Fr. Downey's Devotion on the Good Shepherd

     Do you know the peace and security of the Good Shepherd who watches over His own? The Old Testament often speaks of God as Shepherd of His people. The Messiah is also pictured as the Shepherd of God's people: He will feed His flock like a shepherd, He will gather the lambs in His arms (Isaiah 40:11).  Jesus says He is the Good Shepherd who will risk His life to seek out and save the stray sheep (Matthew 18:12, Luke 15:4). He is the Shepherd and Guardian of our souls!(1 Peter 2:25).
     Jesus made three promises to his followers.
     1) He promised them everlasting life. If they accept Him and follow Him, they will have the life of God in them. Jesus also promised them a life that would know no end. Death would not be the end but the beginning; they would know the Glory of indestructible life.
     2) Jesus promised a life that was secure. Jesus said that nothing would snatch them out of His hands, not even sorrow and death, since He is everlasting life itself. Our lives are safe in His hands. The security Jesus offers is an abiding relationship with the living God, and membership with His flock, the Church! 
     3) Jesus also promises the security of peace and protection from Evil and the greatest harm that could befall us – eternal destruction. The Lord does not spare us from all trouble. In this life we will experience pain, suffering, sickness, and death. But through these the Lord will lead us to ultimate victory and safety in his everlasting home. Even in the midst of our sufferings we can find a peace and security which no one can give except Jesus alone.
     We can confidently follow the Lord wherever He leads, trusting that nothing can keep us from God if we surrender our lives to Him. Have you placed your life securely in God where it belongs? Do you listen attentively to the voice of the Good Shepherd and obey His Word revealed through the Church He established? Do we take Him, His Eucharistic Presence, or the Church for granted? Thank Him today for ALL the gifts He has given us to draw us to Himself. 
     A grateful humble heart must please Him very much.  "Lord Jesus, you are the Good Shepherd. In you I place all my hope and I entrust myself to you completely. Increase my confidence in Your saving grace and in Your abiding Presence in all the ways You give It to us." 
     God bless you all…
                                                             Fr. Downey