Under the care, protection of a loving shepherd

Roots of Faith


 

 

In a Monty Python sketch, a city gent observes a flock of sheep. When the urbanite asks why the animals are attempting to fly, a farmer replies, “Sheep are very dim,” adding they are merely following a clever sheep named Harold, who was attempting to escape a sheep’s fate of being eaten.

Contrary to myth, sheep are smart. They can recognize the faces of humans and other sheep. They can behave independently at times but generally do trail after a leader sheep or shepherd.

Since sheep have no claws, fangs, stingers or loud voices, they’re bright enough to realize there’s safety in numbers. Sheep flock together for protection against predators.

In biblical times, sheep produced milk, wool and meat, as well as skin for use in making Torah scrolls.

In Israelite families, the shepherd job was not a favorite one, and the task was passed down the line among the sons until it reached the youngest brother. The families were nomads, constantly moving their tent homes to find fresh water and food.

Once the Israelites became settled, they either turned to other occupations or hired shepherds to graze their animals outside the city walls.

If night fell and the flock was too far from the city to return, the shepherd built a circular, unroofed sheepfold out of stones. He herded the sheep through the structure’s single opening, counting each animal to be certain none were missing. When all the sheep were inside, the shepherd lay down across the opening to guard against wild animals and thieves.

Shepherds used slings and clubs to fight off predators. They also carried a staff with a hook on the end for rescuing wayward sheep caught in crevices.

Often several shepherds watered their flocks at a well or oasis, and the animals would intermingle. The shepherds separated their charges by calling to them. The sheep responded to the voice of their leader and followed him.

Small wonder that the Bible describes God as the shepherd that feeds, guards and leads his people (Psalm 78:52, Psalm 80:2, Isaiah 40:11, Jeremiah 31:10).

King David, who united the Jewish tribes, began as a lowly shepherd serving his older brothers. He killed the giant Goliath with his shepherd’s sling and went on to shepherd a mighty nation.

One of most beloved Bible passages, Psalm 23, is attributed to David. The poem describes God as a loving shepherd who provides security and comfort.

Jesus described himself as the good shepherd (John 10:1-18). Believers follow his call, not the voice of temptation. Jesus lays down his life for the flock to save it from evil (John 10:11).

Jesus tells a story about a shepherd who leaves his flock of 99 to find the one runt who was lost in the desert (Luke 15:1-7), a parable of how God seeks the one lost soul.

The shepherd imagery continues in churches today. The spiritual leader of a congregation is called a pastor, from the Latin noun “pastor,” meaning “shepherd,” and the verb “pascere,” meaning “to tend, pasture, guard, feed, protect.”

The pastor feeds the congregation with God’s word and leads them to the voice of Jesus.

A bishop is a “pastor of pastors.” One of the symbols of a bishop’s leadership is a crosier, a metal walking stick hooked like a shepherd’s staff.

Recently my parish hosted an installation service for the new pastor. In the liturgy led by the bishop, he referred to the priest as a “gentle shepherd.”

While most of us are not called to pastoral positions, we can all be “good shepherds,” providing care and comfort to our families, co-workers, friends and those we meet.

Sally Carpenter has a Master of Divinity from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and is a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church in Moorpark. Reach her at sallyc@theacorn.com.


 

 

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