FROM THE SERVANT GENERAL
OUR THEME FOR 2025
(Part 9)
THE GOOD SHEPHERD
December 4, 2024
Today’s readings (from NJB):
Isaiah 25:6-10
Psalm 23:1-6
Matthew 15:29-37
On the day of salvation, God says through the prophet Isaiah: “And on that day, it will be said, ‘Look, this is our God, in him we put our hope that he should save us, this is Yahweh, we put our hope in him.’” (Is 25:9a). Jesus is our Savior. On the cross and with his resurrection, he destroyed sin, Satan and death. “He has destroyed death for ever.” (Is 25:8a). He has redeemed his people and given them their consolation. As such, “Lord Yahweh as wiped away the tears from every cheek; he has taken his people’s shame away everywhere on earth” (Is 25:8b). And so “let us exult and rejoice since he has saved us.” (Is 25:9b). Thus we rejoice in hope.
Since Jesus’ earthly ministry, he has cared for his people. Thus we can say “Yahweh is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” (Ps 23:1). Jesus is the Good Shepherd, who cares for his sheep. He leads us by tranquil streams and guides us in paths of saving justice (Ps 23:2-3). We fear no danger because he is at our side (Ps 23:4). He upholds us under the eyes of our enemies (Ps 23:5). As such we experience kindness and faithful love every day of our lives, until we enter into our eternal home in the house of Yahweh (Ps 23:6).
As practical manifestation of all the above, Jesus cured the lame, the crippled, the blind, the dumb and many others (Mt 15:30). When he had been preaching for three days and the people no longer had anything to eat, he multiplied seven loaves and a few small fish, and fed them all, with what was left over even more than what he started with! (Mt 15:32,34,36-37). If Jesus can perform such a miracle, he can take care of all our needs, no matter how seemingly unattainable.
Thus with Jesus we lack nothing. Jesus is the Good Shepherd and we are his flock. He provides everything we need to live a good and fulfilled life. On our own we would be helpless, but Jesus is there to care for us. He in fact lays down his life for us.
Look to Jesus, and experience goodness and mercy all the days of your life. We can fully trust and put our future in his hands. Thus we can truly rejoice in hope.
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