My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

Today is traditionally known in the church as Good Shepherd Sunday. Tending sheep is one of the oldest professions in the world, and there are many kinds of shepherds. There are the kind that walk behind the flock, barking orders, and using sheep dogs, and their shepherds crook to keep the flock in line. These tend to be the shepherd that is hired to do the job of watching over the flock and they have little care about the sheep because to them, they are simply livestock, and watching over them is just a job.

The other kind of shepherd is the one that leads from the front. He knows his flock and they know him. They know his voice and they follow him. This shepherd does not need sheepdogs, and does not even need a crook, except to fight of the wolves and predators that might come to steal away the sheep. This shepherd loves his flock, and tending them is not a job, but instead an act of love. He watches over them because they belong to him, and he wants to keep them safe, and He will defend them with his own life.

So, what is a “good” shepherd? Obviously it is the second kind, that is how Jesus always talked about His sheep. But there is more to being a “good” shepherd, than simply loving, leading and protecting them. In the book of revelation we see Jesus depicted as a lamb. But in the book of Ezekiel chapter 34, Ezekiel prophesied of the coming Good Shepherd. That God Himself will come and shepherd His people. That he will take his flocks out of the hands of the false shepherds, and lead them to good pasture and that they will “walk through the valley of death” and eat their meals “in the presence of … enemies” The same sentiment is made in Psalm 23. So who is the good shepherd? He is a lamb, and He is a shepherd at the same time.

The idea of a lamb-shepherd, is a truly fascinating idea. The lamb is not a shepherd, and the shepherd is not a lamb, but in Jesus they are one and the same. Jesus is the lamb of christ! He did not come into this world as an all powerful king. He came as the humble son of a carpenter. He did not come to cast fear on His Sheep, and to destroy the wolves. He came to be one of the sheep, to lead them to good pasture, and then ultimately to lay his life down in exchange for them. He loves His flock, and He leads them as one of them.

Do you understand how profound that is? God creator of the universe loves you so much that he came to this world, became one of us, leads us to the green pasture, and all the while the predators of the evil one look on, snarling and drooling, waiting for their opportunity to steal us away from the flock. He does not destroy them, or scare them away, instead He lays his life down in exchange for us. That is who the “good” shepherd is, and that is who He still is.

He continues to do that for us even today. He calls to us out of time, and tries to get us to follow Him. He leads us in the ways of truth and shows us that there is a better way. All the while the evil one prowls around looking for one of us to devour. But If we hear His voice and stay in the flock, and he will protect us, and He will even continue to give His life for us. That is what the Eucharist is. The Eucharist is His sacrifice on the cross to save us from our sins. It is Jesus laying down His life in exchange for ours. And it is the ONLY way to find green pasture.

Do you know the voice of the good shepherd? He is calling to you right now. Come into the flock and allow Him to love you and protect you and lead you into good pasture, and to an eternity of happiness and joy with God in Heaven.

Help me lord today to choose your way, and to find the less traveled road that leads to eternity with you.