"I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD. A GOOD SHEPHERDLAYS DOWN HIS LIFE FOR THE SHEEP."
Today is “Good Shepherd Sunday,” a day of special prayer for priestly, religious and missionary vocations. We honor and thank, first of all, Jesus, the “Senior Good Shepherd” who laid down his life for the salvation of all human beings.
But we also honor, thank and pray for the “junior good shepherds” chosen and sent by Jesus himself to minister to our spiritual needs. It is also our duty to pray that many more may heed the invitation of the Senior Good Shepherd and respond to it with generous faithfulness.
Jesus said: "I am the Good Shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them. This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep.
I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd.
This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again. This command I have received from my Father."
Euchalette, 3 May 2009
WORD AND LIFE PUBLICATIONS
MCPO Box 1820, Makati City, Philippines
