BECOMING A SHEPHERD

Once I received a puppy as a gift from my brother-in-law. He knew I love dogs. I named him Johan and took care of it. I bought dog food and vitamins for Johan and regularly brought him to the vets. I even studied dog psychology and behavior so that I can provide whatever Johan may need. I gave my best in taking care of Johan. After all, he was mine. I felt responsible for his welfare.  Indeed, we do and give everything we can to the things and persons entrusted to us, as they become ours.

Jesus declares, “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11). And we are the sheep of His flock, for whom He lays down His life. He feeds us with His words. He binds our wounds. He saves us from the snares of death. He gives and leads us to eternal life, and we shall never perish. Jesus does all this for He has adopted (nilingap) us out of His infinite love for mankind. He does His best, he gives His best, His very own life, that everyone, not only the Jews but people of all nations (cf. Acts 13:14, 43-52), may be brought to the Father; to be sharers with the divine life. But what do we give in return? As sheep of His flock, how do we behave?

Jesus is the Shepherd and the Lamb of God. "I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my sheep, and mine know me (JN 10:14)." Our Shepherd is gentle for He Himself is a sheep; He knows what it means to be a human person. He is not detached from our condition. He is a Shepherd who is in the midst of His flock; not ahead of His flock nor at their back. He is truly a Shepherd who smells like His sheep. If Jesus demands one thing from us, He knows we can fulfill it for He knows us, His sheep. But have we recognized Him as our Shepherd?

Sheep have the tendency to flock and to stay together to compensate for the natural defense they lack against possible attackers. They are always together, looking for each other as they graze to maintain their positions. Sheep may follow other sheep but only the shepherd can bring them to safety. Like the sheep, we may have the propensity to listen to one another; to human opinions; to world-pieces of advice; to other shepherds, and we perish for listening in futility to these other shepherds. Only the counsel of the Good Shepherd can bring us to our life goals; only the voice of the Good Shepherd can direct us towards heaven, our homeland; only through the guidance of the Good Shepherd can we establish a relationship with the Father.

There are lost sheep among us. It so not because the Shepherd is negligent in attending to his flock but rather because of the sheep’s personal choice to move away from the flock and away from the shepherd. Probably, sheep move away from the flock because it is tempted to the other side where there seems to be a greener pasture. Lured by wolves clothed as sheep, they leave the flock thinking they can defend themselves only to expose themselves to great dangers. Away from the Good Shepherd, sheep’s coat grows unattended and unsheared, parasites abound on its skin.  Remember the story of Shrek the renegade New Zealander sheep who hid away from its shepherd for six years in a cave to avoid shearing. When it was found, one can hardly recognize it as a sheep. Its coat has grown so thick that it was able to produce twenty suits for men. It had fleece that weigh twenty-seven kilos. It could barely see, for its eyes were covered by its overgrown coat and fleece. Shrek and other sheep disdained sheering by their shepherds not because the process is painful, but rather because it is something unfamiliar to them, though something beneficial. The Good Shepherd desires only good things for us. But often we find our own plans and will far better than His (Sa tingin natin, mas magaling tayo; mas mainam ang plano natin). We are mistaken. For that, we are lost. Away from our Shepherd, we become black sheep because of the darkness brought about by sin.

When in danger, sheep knows they need help. Sheep welcome a shepherd when in pain and danger. A female sheep giving birth welcomes the assistance of the shepherd. Suddenly it is unafraid of the shepherd. In the midst of suffering, a sheep expresses its docility to the shepherd. Such can be rendered as an act of humility on that part of the sheep who usually depends on its self and its fellow sheep.

We as sheep of God's flock have Jesus as our Good Shepherd who is constantly present in our midst, ready to tend us especially when we are in pain and in danger; the Good Shepherd who is willing to search for us whenever we are lost. Such care of the good shepherd is given to all; Jews and Gentiles alike (cf. Acts 13:14, 43-52). The love of God and the eternal life He offers to us is for all; Jews and Gentiles alike. Thus, Paul and Barnabas preached the good news to even to the pagans. Though rejected by others, they were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit, for they were heeding the call of the Good Shepherd to be shepherds of His flock; for brothers to shepherd their brothers.

Jesus is our Good Shepherd who has embraced all of us as His own. Can we be good sheep by recognizing His voice; by obeying His commandments; away from muds that can turn us into black sheep? As we become His good sheep, we are transformed to being shepherds also, after the heart of Jesus the Good Shepherd, leading our brothers and sisters to heed His voice.