Reflection on Today’s Gospel
At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd.
Let us dwell on this moving picture that the Lord Jesus took pity on people because "they were harassed and abandoned like sheep without a shepherd." Sheep without a shepherd must either perish or end up in some stranger's hands. "My sheep are scattered," God complains in the Book of Ezekiel, "because they had no shepherd, and they were eaten by every wild animal" (cf. Ezek: 34: 5).
In the light of this image of sheep without a shepherd, exposed to being devoured by a wolf or a hyena, let us consider what a great misfortune it is for man to lose himself to Jesus Christ, the Shepherd, who alone can lead us to his Eternal Father. We sometimes think of it lightly as a change in worldview. Different worldviews are equal before the law - and it is very right. But if the different worldviews were also equal in the face of the truth, it would mean that we are all still sitting together in the darkness and shadow of death. If the Lord Jesus were the Savior and Shepherd of only those who believe in Him, it would mean that He is not a Shepherd and Savior at all.
Fortunately, God's truth is different. God took pity on us because we were like sheep without a shepherd and gave us his own Son. And everyone who belongs to the Lord Jesus' flock can feel secure that he will be led to eternal life.
At the same time, let us be overwhelmed by a part of the pity that Jesus shows in today's Gospel to all those who are like sheep without a shepherd, often exposed to being kidnapped by such "wild animals" as alcoholism, fornication or drug addiction, to seek help from various pseudo-saviors who they cannot save man.
Today - two thousand years after the coming of the Savior - hundreds of millions of people are still in a situation as if the Savior did not come to us at all. They are still sheep without a shepherd, exposed to spiritual death through a meaningless life or through entrustment to some or other false messiahs or false messianic ideas.
First of all, let us thank God often for being lucky enough to know Christ and belong to him. Secondly, let us pray more and more for more and more people to recognize Jesus Christ as their Shepherd and Protector. And thirdly, let us listen to God's call, because maybe it is through you that God wants to bring Jesus Christ the Good Shepherd to one of your relatives or friends.
Until Tomorrow
fr. george