Rejoice to be the One By Beth DeCristofaro
in zeal I persecuted the Church, in righteousness based on the law I was blameless. But whatever gains I had, these I have come to consider a loss because of Christ. More than that, I even consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. (Philippians 3:6-8A)
"What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until
he finds it? And when he does find it, … he calls together his friends and
neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost
sheep.' I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven
over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no
need of repentance. (Luke 15:4-7)
Piety
Precious Shepherd, let me not be lost but help me lose that which keeps me from desiring you alone.
Study
Jesus uses many images to illustrate his Word and the Good Shepherd is one of my favorites. As a hospice chaplain, the 23rd Psalm words resonated with many of the terminally ill patients with whom I prayed. And for those who wanted no prayer, for me, the vision of safe, still water with nourishment provided by holy hands even down the valley of death held comfort and trust in the tremendous merciful justice God delivers to us.
But there is also a fierceness in this vision. A shepherd not only leads but defends. A shepherd cares for the daily needs of the flock. It's hard for me to imagine a shepherd leaving all those sheep with no one, no strong staff, to guard them to go after a slacker who got herself lost. Jesus tells me that is just what he does.
Jesus chose a staff that was and is the arms of the cross, hanging from the staff to offer redemption from sin and eternal life to us. In a homily from October 20, Pope Francis said, in part: "Dear brothers and sisters, Calvary was the site of a great "duel" between God, who came to save us, and man, who wants to save only himself; between faith in God and worship of self; between man who accuses and God who excuses. In the end, God's victory was revealed; his mercy came down upon the earth. From the cross forgiveness poured forth and fraternal love was reborn… Jesus' arms, outstretched on the cross, mark the turning point, for God points a finger at no one, but instead embraces all. For love alone extinguishes hatred, love alone can ultimately triumph over injustice. Love alone makes room for others. Love alone is the path towards full communion among us."[i]
Action
How humbling it is to think of myself as a sheep! Perhaps this picture allows me to realize just how much defending, nurturing and leading I genuinely need. It reminds me just how loved I am even if I'm smelly with my wool full of briars, and I'm stubbornly resistant to follow Jesus through green pastures. But Jesus is fiercely at my side. Spend some time in prayer considering yourself as a humble sheep tended to by God himself. What insights arise?
Illustration: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Teachings_of_Jesus_15_of_40._the_good_shepherd._Jan_Luyken_etching._Bowyer_Bible.gif
[i] http://www.examiner.org.hk/2020/10/23/pope-and-religious-leaders-gather-for-peace-encounter-in-rome/news/international/
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