Sunday, May 07, 2006
DEAR PARISHIONERS AND VISITORS,

The Good Shepherd has been a favorite image of Jesus in our history. At the same time we do not hold sheep in much esteem, thinking them stupid and helpless. Sheep could not survive without the care and attention of a trustworthy shepherd. We are not always “brainless” but if we can take ourselves a little less seriously we can admit that we often act as unwisely as sheep do. We can easily go astray and get ourselves into trouble because we cherish our independence and our own opinions too much. We are sometimes willing to blindly accept others people’s ideas or prejudices without reference to what our faith should teach us. We often vote on issues and candidates without weighing all our values. We let misguided people lead us into dangerous habits or situations (“One more drink won’t hurt.” “How fast can this car go?” “But everybody cheats on their income tax!”)

However strongly we may dislike thinking of ourselves as sheep, we are in constant need of a Good Shepherd. Happily we have one, one who cares for his flock and was willing to give his life for them. And as our second reading suggests, by his dying and rising Christ has made us more than his flock; he has made us children of God. Jesus offers us his constant comfort, inviting us to live the love he gives us.

Peace and all Good,
Fr. Richard Juzix, O.F.M., Pastor