Jesus is the Good Shepherd that lays down his life for his sheep. Josef Rodriguez, SJ, reflects on the love of our shepherd and the love that we must show others. Based on the readings for Sunday, April 25, 2021.
I’m Josef Rodriguez, and this is my one-minute reflection.
Today is Good Shepherd Sunday. In John’s Gospel, we hear Jesus call himself the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep. Any first century–or even current–bystander who heard that would stare at the speaker cross-eyed. “This guy would DIE for a SHEEP? Crazy!” But that is precisely the crazy amount of love that Jesus has for YOU!
Many of us know too well that there are those we follow or look up to that have disappointed us, hurt us, or abandoned us. But Jesus is the Shepherd, the Teacher, the Master who would never do that to us. We rarely hear about some social icon or political leader dying for their followers. But Jesus never withheld the cost of his life because he found each of us to be INVALUABLE. Now, if I’m surrounded by other persons whom Jesus sees in this way, shouldn’t I treat them with that same dignity?
