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SCRIPTURE READING

ACTS 2:42-47

1 PETER 2:19-25

JOHN 10:1-10

SUNDAY REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is “Christ, the Good Shepherd. A person or thing is said to be good if the person or thing has qualities that are beneficial or valuable to humanity. A shepherd is a person who tends and rears sheep or plays the role of guiding or directing people in a particular direction. In our reflection, we shall identify qualities that make Jesus the Good Shepherd.

1. Christ is the Good Shepherd because He feeds and gives life to those who are saved.
2. Christ is the Good Shepherd because He cares about the salvation of those who are lost.

First, Christ is the good Sheperd because He feeds and gives life to those who are saved. Unlike the fake prophets or scavengers, Jesus assures us that “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:9-10). Christ, the Good Shepherd leads His sheep to find pasture and ensures that they find life in its fullness. David experienced this goodness when wrote that “The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul…Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” (Psalms 23:1-3,6). The early Church also experienced Christ’s providence and life-giving presence as the Good Shepherd when Luke reported that ” Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people (Acts 2:43-47). Beloved in the Lord, Christ the Good Shepherd is always with us to provide our needs and give us life because He has promised us that “surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20). Dear friend, the presence of the Good Shepherd in our lives as believers should give us hope to embrace the challenges in our lives. We are not alone because our Good Sheperd is with us through every step of the way and we shall overcome the obstacles on our path. We are further encouraged and our faith deepened by the fact that Christ is our Good Shepherd when we sing the song written Bill Gaither,

” And because He lives
I can face tomorrow
Because He lives
All fear is gone
Because I know
He holds the future
And life is worth the living
Just because He lives“

Yes, just because the Good Shepherd lives and is ever present in our lives to feed and give us life, we are saved and have peace in our lives!

Second, apart from us who are saved, Christ is also the Good Shepherd because He cares about the salvation of those who are lost. Peter assures us that Christ the Good Shepherd “…himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (1 Peter 2:24-25) It is for this reason that those of us who are lost have hope of eternal life if we return to Christ, the Good Shepherd. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17) Dear friend, there is hope for the sinner who repents and come to Christ, the Good Shepherd. The Church is the sheepfold of Christ where those who are lost must come to be saved. Just as Luke recorded that “the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:47), we must also go out there and preach the Good News to the hearing of the lost sheep so that they will return to Christ, the Good Shepherd and be saved. The Church must not only be concerned about those who are saved but we must also engage in active Evangelism to reach out to the lost souls who are also of importance to Christ our Good Shepherd.

In summary, the theme for reflection is “Christ, the Good Shepherd. In our deliberation, we have identified two qualities of Christ, the Good Shepherd. First, Christ is the Good Shepherd because He feeds and gives life to those who are saved, and second, Christ is the Good Shepherd because He cares about the salvation of those who are lost. May the Holy Spirit strengthen us to remain faithful to Christ, the Good Shepherd now and always. Amen.