"They will guide us during the ‘new normal’ and not back to the unjust and unsustainable world which caused this pandemic."
The Gospel tomorrow, the fourth week of Easter, uses the metaphor of Christ as the Good Shepherd. In the Old Testament and during the time of Christ, sheep were plentiful, Israel being a pastoral society.
Understandably, both the Old and the New Testaments make a lot of references to sheep and shepherds. Abel of the Book of Genesis is a shepherd and so are Abraham, Moses and David. A number of passages in both Books use the metaphor of the shepherd in reference to God. For instance, Isaiah 40 says”•He [God] will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep. It is no small wonder that Christ used the same metaphor to refer to him in relation to his people.
A good shepherd needs to know the condition of his flock in order to derive the most from his fold. He does all in his power to protect his flock because there are plenty of dangers coming from wild animals and thieves. The shepherd performs a lot of chores to ensure that the flock is protected and well-fed. He intimately knows every member of his flock and is willing to put his life in line for each and every one of them. In the Old Testament, God is portrayed as the consummate shepherd who does all of these.
The Gospel of John depicts Jesus as the perfect example of sacrificial love as the Divine Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep. Jesus, as a shepherd to his sheep is unlike a hired hand who runs away when danger pounces on his flock. By his passion and death, He has shown to us that he was willing to go all the way for us, His sheep; to sacrifice everything for His beloved. Suffering, persecution, rejection did not deter Him from His responsibility of caring for us in a total and complete way. Jesus’ example inspires us, consoles us and encourages us to know how deep His love for us really is.
Parable after parable, Christ portrays himself as the good shepherd. In Luke we hear of the parable of the lost sheep. How happy the shepherd when he found the lost sheep, Jesus said of the shepherd. The imagery of the shepherd and his flock in the New Testament also alludes to eschatology judgment, likening the process to the separation of the (white) sheep from the goats. But Jesus is the shepherd of all. He was not only the shepherd of the Israelites, the chosen people, but of all nations, the righteous and sinners alike.
A true leader embodies the qualities of Jesus, the Good Shepherd. She serves not to be served; is protective of her people, does not oppress nor exploit, and at all times willing to subordinate her interests for the good of his sheep. This is true to every person who finds themselves in whatever leadership role they find themselves to be in; be they a father or mother, an employer, or a community leader.
Much like Jesus, a shepherd-leader leads by example, worthy of trust, reliable, able to promote welfare of the community, and willing to sacrifice for the sake of his people. She is relational, that is, she intimately knows what is best for hers flock and finally, unlike a hireling who runs at the very first sign of danger, he invests on his flock and is willing to risk her time, fortune and even his very life for the good of the fold. A shepherd-leader never threatens and exposes his flock to any kind of unnecessary and avoidable danger; the safety and well-being of his followers being foremost in his mind. In turn, people follow him, not because they are coerced or intimidated, but because they love and respect him as a leader.
The moral lesson of the gospel of the Good Shepherd is most appropriate considering that we are living in the most trying times. Almost everyone in the planet is undergoing social and economic dislocation and disruption because of the coronavirus. In this time of crisis, what nations need are shepherd-leaders who act and not only react; who unite and not divide; who inspire and not discourage; and who provide and not deprive.
In this time of the coronavirus pandemic, it is women leaders who have done the best for their countries–among others the President of Taiwan, the Chancelor of Germany, and the Prime Ministers of New Zealand, Iceland, and Denmark.
In the Philippines, Vice President Leni Robredo has been the most outstanding official leading the mot effective response against the coronavirus. But this is not a gender thing , as you do have the leaders of South Korea and Vietnam, both males, that have also been praised for the response of their governments.
In the days, months, and years ahead, let us hope we will have more of these leaders in our countries and our communities; good shepherds that would guide us during the new normal and not back to the unjust and unsustainable world which caused this pandemic. We hope for shepherd-leaders that would work with us to build a better, kinder, and more just world where people and planet are revered and respected.
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