Shepherd on Saturday

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today use the idea of shepherd to convey the image of God. The author of the letter to the Hebrews thanks God for His Great Shepherd Jesus. The description of the Good Shepherd from the 23rd Psalm in the Hebrew Testament portrays a relationship which provides protection, peace and guidance. The shepherd models the behaviour to the followers. Just as the Good Shepherd attends to the needs of the flock, the model of care and compassion is to be practiced by the flock of the Shepherd. This is clear in the episode from mark’s Gospel when Jesus and the disciples apparently headed for that ‘well deserved rest’ find people who are like “sheep without a shepherd” and the Master and disciples begin to minister compassionately to them. The Faith of Christians is that all is possible in the power of the Divine with whom we are invited to be in intimate relationship. Living in the Kingdom is the motivation to live in the model of the King.