“Being inspired by the Good Shepherd Who sees, seeks and serves!”

(Based on Acts 2:14a, 36-41, 1 Pet 2:20b-25 and Jn 10:1-10 – Fourth Sunday of Easter)

There was a young teacher in a small town school.

She was the kind of person no one really minded…
… soft-spoken, simple, easily missed in a crowd.
But she noticed and she observed!

Every day, one boy came to school – quiet, polite, always keeping to himself.

However, every day at recess (break-time), he just sat there.
No lunch. No snacks.
He’d just sip from a small water bottle…
… and wait for the bell.

At first, the teacher wasn’t sure.

Maybe the boy just forgot his lunch.
Maybe it was just a day or two.

But the days became weeks.

And she realised, he was in need!

So, without saying a word, she started packing a little extra in her lunchbox.

One sandwich. One piece of fruit.
She would casually leave it on his desk before recess – no names, no notes, just… there.

The boy would look around. Hesitate.

And then, just eat.

Weeks passed.
One day, she found a note folded neatly beneath the sandwich wrapper: “You’re the only one who sees me. Thank you!”

Yes… you don’t need a staff and sandals to be a shepherd…
… just a heart that’s willing to care!

That’s what a true shepherd does:

Sees the invisible.
Loves without being asked.
Gives without needing applause.

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus, the Good Shepherd, Who exhorts…
… to get involved in the lives of peoples and make a difference to them
… to be conscious of our own spiritual life and be zealous about it

Jesus speaks of Himself, as the Good Shepherd, who is close and intimate to the sheep.

It is this intimacy and closeness, that makes Him personally and affectionately concerned of His sheep.

The Lord also speaks of others, who are least interested in the welfare and safety of the sheep.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and robber” (Jn 10:1)

The difference in the attitude of the Good Shepherd and the thieves and robbers is this:

The Good Shepherd has a deep intimacy with the sheep…
… others have no relationship!

The Good Shepherd is fully interested in the welfare of the sheep…
… others only care for their personal agenda and benefits!

The Good Shepherd will undertake any sacrifice, even of His life for the sheep…
… others will escape and run away from assuming any difficulties or hardships!

All of us in our lives are entrusted with “sheep” and we are to be shepherds to them…

This “sheep” could be anybody, based on our status and position in life.

They could be…
… family members, spouses, children
… students, work-colleagues, friends
… parishioners, lay faithful
… the needy, the wanting, those in distress
… our own selves

The question is:
In all such situations, of we being a “shepherd,” do I fail to reach out to “our sheep?”

It is the Lord who has entrusted us with the “sheep” and He expects us to be good and faithful shepherds.

The responsibility is great…

The duty is immense…
But do we get lethargic and indifferent, and fail in our duty to be a true shepherd?

The proclamation by St Peter on Pentecost Day touched the hearts of the people “who were open to the Voice of the Lord”; they realized that they were in need of God’s Merciful touch…
… “Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” (Acts 9:37)

St Peter also reminds that Jesus, our Good Shepherd – though innocent and blameless – underwent a lot of suffering for our sake…
… and constantly calls us to turn away from our wayward ways, and return to Him
“He himself bore our sins in His Body on the Cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by His wounds, you have been healed.

For you were going astray like sheep; but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.” (1 Pet 2:24-25)

Jesus, the Great Good Shepherd, is our model and example…
… Let us become more concerned of the welfare of our “sheep”
… Let us be willing to take up any sacrifice for the good of our “sheep”

Indeed, sometimes, the holiest things we’ll ever do…
… “is to prepare a simple sandwich and leave it for a needy one, with a prayerful smile!”

Let us be “the one, who sees…
… and seeks
… and serves!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!