The prophet Jeremiah doesn’t mince his words regarding the bad shepherds, “Woe to the shepherds who mislead and scatter….” 

Jeremiah’s life was the message to live God’s will!  We should live God’s will in our lives.   

 

The model good shepherd is Jesus Christ. 

In the psalms we pray, “The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.”  St. Paul tells us in his message to the Ephesians, “In Christ Jesus you who were far off have become near by the blood of Christ.

St. Francis de Sales offers us a beautiful image of the Incarnation, “God’s kiss to creation.”  That kiss created a special bond between God and us.

A 26 year old mother looked at her 6 year old son Billy and asked, “… did you ever think about what you wanted to be when you grew up?”  Mommy, “I always wanted to be a fireman….”  Billy was dying of terminal leukemia and His Mom smiled and said, “Let’s see what we can do!”

Billy’s Mom went to the local fire dept. in Phoenix.  She explained Billy’s dream and his situation; then asked if they could give her son a ride on a fire engine.  “… we can do better than that… have your son ready at 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday  and we’ll make him an honorary fireman, with a hat and uniform with the Phoenix Fire Dept. emblem on them.

They picked up Billy from the hospital, and put him in a waiting hook and ladder.  A few weeks after his day as a fireman Billy’s vital signs dropped dramatically.  The head nurse called his Mom and the fire chief.  She asked the chief if they could send a fireman in uniform over to visit Billy.

We’ll be there in 5 minutes, when you hear the sirens announce over the PA system that the fire department is coming to see one of its’ finest, one last time.  16 firefighters climbed up the ladder into Billy’s room, and with his permission they hugged him and told him how much they loved him.

Billy asked, “Chief, am I really a fireman now?”  “ Billy you are!”

And the big Chief, God is holding your hand ….”  Billy smiled and said, “I know He’s been holding my hand all day….”  Billy closed his eyes one last time.

Sometimes the Lord heals us and gives us additional time here;

Sometimes the Lord holds our hand and leads us home to the “…land of the living.”

Let us live our lives with compassion for God’s people because in doing that we live our lives with compassion for God, our true Shepherd.

May God Be Praised!