May 12, 2014
A parent’s duty is never measured in terms of hours, payment and contract. Love does not measure what it gives.
In today’s Gospel reading Jesus presents himself as our shepherd. Andhe sets a big difference between being a good shepherd and a mere hired hand.
The good shepherd is concerned with the safety of the sheep before all else. This is so true that, if need be he will endanger his life in defending them against wolves and thieves. Love does not measure what it gives.
The Greek word used by the Johannine author does not mean simply to ”lay down” or “give up.” Its essential meaning is “to give, to place, to put.” Hence, it is equally a sign of love and commitment on the part of the shepherds to give their lives, the living of their lives, the vital functioning of their lives, for their sheep.
By the very nature of their profession, shepherds had to be faithful people, constantly with their flocks. There were no days off.
The sheep instinctively sensed that they could depend on the shepherd in any crisis. Hired substitutes just did not function in the same way. They didn’t give their lives because they just couldn’t love the sheep in the same way that the real shepherd did.
This last characteristic of the good shepherd love for his sheep is found in Jesus in the highest degree. He not only risked his life for us, he laid down his life for us. And that is the kind of service that can never be paid for, because love cannot be bought. It can only be received gratefully.
Jesus is not only our Good Shepherd. He also invites us to be good shepherds to others under our care, whether it be as parents, as teachers, as big brothers and sisters, as office co-workers. We must examine our attitudes, motivations and behavior in our relationship to work and people. Are we there only to work for pay, or are we doing what we are doing, because it is our profession what we are trained for or good at, or do we look at our work as a vocation a call and opportunity to love and care for the people entrusted to us?
For us, Christians, the Eucharist is our “thank you” to God our Father for having given us such a good shepherd in Jesus Christ. It is also a commitment to respond to God’s and Christ’ great love for us by being good shepherds to others.
May each Eucharist help us to follow more faithfully the One who is leading us to the pastures of eternal life.
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