I recently read a fictional account of Jesus’ life in which someone said to him: “Why did you use images about sheep with Peter? ‘If you love me, Peter, feed my lambs; feed my sheep.’? After all, he was a fisherman. He didn’t know anything about tending sheep!” Perhaps this is too literal, yet there seems great wisdom here! If we are commissioned as disciples to tend that of which we have no insider-knowledge, we are likely to fail or at least to do a mediocre job! This is something I pondered on “Good Shepherd Sunday”. I have no up-close and personal experience of sheep!
This past Sunday was Mothers’ Day. I thought back on my mom and the hope with which she filled my life. No matter what happened, she assured us it would all turn out aright. Perhaps that was her Shepherd-Mom’s way. Did it always turn out well from our view as kids? Sometimes yes. Sometimes no. Yet her assurance was always hopeful. Where did that attitude come from? Only now, from the perspective of my own older years, do I realize that it was in God that mom lived and moved and had her being. She also always carried a sense of Life beyond death as the ultimate place where there would be no more tears and no more fighting.
Jewish President Zelensky, who is like a shepherd constantly facing the wolves, said on Orthodox Holy Saturday: “On this day death triumphs and God is supposedly gone. But there will be a resurrection. Life will defeat death. Truth will defeat lies.” There must be a wellspring deep inside that gives such hope to the leader of war-ravaged Ukraine.
“Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope.” (1 Peter 3: 15) I sure wish I had asked mom the reason for her hope.
What answer would I give for the hope that is within me?
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