The Perfect Shepherd

May 3, 2009

Fourth Sunday of Easter

"I am the good shepherd.
A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep...
they will hear my voice,
and there will be one flock, one shepherd..."
(John 10:11-18)

There was this teacher who came up with a good problem.
"Suppose," she asked the second-graders, "there were a dozen sheep and six of them jumped over a fence. How many would be left?"
"None," answered little Norman.
"None? Norman, don't you know arithmetic?"
"Teacher, don't you know sheep? When one goes, they all go!"
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I remember a trip we made to Australia a few years ago. On the tour, our family had an opportunity to visit the Warrook Cattle Farm in Melbourne. We were treated to a demonstration of a sheep dog aiding the shepherd in rounding up the herd. The flock must be in the hundreds, and it would be a tough task for the shepherd to herd the sheep all by himself. At the master's signal, the sheep dog ran circles around the flock while yelping and barking, and the scattered flock was soon organized into one close herd as they dutifully followed the shepherd to the gates. Fantastic! the herding was over in minutes.

Speaking about hearing, there is something peculiar about it compared to seeing. Our ocular view is limited to the direction that we turn our heads, whereas we hear things around us no matter what direction we face. Also, we can shut our eyes but we cannot shut our ears. By the running and barking of the smart sheep dog, the scattered sheep are organized into attention, close together where they are within earshot of the shepherd's voice. The analogy tells us that the good Shepherd may use many instruments and charisms in the Church, so that His voice may be heard loud and clear. That is why in the great commission, the Lord commands: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.". Jesus is not only a Good Shepherd, He is the Perfect Shepherd.

We must pay attention to what we hear, and make a discernment.
Oftentimes, our minds are just too preoccupied with our own voices.

As it goes, three hearing-challenged persons are having a walk one fine day.

One remarked to the other, "Windy, ain't it?"
"No," the second man replied, "It's Thursday."
And the third man chimed in, "So am I. Let's have a coke."
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