The Lord is my Shepherd
When we told people that we were moving to New Zealand, the first two things they would ask was, “are you going to support the All Blacks?” and secondly, ”do you know that there are more sheep than people in New Zealand?”
The reference to sheep in this Sunday’s second reading and Gospel makes you wonder whether Jesus may have lived in New Zealand as it seems that using the analogy of sheep to get a message across resonated with his followers at the time.
There are many themes that flow from the readings today, ranging from Jesus promising us his love and care to us being his followers as a Church community – just as a flock of sheep that is led by its shepherd.
Of all the readings today, the Responsorial Psalm is my favourite, not because it is the basis for one of my favourite hymns but because of the beautiful imagery it portrays of a loving God. In the very first sentence of the Psalm, the Psalmist makes the point that like a Shepherd who leads and cares for his flock, God is our Shepherd who cares for us, loves us and leads us if we chose to follow him. By using the word “my” the Psalmist reinforces the message that while we may be part of a flock, the relationship we have with God is a personal one that we need to nurture and cherish.
These days we find our lives filled with anxiety, the need to be connected and all the other pressures of modern day living. The Psalmist writes that we “will want for nothing” if we recognise God as our Shepherd. He notes that when “we grow tired – he restores my soul; when I’m anxious – thy rod and staff will comfort me.” These are indeed words of encouragement, but to believe in them, we need to trust God because this is what real faith is all about.
We all look for the “hand of God” in our struggles but sometimes it is right in front of us, and we miss it. When we experience difficulties, a good starting point is to surrender your problems and fears to God through prayer. I always find it quite a relief when I can share a problem at work with a colleague because nine times of out ten, they have a similar problem or just that through the mere sharing of the problem I feel that a load has been lifted off me. In the same way, spending time sharing your inner thoughts, fears, and joys with God each day not only helps you grow in faith but allows you to talk to someone who loves and cares for you without any judgement. So, give it a try – you have nothing to lose.
Finally, while we have seen many sheep since arriving in New Zealand, it is not enough to convince me that they outnumber humans and as regards supporting the All Blacks, I will let you know after the Rugby World Cup in October.
Clint Ramoo – Finance Chair
