A reading from the gospel according to John 10:27-30:

Jesus said:
27 “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand.
29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand.
30 The Father and I are one.”

Reflection: Jesus is our Good Shepherd.

1. Jesus is our good shepherd and we are His sheep (John 10:11). He knows each one of us including our innermost being, our secrets, and our problems. In fact, He knows us more than we know ourselves. He is our Lord and King. He will take care of us. He gives us eternal life and we will not perish. Therefore in Him alone shall we give our trust.

2. Yet many times we become the black sheep, the unruly sheep, or hard-headed sheep. We do not listen to our good shepherd. He tells us what to do but we refuse or reject His words. We may have a bible at home but it is there gathering dust. We have a lot of time for our worldly habits but too little time for listening to our good shepherd. Or we may want to listen but the volume of the sound of this world is too loud that we become distracted. It is therefore necessary that from time to time, we go into solitude so that we may focus on Him and His message for us.

3. Just as sheep are weak and like to wander away, we too have a lot of weaknesses and more often than not, we veer away from the right path. Thanks to Jesus, our good shepherd. He understands completely our weaknesses and in His mercy, He keeps on calling us and gathering us into His fold. Let us therefore surrender to Him all our weaknesses and wickedness.

4. Yes, Jesus takes care of His sheep. However, He also called us to take of one another especially the most vulnerable – the poor, the oppressed, the last, the least, and the lost. Let us learn from the good shepherd Himself.