"He walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him"
"When Jesus saw the multitudes He was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad as sheep having no shepherd" (Mt 9,36)... The sheep were scattered, because there is no shepherd ...So was it all over the world when Christ came in His infinite mercy "to gather in one the children of God that were scattered abroad" (Jn 11,52) And though for a moment, when in the conflict with the enemy the good Shepherd had to lay down His life for the sheep, they were left without a guide - according to the prophecy already quoted, "Smite the Shepherd and the sheep shall he scattered" (Za 13,7) - yet He soon rose from death to live for ever, according to that other prophecy which said, "He that scattered Israel will gather him, as a shepherd doth his flock." (Jr 31,10)
And as He says Himself in the parable before us, "He calleth His own sheep by name and leadeth them out, and goeth before them, and the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice," so, on His resurrection, while Mary wept, He did call her by her name (Jn 20,16), and she turned herself and knew Him by the ear whom she had not known by the eye. So, too, He said, "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me?" And He added, "Follow Me" (Jn 21,1.19). And so again He and His Angel told the women, "Behold He goeth before you into Galilee ... go tell My brethren, that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see Me" (Mt 28,7). From that time the good Shepherd who took the place of the sheep, and died that they might live for ever, has gone before them: and "they follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth" (Rv 14,4).
| Monday, April 22, 2013 Easter Weekday |
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