Encountering Christ, the Good Shepherd

This past weekend was Good Shepherd Sunday. In the Gospel reading we heard, “I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me,” (John 10:14). What does it mean that he knows us, his sheep? Or that we know him, our shepherd?

Knowledge is not always power. If I were to obtain doctoral degree in theology, that would be great, but having a personal relationship with Jesus is much, much more important. Just because someone knows theology well doesn’t mean they have really encountered the Lord. It doesn’t change their life like encountering Jesus does.

Knowing one another has everything to do with encountering one another. How do we encounter Christ? How do we get to know him? Here are some thoughts: prayer, scripture, serving the poor, and through the sacraments, “most especially in the Eucharistic species, (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1373).

St. Jerome is known to have said “ignorance of scripture is ignorance of Christ.” Sometimes we have no clue what’s going on in scripture and that can be challenging! I do believe, though, that God speaks to us anyway. He can do anything he wants. God knows each one of us; the way we think and perceive things. He speaks to everyone through scripture! It helps to read a passage and remain with it, reflect, and ask the Holy Spirit for help in hearing the Good Shepherd.

Jesus is most certainly found, mysteriously I think, in the poor. I once read a book by Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa (which I cannot remember the title) and he explains why Jesus is in the poor. He said Jesus is in the poor because he chose to be there. That is, he chose to be poor and lowly; he has experienced the depths of hardship and so I think he has a strong solidarity with the poor, and so remains with them always.

We encounter Christ in the sacraments of the Church. The seven sacraments are the means through which Jesus comes to meet us; “In the sacraments, Christ himself is at work, (Catechism, 1127). They are a direct encounter with Christ. During Confession, Christ himself forgives our sins through a priest. When a sick person receives Anointing of the Sick, it is Christ himself who anoints.

My final thought is about hearing the Good Shepherd through the people around us. Have you ever had the experience of hearing someone say something to you, and you knew it was the Holy Spirit telling you something? God works that way sometimes.

“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom,” (Luke 12:32).