8 February 2020
Saturday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Once again, in today’s gospel we hear Jesus referring to those around him as lost sheep, as sheep with out a shepherd. The term sheep in Latin (as you no doubt recall), or more accurately flock, is grex, gregis from where we get the word congregation, a gathering of sheep, hopefully governed by a good shepherd. The analogy of humanity to sheep perhaps is not complimentary but what it lacks in diplomacy it compensates in in accuracy. Sheep tend to get distracted. Their heads are down as they munch their way towards some cliff or pack of wolves. The good shepherd keeps an eye on things and helps the sheep move in the right direction. Direction was a key idea for Ignatius. He made it the bedrock of his Spiritual Exercises when he noted the priority of lives as union with God and the choices we make in love governed by that priority. Today’s recollection of Jesus as the Good Shepard provides us with the opportunity to reflect on several points. First, who are we following? Second, in imitation of Christ the Good Shepard, do we as Christians follow the example of Christ and provide this example to others. This week we noted the story of brave men and women who gave their lives as a witness (and the Greek word for witness is martyr. Of course, the stories of martyrs leave us daunted if not a little concerned). So, perhaps St. Mother Teresa’s words console us when she reminds us that we can all do some small act that helps us and others towards God.