SPIRITUAL LIVING
Prayer and Devotions
On the Shepherd’s Shoulders
by Father Jason Smith, LC
Resolution: Offer up a sacrifice for the sheep who have left the Good Shepherd’s flock.
December 11, 2007
Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent
Matthew 18:12-14
Jesus said to his disciples: “What is your opinion? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray? And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.”
Introductory Prayer: Lord Jesus, I place myself in your presence. I have set aside this moment for you so that you can speak to me and I can listen to your words. Speak to my heart! I believe that you are present, bringing all the graces I need right now in the current circumstances of my life. I hope in you, Lord, because I know I cannot place my hope in the things of the world. I love you, Lord, and I know how much you love me.
Petition: Lord, grant me the humility I need to follow you.
1. The Good Shepherd: Children feel safe in their parents’ arms. Here they find love, care, and safety. The early Christians knew this well. They felt the same sentiments for Christ that children feel for their parents. One of the first images they used was the Good Shepherd: a statue of a noble youth carrying a lamb on his shoulders. It expresses perfectly what every Christian finds in Christ: love, care, and safety. Christ the Good Shepherd picks us up into his arms and leads us away from danger, placing us in pastures where we find the true fountains of peace and happiness we yearn for.
2. Humble Sheep: However, if Christ is to be our Shepherd, we have to acknowledge we are his sheep. What does this mean? It means following Christ wherever he leads. It means recognizing his authority over our life. It means humbly bowing our heads and accepting that we belong to Christ. Through the Church’s teaching, he leads us to good pastures. Only in this way can we experience the freedom and joy of being lifted on the shoulders of the Good Shepherd.
3. Part of Christ’s Flock: Sheep are interesting creatures. Without a shepherd they wander aimlessly. They eat from any pasture, drink from any pond. The shepherd knows where wolves are prowling and what pools are poisoned, and he protects the sheep from these dangers. How attractive some of the pools of this world are! Temptation would not be temptation if it were not attractive. Yet the Good Shepherd tells us, “No, do not drink from this pond. It will destroy your faith, your dignity; it will not bring you the peace and happiness you seek.” We well know where the poisoned pools are in our lives, and our first reaction may be to hide like a runaway sheep. But in the end, how grateful we are when the Good Shepherd seeks us out, and we allow ourselves to be brought to safety.
Conversation with Christ: “DISCIPLE: Lord, how often must I forsake myself and in what things must I practice self-renunciation? CHRIST: You must forget yourself always and in all things, and small things as well as in great. I make no exceptions, but want you to be divested of your self-will in all things. For how can you be wholly Mine and I totally yours, if you still entertain self-will within and outside yourself?” (Thomas à Kempis, Imitation of Christ, Book 3, Chapter 37, 3).
Resolution: I will offer up a sacrifice for the sheep who have left the Good Shepherd’s flock.
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