Growing up in suburban New Jersey I rarely encountered any sheep. The few times I saw sheep up close was when we visited my uncle and grandmother in rural Pennsylvania—and I was not impressed with these animals. Despite the best efforts of my siblings and me the sheep paid us little attention. They only responded when it was feeding time or when my uncle wanted to herd them into the barn. Sheep certainly seemed clueless on their own. Visiting Ireland two years ago I noticed the same behavior of Irish sheep—content to eat, wander and oblivious to all except their own kind. Obviously, sheep evolved that way no matter where they grazed.
Am I often a bit of a sheep? Am I concerned only with my own physical comforts? Do I concern myself only with the thoughts of other “sheep” like me? Do I often become lost in my own world and wander off? Suddenly I see more than a passing resemblance to those woolly creatures.
The Good Shepherd
In Matthew’s Gospel as well as the first reading by Isaiah, Scripture uses the image of the Good Shepherd and His sheep. “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray?” (Mt 18:12) and “Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs carrying them in his bosom, leading the ewes with care.” (Isaiah 40:11).
I know that without my time in Adoration my sheep like behavior would take over. Gazing quietly at the Blessed Sacrament I feel the love of Christ. Meditating on my readings I listen for the Good Shepherd to speak to me through the words I read. I know Jesus wants me to focus on how best to follow Him. He asks that those times when aches and pains and sorrows bear down on me that I offer those discomforts up to Him rather than being unhappy or angry.
Meek and Humble of Heart
The image of a sheep is not all negative, though, is it? They are gentle, docile creatures. Docility does not come easy for us. We prefer being assertive and in control for fear of being viewed by others as weak natured. In Adoration this week I chose to meditate on the indulgenced aspiration, “Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto thine.”
This Advent I will pray that Jesus gently herds me away from being a mindless, self-centered creature but that I surrender to Him so that I may follow Him wherever He chooses to lead me.
