Keywords: shepherd, model, holiness, sacrifice, love, salvation
Abstract:
In the words of the Holy Gospel, our Saviour Jesus Christ calls Himself “the good Shepherd” (John 10:11) Who goes out to seek the lost sheep, to lead them to the spiritual pasture and to feed them with the greenery of His divine teachings. He took in His Person our human life and sacrificed Himself for its salvation, in order to give us in return His divine and eternal life, as He Himself promised, saying, “He who hears My word and believes in Him Who sent Me has eternal life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life” (John 5:24). As a shepherd, He identified Himself with His teaching, marking out for us the path to eternal life (cf. John 17:3), instituting the sacramental means for acquiring it and offering Himself as a model of humble and loving service to the human race, which culminated in His sacrifice on Calvary (cf. John 3:16). His model as a shepherd is illustrated by His whole earthly life, which was a concrete and evident manifestation of compassion for human suffering and a tireless striving to alleviate pain, to help those in need, to heal the sick, to pour out the balm of beneficence and comfort on the weary and burdened (cf. Matthew 8:17; Isaiah 53:4). In whatever circumstances, He poured out the balm and wine of comfort wherever He met an afflicted person. He was the “merciful Samaritan” Who bent down to us sinners with total self-giving and healed our wounds, entrusting us to the “guest house” (Luke 10:34), which is the Holy Church, until we are completely healed. Even today, Christ, the “Chief Shepherd” (cf. 1 Peter 5:4), continues to be present in His Church, to enlighten the faithful on the way of salvation and to lead them to the knowledge of the truth, as He said: “For this purpose I was born, and for this purpose I came into the world, that I might bear witness to the truth; everyone who is of the truth hears my voice” (John 18:37). His divine truth is expressed in the right teaching of the Church and in His commandments, and he who fulfils them “shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:19).
Pages: 34-42