Good Shepherd Revisited

Shepherds were familiar figures in Palestine in the time of Christ. They were an apt image for Jesus to use to symbolize his relationship to his people. Good shepherds cared for their flocks, protected them from marauders, and slept with them in caves. They even laid down their lives for their sheep.

Sheep are not very common critters in our country. They are considered rather dumb animals. Maybe a better image for us would be a dog. Dog owners tend to develop a relation-ship with their pets and treat them almost like humans. Good dog owners bathe their dogs, take them on walks, feed them well, and often let them sleep in the owner's bed. They take them to a vetinarian when they are sick or need shots and train them to sit, jump, and lie down.

Maybe Jesus as a good dog owner doesn't sound quite as biblical or traditional as a good shepherd. Yet people today might relate better to a good dog owner in our part of the world. Although thinking of people as dogs instead of sheep probably is troublesome for those who don't like dogs. Also you can't herd dogs and form a community like a flock of sheep. .

But whether good shepherd or good dog owner, the important thing to remember is that God cares for us and wants to be with us in an intimate way. When we go astray, God comes searching for us and carries us home. God never abandons us, never stops thinking of us, and loves us beyond our deepest desires.

"Look upon your flock, kind Shepherd, and be pleased to settle in eternal pastures the sheep you have redeemed by the Precious Blood of your Son."