First Prelude: Picture Jesus, the Good Shepherd carrying a lost sheep on His shoulders.
Second Prelude: O Jesus, Good Shepherd of my soul, let me understand how lovingly solicitous Thou art for my salvation, that placing my entire confidence in Thee, I may follow Thee whithersoever Thou wouldst lead me.
First Point
The Good Shepherd Leads His Sheep to Good Pasture
The whole human race in its blindness had strayed far from the path to heaven and wandered the way to perdition. Filled with mercy and compassion, Jesus, the Good Shepherd, came into the world to gather the scattered sheep of the house of Israel. “My sheep,” He says by the prophet Ezechiel, “were scattered; because there was no shepherd; and they became the prey of all the beasts of the field, and were scattered. Behold I myself will seek My sheep and will visit them” (Ez. 34, 5, 11).
How admirably has Jesus fulfilled His promise! Can He not truly say, “I am the Good Shepherd”? His whole life was devoted to the salvation of His sheep. For thirty years He labored in seclusion, preparing for them a truly fertile pasture in the fulness of the graces that His prayers and His holy conduct drew down upon the earth. To what degree has He not exhausted Himself for His flock in wanderings and admonitions, in difficulties and hardships during the years of His public ministry! Has He not immolated Himself as a bloody Victim on the cross? Does He not nourish His sheep with His own Flesh and Blood in the Sacrament of His Love?
We, who are so happy as to number among His elect sheep, experience the faithful Shepherd’s care in a very particular manner. When we were in danger of losing our way in the turmoil of the world, did not He lure us lovingly into the fold of the religious state? By His graces and enlightenments has He not overwhelmed us with graces and prepared for us the most fertile pasture? Now He admonishes us gently, urging us sweetly by the Shepherd’s crook, the cross, to follow Him, to forsake the ways of self-love, vanity and worldly distractions. He Himself guides us to the most fertile pastures, which lead to the eternal hills. How aptly, therefore, has the Psalmist said: “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall want nothing.” What has the Good Shepherd done for me in particular, and how have I corresponded to His grace?
Second Point
The Good Shepherd Defends His Sheep
Jesus defends us far better than the best of shepherds can defend his sheep. In the gospel He tells us: “The Good Shepherd giveth His life for His sheep,” and He has really given it for us. By His passion and death Jesus merited the graces and the light necessary to sustain us in the struggles of life. To such excess He loves His sheep. Does He not know full well with what powerful enemies we have to contend? It is true, we have been ransomed from the slavery of Satan by Christ’s Precious Blood, but is our adversary not all the more anxious to recapture His prey? Playing the part of the roaring lion ready to devour us, he attacks us in open battle. Again he comes with the wilyness of the serpent to deceive us by his intrigues. Ought we not fear all from an enemy in open league with the deceitful world and our secret self-love? What would become of us if Jesus, the best of shepherds, did not protect us? Beneath the shadow of His Shepherd’s crook we may confidingly attempt the combat with our enemies and walk unconcerned in the midst of the valley of the shadow of death. Even when, through our own fault, we sustain a wound, it is the Good Shepherd Who lovingly provides for and heals us, through the reviving help of His Sacraments. He promised us by the prophet Ezechiel “I will seek that which was lost; and that which was driven away, I will bring again; and I will bind up that which was broken, and I will strengthen that which was weak, and that which was fat and strong, I will preserve, and I will feed them in judgment” (34, 16).
Oh, that we understood and valued rightly the happiness of having so good a Shepherd! He leads us here below along the thorny and cumbersome paths of eternal glory. Out of gratitude for His tender solicitude should we not cling to Him and seek to win other sheep for Him? Oh, that we loved our charges as Jesus loves us!
Affections: Divine Shepherd of our souls, how great is Thy love for Thy sheep! Thou goest to such excess as to offer Thy life for their salvation. In Thy prodigal compassion and love Thou leadest Thy sheep to the best pasture and defendest them against their enemies. Yes, O Divine Saviour, I recognize Thee as my loving Shepherd and thank Thee for having numbered me among Thy chosen flock. Oh, that I had always listened to Thy sweet voice and wholly surrendered myself to Thy guidance! O Jesus, pardon my indifference and infidelity. Henceforth I will constantly remain near Thee, my Good Shepherd, will rivet my eyes upon Thee, and heed Thy divine counsels! As Thy faithful sheep I will follow Thee with implicit trust, tender love, and gratitude, on the way marked out for me by Thy infinite goodness.
Resolution: I will strive to know my Good Shepherd ever better, confidently entrust myself to Him and heed His voice.
Spiritual Bouquet: “The Good Shepherd giveth His life for His sheep.”
Prayer: Take, O Lord…
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