We Are His Sheep

Since we are iving in a big world filled with empty promises, it is necessary to have something to rely on to keep our two feet on the ground at all times. As Catholics, we have our Faith as our rock and anchor. Not only that but we are reminded in various parts of Sacred Scripture how Christ is our Shepherd as we are His sheep which I will give examples below. First, I wanted to talk about a beautiful image in my living room. 

Jesus as a Shepherd

I have this tapestry in my living room of Jesus as a shepherd which I love to look at. Not only to admire the artwork’s beauty but to ponder the religious image and all its contents. In the picture, Jesus is holding a staff in his right hand symbolizing His authority over His sheep as well as a shepherd’s tool to guide them back if they ever go astray. There is a parable of this in Sacred Scripture. 

Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, ‘This man receives sinners and eats with them.

So He told them this parable, saying,

What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance (Luke 15: 1-7).

This parable reminds us of God’s abundant mercy and how there’s a great celebration in Heaven for anyone who returns from sin in the sacrament of reconciliation. Because of this, we should receive this sacrament often not only seeking forgiveness and counsel but the wonderful graces we need to strengthen us to be better disciples of God. 

Also in the picture, in His other hand, Jesus is tenderly holding one of His sheep pressing it close to His heart. To me, this symbolizes how much He loves us and how nothing will come between us. This is even in the Bible. 

Brothers and sisters: What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:35, 37-39).

This is indeed one of my favorite quotes from the Bible. Jesus has already conquered our two greatest fears: death and sin. And His love is so powerful that any soul who strives to emulate the virtues of humility and true contrition will never separate from this strong connection we have with Our Lord Jesus Christ.

There is also part of the Old Testament that sums this tapestry up perfectly. Here it is stated below. 

Like a shephard he feeds his flock;

In his arms he gathers the lambs 

Carrying them in his bosom,

Leading the ewes with care (Isaiah 4:11).

I love this biblical quote because it tells just how much Jesus will take care of us if we will let Him.  The most important thing is to surrender to His holy will letting Him lead us where we need to go. 

For a further reflection of Christ as our shepherd and we, His sheep, Psalm 23 is the perfect prayer to meditate on. We should pray this prayer slowly, listen attentively, and respond confidently.

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall lack.

In green pastures he makes me lie down; to still waters he leads me; he restores my soul. 

He guides me along right paths for the sake of his name. 

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil, you are with me; your rod and your staff will comfort me.

You set a table before me in front of my enemies; 

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Indeed, goodness and mercy will pursue me all the days of my life;

I will dwell in the house of the Lord for endless days (Psalm 23).

In a nutshell, no matter what, we should surrender to Our Lord Jesus Christ and follow whatever His will as wholeheartedly as a sheep submissively follows his shepherd.