Taste and See: Love and care…

The Lord says this: I am going to look after my flock myself and keep all of it in view. As a shepherd keeps all his flock in view when he stands up in the middle of his scattered sheep, so shall I keep my sheep in view. I shall rescue them from wherever they have been scattered during the mist and darkness. I myself will pasture my sheep, I myself will show them where to rest–it is the Lord who speaks. I shall look for the lost one, bring back the stray, bandage the wounded and make the weak strong. I shall watch over the fat and healthy. I shall be a true shepherd to them.

As for you, my sheep, the Lord says this: I will judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and he-goats.

First reading for the Solemnity of Christ the King
Ezekiel 34:11-12,15-17

That we might matter to God somewhat, perhaps we can accept fairly easily.

But that we might matter so much that he has given such thought to how he might care for us and make us safe:

I shall keep my sheep in view.

I shall rescue them from wherever they have been scattered during the mist and darkness.

I myself will pasture my sheep, I myself will show them where to rest–it is the Lord who speaks.

I shall look for the lost one, bring back the stray, bandage the wounded and make the weak strong. I shall watch over the fat and healthy.

I shall be a true shepherd to them.

All this for us. Imagine…

The Good Shepherd. Collection of the Hermitage, St Petersburg, Russia. (c) 2015, Allen Morris.