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When people study the bible to understand what the Word of God is saying to us, we have to be aware of the culture in which the bible was written and what people took for granted at that time. Because the bible uses many phrases and images which we don’t have much understanding of today, and therefore we can lose much of the significances of what is being said to us about God.

Today’s Gospel uses the image of the sheep and the shepherd to tell us about God and His relationship with us – but we can’t understand the significance of this image until we realize what the shepherd was to the sheep and vice versa.

In Jesus’ time, people understood that there was an intimacy between sheep and shepherd; the sheep were more life pets and parts of the family; Each one was given an individual name and they bonded closely. The sheep came to recognize the voice of the shepherd as the one they could trust and they would follow no other.

Shepherds knew everything there was to know about sheep so they could care for them fully and adequately. Shepherds knew for example that sheep are afraid of moving water: ocean and rivers and even babbling brooks frighten sheep. The shepherd therefore has to lead them to still waters in order for them to drink.

Sheep eat grass – but much grass in the Holy Lands of Jesus times was mixed with grass poisonous to sheep – so the shepherd needed to know where lead them so then could be fed and nourished. He makes them to lie down in greens pastures.

At the end of each day, when they are getting ready to bed down for the night, as they pass through the sheep gate the shepherd examines each one for briars and cuts and anoints their head with oil so that over night they may heal and be ready for the next day.

Day and night the shepherd is the constant companion and protector of His beloved sheep. And they recognize his voice and they follow him.

What a rich, warm, and intimate symbol then the Good Shepherd becomes for all of us. That Good Shepherd knows everything there is to know about us.He calls each of us by name; we listen and recognize His voice; He leads us to good rich food and drink – this Eucharist – He is our constant companion; He is there when we go to bed at night and when we get up the next morning; he watch overs us while we sleep; He offers us soothing and healing for our aches and pains – both physically and of the heart. He finds us when we are lost and carries us back to be party of the flock.

We are indeed a part of the family of the Good Shepherd.

Jesus says: My sheep hear my voice; I know them and they follow me. No one can take them out of my hand because the Father has given them to me and the Father and I are one.

May our Good Shepherd lead us to greener pastures everyday where we can feed and Basque in the depth of His knowledge and love for each one of us.