|
Connections&
May 14, 2000
Fourth Sunday of Easter
+ "I am the good shepherd [who] lays down his life for the sheep. A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away. This is because he works for pay and has not concern for the sheep."
John 10:11-18
Mom's favorite
A sociologist was researching a new book in which he planned to show the burden, misery and cost to society resulting from large families. He interviewed the mother of 13 children. After taking down information about their ages, family income, and other data, he asked, "Do you think all children deserve the full, impartial love and attention of a mother?"
"Of course," the woman replied.
Hoping to catch her in a contradiction, the interviewer continued, "Well, which of your children do you love the most?"
The mother answered, "The one who is sick, until he gets well; and the one who is away, until he gets home."
CONNECTION: A parent's love for his/her children mirrors the love of the Good Shepherd for us: to love fully and totally, to love regardless of the cost, to love without limit or condition, to love even though such love may not be deserved or appreciated. Christ calls each one of us to the vocation of being "good shepherds," imitating his image of loving servanthood: to bring compassion and healing to the sick, the troubled and abused; to bring back the lost, the scattered and forgotten; to enable others to move beyond their fears and doubts to become fully human; to pay willingly the price for justice and mercy for all members of the "one fold."
|
|
