4th Sunday of Easter Fr. Leo
The Lord is our Good Shepherd. We can say that in faith and we can confirm it by looking back over our lives, to see in hindsight where the hand of God has intervened in our lives. Looking at past blessings can build gratitude in us, and inspire hope in what lies ahead.
As a community of Christians, we make the Good Shepherd present by our being there for other people. I think most guys would consider a best bud someone who would have their back if they needed it. Trusting others can make this happen. But if we don’t trust, or believe in the goodness of our family and friends, what sense of security would ever come from the relationships we keep?
When we don’t trust others, there is a good chance that others won’t trust us. If we live only for ourselves, it is unlikely that we will receive empathy from others. I remember my mother once saying, not sure where she got it, but she said, “If you want friends you need to be a friend.”
So let us place our trust in the Lord as our Good Shepherd, and may we let the Spirit make us Good Shepherds of one another. It will be easier to believe God would never abandon us, if we can feel and experience the care of others.