(Audio)
At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them
because they were troubled and abandoned,
like sheep without a shepherd.
Jesus does not want us to feel troubled and abandoned. He wants calls us to cast our cares upon him, because he cares for us (see First Peter 1:57). He wants us to know that God has not abandoned us. He is with us so profoundly that no one can stand against us (see Romans 8:31).
Why do we still wander like lost sheep? We ignore the pastures wherein we might find repose. We careen dangerously close to ravenous wolves without heed to the warnings of our shepherd. Since we don't avail ourselves of his guidance we do feel troubled. We don't experience the peace that comes from knowing and following his voice. We do feel abandoned even though this more often means we have abandoned our shepherd. It is not God who has moved away, but rather us. This is a bitter thought to bear. We prefer the illusion of our perfect fidelity. But when the promised fruit is absent we should check our connection to the vine.
Even though we are partly to blame for our sorry state Jesus still does not want to leave us in feelings of trouble and abandonment. He knows that sheep can't self-organize and solve this problem on their own. He knows that unless the solution is made obvious to the sheep they will never find it in their rumination and reasoning.
O people of Zion, who dwell in Jerusalem,
no more will you weep;
He will be gracious to you when you cry out,
as soon as he hears he will answer you.
The Lord will give you the bread you need
and the water for which you thirst.
Jesus seeks out the lost sheep. All who serve him are instructed to do the same. He calls all to have the hearts of shepherds for those who are lost. He holds no grudges against we who wander. If anything he seems to love us all the more for our pitiable state. It is as if he wants to do even more for us now upon our return than if we'd never left. He gives us the bread of heaven that we need and the living water for which we thirst.
Jesus knows that we are prone to stray. He knows, and so he offers us protection.
No longer will your Teacher hide himself,
but with your own eyes you shall see your Teacher,
While from behind, a voice shall sound in your ears:
"This is the way; walk in it,"
when you would turn to the right or to the left.
The Holy Spirit surrounds us with guidance. He empowers us to stay as near to the shepherd as we choose to stay. In him we can have a peace and joy that the world cannot give and cannot take away.
On the day the LORD binds up the wounds of his people,
he will heal the bruises left by his blows.
We are brokenhearted. Jesus wants to bind our wounds. Come LORD Jesus!
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