St. John Nepomucene

The Good Shepherd

We celebrated Good Shepherd Sunday on the 4th Sunday of Easter.  We also celebrated Mother’s Day weekend.  We wish all of our Mothers a Happy Mother’s Day!  We pray for those who are living that they may find good health, love, joy and peace.  We pray for our mothers who have died that they may enter the dwelling places which Our Risen Lord has prepared for them.

In regards to Good Shepherd Sunday, we have the beautiful painting of the Good Shepherd, inside our church.  It is located by our church entrance doors, nearest to the school entrance doors.  Jesus is always there to take care of us.  In regards to the sheep, the image of us, the Gospel states Jesus as saying, “No one can take them out of my hand.”  Later on, “No one can take them out of the Father’s hand.”  The Good Shepherd takes care of all the needs of the sheep.  All the sheep have to do is listen to His voice.

“We are His people, the sheep of His flock.”  That is the psalm response.  Maybe we are not happy with that designation.  Popularly to call someone a sheep often suggests that the person is a mindless follower.  But that designation does contain an important description.  Sheep are not so much dumb as defenseless and dependent.  They have no claws.  Their teeth are not exceptionally sharp.  Healthy sheep appear to be fat and have wool.  They cannot run fast.  For sheep to survive and thrive the sheep need a Good Shepherd.

All of us as Christians are called to be sheep.  All of us as Christians are called to be shepherds.  This is particularly true of our mothers.  The Good Shepherd shepherds us through our mothers.  We begin life weak and defenseless.  We need all kinds of help.  We are dependent.  Our mothers get us through these early formative years through sacrificial love.  Our mothers serve as models of the Good Shepherd.

If someone is a model, man or woman, we tend to think of an attractive young woman or a handsome young man who is dressed in a fashionable way.  But everyone is called to be a model.  The Biblical Model is the picture of one who gives his or her life in service.

I would like to share with you the Eight Beatitudes for Mothers….

Blessed are mothers who did without for us, they will be rewarded.

Blessed are mothers who lost sleep when we were sick, they will find rest.

Blessed are mothers who taught us how to pray, they will share God’s kingdom.

Blessed are mothers who comforted us, they shall be comforted.

Blessed are mothers who taught us right from wrong, they will know justice.

Blessed are mothers who showed us the Christian life by example.

Blessed are mothers who shared with us the meaning of peace, they shall

know peace.

Blessed are mothers who taught us the importance of loving God and each other, they shall see God.

Cardinal Mindsenzenty wrote, The important person on earth is a mother.  She cannot claim the honor of having built Notre Dame Cathedral. She need not. She has built something more magnificent than any cathedral; a dwelling place for an immortal soul, the tiny perfection of her baby’s body.  The angels have not been blessed with such a grace.  They cannot share in God’s creative miracle to bring new saints to heaven.  Only a human mother can.  Mothers are closer to God the Creator than any other creature.