I am enamored with the image of Jesus as our Shepherd and we as His sheep. I have a picture on my phone of a dirty little lamb standing in the mud with Jesus running toward it. It’s easy to see myself as that lamb.
Sheep are not the brains of the barnyard. They tend to be followers, not critical thinkers. They are also wildly reliant on their shepherd. Without his protection they are at risk of wolf attacks and without his care they become overgrown balls of matted, dirty wool so thick they can’t see. When Jesus used this analogy, He knew what He was talking about.
Sometimes our sin and bad decisions cause us to become a mess. Perhaps our eyes are even blinded by it for a while. Sometimes, desperate for the approval and applause of others, we follow the crowd leading us away from our Shepherd. Like the little lamb, He comes after us, leaving the hundred for the one. Our Lord finds us, throws us over His shoulder, mess and all, and brings us back to the flock where He will help us shear off our sinful ways because we can’t do it alone.
“My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand.”
This is comforting. I don’t want to abuse His goodness but I’m glad that when I’m lost and struggling, my Shepherd is not far away. Through the Sacrament of Confession I can get cleaned up. I am glad to have a strong, loving Shepherd to bring me home and guard my heart from the enemy wolf.
Me fascina la imagen de Jesús como nuestro Pastor y de nosotros como sus ovejas. Tengo una foto en mi teléfono de un corderito sucio de pie en el barro, con Jesús corriendo hacia él. Es fácil verme como ese corderito.
Las ovejas no son el cerebro del corral. Tienden a ser seguidores, no pensadores críticos. También dependen enormemente de su pastor. Sin su protección, corren el riesgo de ser atacadas por lobos y, sin su cuidado, se convierten en bolas de lana enmarañada y sucia, tan espesas que no pueden ver. Cuando Jesús usó esta analogía, sabía de lo que hablaba.
A veces, nuestro pecado y nuestras malas decisiones nos hacen un desastre. Quizás incluso nos ciegan los ojos por un tiempo. A veces, desesperados por la aprobación y el aplauso de los demás, seguimos a la multitud que nos aleja de nuestro Pastor. Como el corderito, Él nos persigue, dejando cien por uno. Nuestro Señor nos encuentra, nos carga sobre sus hombros, con todo y desorden, y nos trae de vuelta al rebaño, donde nos ayudará a despojarnos de nuestros caminos pecaminosos, porque no podemos hacerlo solos.
“Mis ovejas escuchan mi voz; yo las conozco y ellas me siguen. Yo les doy la vida eterna y no perecerán jamás; nadie las arrebatará de mi mano.”
Esto es reconfortante. No quiero abusar de su bondad, pero me alegra que cuando estoy perdida y luchando, mi Pastor no esté lejos. A través del Sacramento de la Confesión puedo limpiarme. Me alegra tener un Pastor fuerte y amoroso que me trae a casa y protege mi corazón del lobo enemigo.
Merridith Frediani loves words and is delighted by good sentences. She also loves Lake Michigan, dahlias, the first sip of hot coffee in the morning, millennials, and playing Sheepshead with her husband and three kids. She writes for Catholic Mom, Diocesan.com, and her local Catholic Herald. Her first book Draw Close to Jesus: A Woman’s Guide to Adoration is available at Our Sunday Visitor and Amazon. You can learn more at merridithfrediani.com.
Feature Image Credit: CelloChef, pixabay.com/photos/lamb-animal-head-face-sheep-5972583/
The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.
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