The 4th Sunday of Easter - By Fr. Kimm
Believe it or not, one of my great-grandfathers was a shepherd in Kern County in the 19th C. I have no idea if he was a good shepherd or a bad shepherd, but I do know that tending sheep was not his life's work. He eventually made his fortune--and quite a large one--by operating gambling houses.Jesus, of course, was a good shepherd--but he didn't have to be. Like the hired man, he could have left the sheep and run away when he saw the wolf coming. Instead, he chose to "lay down his life" for them. It was this choice and the many others he made in his life that made Jesus the good shepherd that he was and continues to be. But what about us? A shepherd isn't a shepherd without sheep. Just as the good shepherd's choices proved he was good, our choices say something about the kind of sheep we are. Will we listen patiently when friends want to talk about their problems or will we think of excuses to get away? Will we condemn people for doing things of which we do not approve or will we give them the benefit of the doubt? Will we look for careers that will bring us wealth and prestige or will we consider how God might want us to put our gifts at the service of the Church? Will we wish some punishment on those who harm us or will we pray that God may bless them? Will we use all our resources to take care only of our own loved ones or will we share what we have with strangers who are in need? Will we trust God's promises in all circumstances or will we let hardship and disappointment push us into despair? Jesus calls himself the good shepherd but he doesn't call us the good sheep. That's because he's still waiting to find out the choices we will make. John 10:11-18 <
回總年份目錄
Year Menu> |