21 July, Sunday — It is lonely and dangerous to be a shepherd

16^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jer 23:1-6
Eph 2:13-18
Mk 6:30-34

The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want.

Have you met a real life shepherd before? I have!

In 2014, I was in the West Bank region of Israel. Under nominal Palestinian Authority control, the population lived in very difficult economic circumstances. With my British friend, we hired a Palestinian guide who drove us to various biblical sites. On the way to Herodium (burial site of King Herod — the one who massacred the Holy Innocents) we stopped by at a hill and met a real life shepherd. He was an old gentleman with a real staff. His flock of goats and sheep numbered around fifty. Not very much, but it was key to his extended family’s survival.

Up till today, I still remember what he said. He worked every day as without him, the flock would be lost. He  was mostly isolated and lonely. Instead of fending off wolves and wild animals, he faced the violence of Jewish settlers and Israeli soldiers. He has been beaten, abused and threatened with death for leading his flock to pasture land and back home safely. His sheep have been stolen or wandered off lost. He tries his best to keep them safe and feels heartbroken to lose any. As the shepherd, he does not want any of his family to take over this role, as it means facing violence and even death. I remembered he said he does not wish to die, but was prepared to suffer and sacrifice so that his family can have a chance to live. 

My real life shepherd is totally different from those that prophet Jeremiah chastised in today’s first reading. Jeremiah condemned the Jewish religious leaders who failed in their role. They did not care for the people and even led them astray from their faith. Thus, Jeremiah foretold that God himself will raise up a righteous shoot to David. He will be the good shepherd to do what is just and right to Judah. Jesus is the righteous shoot. He is the good shepherd to Judah. 

In the second reading to the Ephesians, St Paul explained that Jesus also came to break down the dividing wall of enmity, through his flesh, abolishing the laws and creating one new person in its place instead of two, thus reconciling man with God in peace. Here, Paul was referencing the walls in the Jerusalem temple which physically kept Jews and Gentiles apart. Through his flesh (i.e. death on the cross), Jesus broke this separation. He reconciled Jews and Gentiles together as one new person. There is no more distinction now. Henceforth, all humanity can have eternal life in him.

Brothers and sisters, Jesus saved us from sin and death. But we must still chose to be saved. This means practicing our Catholic faith sincerely. Otherwise, we will lose our way; or worse, have our faith stolen by the evil one. 

Writing this reflection has brought back the memory of my Bedouin gentleman. He followed Jesus’ example to be as good a shepherd as he can because he loved his family and his flock. After 10 years, I wonder how his life is now… 

(Today’s OXYGEN by Andrew Sia)

Prayer: Jesus, my good shepherd, guide me to deepen my faith in you always.

Thanksgiving: Thanks be to Jesus, who brings goodness and kindness all the days of our lives.