-30-2023Weekly ReflectionFr. Anthony Okolo C.S.Sp.,V.F.

A profound message in today’s first reading is the reaction of the people after listening to Peter’s speech. The author of the “Acts of the Apostles” says that “they were cut to the heart” and they asked the question “what are we to do.” To be cut to the heart means that the words spoken made a deep impact on their lives. They listened with an open mind and their hearts burning with a great desire to make a change. “God’s words are spirit, and they are alive” and when one opens his heart to God’s word it provokes a response of change of heart.

This is the reason the people had to ask what they must do. In response to their question, Peter told them to repent and be baptized. Peter’s response to them means a complete change of attitude and a beginning of a new life in Jesus. Repentance is a sign of acknowledgement of the need to do better. This is what the word of God encourages us to do, to desire to do better in our relationship with God, with one another and with our environment. How often have we listened to God’s words and it promotes a change of heart?

The gospel presents us with the metaphor of Jesus as the Good Shepherd who is the gate keeper and opens the door for His sheep. A shepherd cares, leads, and protects the sheep under his care. A good shepherd risks his life to defend the sheep. This is what Jesus did for us when He gave His life on the cross that we may be saved. In the same way Jesus cares, leads and protects us as His own sheep. The most outstanding aspect of the shepherd’s role is that he knows his sheep very well. He knows those who are weak, sick, fragile, strong and those who need more attention. The sheep listens to his voice whenever he calls them. It is expected that, we as His sheep, should pay attention to the voice of Jesus our good shepherd. To listen to His voice requires being obedient to His teachings and commandments. To listen to Jesus our good shepherd demands making time for Him in our busy schedule to be with Him.

A good shepherd knows each by name and he calls them by name. To call each by name means that he knows each of them personally. In this way, Jesus, our good shepherd, knows each of us personally and He calls us by name because we are His own. As our good shepherd, Christ our Risen Lord knows us better than anyone. He knows us more than we even know ourselves. He knows our temptations, our struggles, and our failings. He even knows our every thought, word, and desire. This is why we should trust Him with our struggles and challenges without fear or shame because He knows us personally.

Finally, Jesus our Risen Lord, as our good shepherd, feeds us with His body in the Eucharist. Let us come to Him, let us approach Him and let us allow Him to lead us as our shepherd and He will lead us to the good pasture.

Fr. Tony Okolo C.S.Sp., V.F.

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