Our Good Shepherd

                                                                                                        Copyright free image Google

 On Good Shepherd Sunday, we heard Psalm 23,

 sang at least one hymn based on the Psalm, 

and think of the pictures of Christ 

carrying the sheep.

 It is comforting to think of ourselves
 as that lamb, 

safely tucked in the arms 

or draped around the neck of the Shepherd. 

It is a little harder to remember 

Christ’s instructions to Peter,

 “If you love me, feed my sheep.” 

Yes, we are called sheep, 

and it is not a compliment. 

Without Christ, we are the foolish sheep

 who need protection and guidance. 

But with Christ, that is a different story. 

As the workers in the vineyard 

we are to care for each other 

with Christ-like love and concern.

I was thinking about the pictures

of Christ painted

 by artists and poets and then moved on 

to the verbal pictures I carry in my heart 

about the First Person of the Trinity, 

God the Father. 

The first of those pictures formed 

during my high school years 

when an English teacher 

read the poem “The Creation” 

by James Weldon Johnson.

 Once I started to think of the Creator 

in human form, I began to also see Him

 walking in the Garden. 

First, He was in comfortable conversation 

and then in parental confrontation.

 I saw God the Father as a strong protector

 slamming shut the door of the ark

 to protect and shelter Noah. 

But, my favorite mental picture 

of God the Father in human form comes from

 Deuteronomy 33:12 and Hosea 11:1. 

The blessing of Moses to Benjamin 

says that Benjamin is beloved of The Lord

 and rests between His (God’s) shoulders. 

I know many take that to be a physical description

 of the land assigned to Benjamin 

with the shoulders being 

poetic descriptions of mountains. 

I like to think of God the Father picking up

 those of childlike faith and putting us

 on His shoulders just like a human father

 picks up a toddler and perches

 the little one on strong shoulders 

to keep them safe, let them see, 

and keep them from wandering off. 

The closer I get to heaven,

 the more certain I am that heaven

 must feel just like those laughing children

 sitting on dad’s shoulders. 

Think about it, we were in “Egypt Land” slavery 

when God rescued us and led us

 through the waters of baptism. 

Now we are free, 
now we can dance with Miriam,

 sing with Moses, 

and ride on the shoulders of God!

 I like that picture.

More resources: Creation- James Johnson
and here is a reading-
Video- Creation


Thanks to Contributing writer- 
Natalie Hartwig, 
for this Good Shepherd reflection.