Jesus is the Good Shepherd
Scriptures often refer to Jesus as “the good shepherd.” A shepherd who would and did lay down his life for his sheep. Jesus provides a parable regarding a lost sheep. Every one of the sheep are precious in Jesus’ sight and therefore should be cared for appropriately.
We are called to tend to the lost sheep in our time. This means those in distress, those oppressed, marginalized, discriminated against, those who are hungry, homeless, sick, and so on. We are called to serve or assist those in need in the ways we can. This might require us to stretch ourselves a little, stepping away from the comfortable and content to tend the sheep in our communities.
Matthew 18:10-14 – “Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for, I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven. What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.”
Prayer: For the Poor and Neglected
Almighty and most merciful God, we remember before you all the poor and neglected people who it would be easy for us to forget: the homeless and the destitute, the old and the sick, and all who have none to care for them. Help us to heal those who are broken in body or spirit, and to turn their sorrow into joy. Grant this, Father, for the love of your Son, who for our sake became poor, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Book of Common Prayer, 1979; pg. 826.)
Ponderings…
Who are the sheep that are astray in your community? What can you do to tend to them? What does it mean for you to leave your comfort or your “ninety-nine sheep”? What would the world look like if every person tended to at least one lost sheep?
Illustrations used with permission. Copyright information for print above: Illustration by Elizabeth Wang, R-60018-CW, ‘The Good Shepherd’, copyright © Radiant Light 2006, <http://www.radiantlight.org.uk/>
