Today, this Fourth Sunday of Easter is known as “Good Shepherd Sunday.” I am an urban girl—I have always lived in the city or suburbs. The closest I have been to a shepherd is the pie named for it… So I looked up “shepherd” in Websters’ (I just love the dictionary) and the definition was about caring and keeping sheep safe; or about moving a group of persons (ie: children) from one place to another; a pastor. So how do I, or may I, relate to this image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd when I have no actual experience with shepherds or sheep?
If I focus on the first part of the definition from Webster’s—caring and keeping safe—I can understand this, as I trust that God guides me, and cares about how my choices shape the person I am. God wants the best for me, God wants me to be the best me He created me to be. I can follow that…
I also can understand, too, the part of the definition that talks about moving us from one place to another. God works at moving us from fear to love, from hatred to generosity, from selfishness to sacrifice, from sorrow to joy—if we let Him lead us. How may we be led? We need to listen to His voice in the Word, to eat at the table of the Lord, to pray constantly in all our moments, to open our eyes and ears to grace.
The words of the hymn “O King of Love My Shepherd Is” (#690 in our hymnal) speaks of all the things a good shepherd does: we lack nothing, goodness never fails, when we stray we are sought and cared for and (ultimately) brought “home” to a eat and drink our fill. I can follow that, too. The last definition given for shepherd is pastor—a spiritual overseer—and this is just what I need God to be for me. So, is God your Good Shepherd? Food for thought.
Keep singing!
Elizabeth Dyc
If I focus on the first part of the definition from Webster’s—caring and keeping safe—I can understand this, as I trust that God guides me, and cares about how my choices shape the person I am. God wants the best for me, God wants me to be the best me He created me to be. I can follow that…
I also can understand, too, the part of the definition that talks about moving us from one place to another. God works at moving us from fear to love, from hatred to generosity, from selfishness to sacrifice, from sorrow to joy—if we let Him lead us. How may we be led? We need to listen to His voice in the Word, to eat at the table of the Lord, to pray constantly in all our moments, to open our eyes and ears to grace.
The words of the hymn “O King of Love My Shepherd Is” (#690 in our hymnal) speaks of all the things a good shepherd does: we lack nothing, goodness never fails, when we stray we are sought and cared for and (ultimately) brought “home” to a eat and drink our fill. I can follow that, too. The last definition given for shepherd is pastor—a spiritual overseer—and this is just what I need God to be for me. So, is God your Good Shepherd? Food for thought.
Keep singing!
Elizabeth Dyc
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