The Good Shepherd

“You are the Christ, the Son of the living Godde.”
Mt 16:13-16

How relevant is a shepherd in today’s society? Said, another way, were Jesus to come back now, which persona would he put on to enter our lives? Or, is He forever The Good Shepherd, the One we turn to (we Christians, I mean), the One by our side always, the One who came to save us?
I have seen shepherds. They are usually with their dog and sheep alone in the countryside. A solitary silhouette on a hill, a figure against the sky in the landscape. They have a rugged simplicity, a quiet density to them, a spirit in harmony with nature, a slow pace and a reflective air.
Jesus the Shepherd, however, is more than a lone man caring for his sheep. He is ‘the’ teacher, he is the Son of Godde.
Is this just a fairy-tale? An archetype materialized and incarnated? An event that took place long ago and whose echo still reach the shores of our times?
“But who do you say I am?,” Jesus asks me. The answer to the question is given at the back of the book — in the Gospel, I mean. The point here is not to give the known answer, preached from the pulpit, learned as a child. The point is, “Who do say I am today — in your heart of hearts?”
Do I have the courage to say, You are the Savior of all Humanity, You came for us, You died for us, You resurrected to give us hope? It is one thing to say this to Jesus in the intimacy and safety of my room, of my prayer. It is another to come out and face a rowdy, jeering, jaded, wounded world and, pointing to Jesus, declare to its face, ‘He is my Savior, the Son of Godde.’
For it is a story I was told long ago, a story I read and meditate every day, a story which makes me wonder, ‘Do I really believe this or do I make believe? Do I need to believe?’
Can one still die for a story that happened so long ago? Pascal’s bet then comes to my mind.
I have read that many people who had a near death experience encountered Jesus coming to greet them on the other side. I sense that they meet him there, because he had been with them all along, bringing safety and love to their lives. They expected Him there...
But I am beating around the bush.
I believe that Jesus is the Son of Godde, in spite of all the Judeo-Christian rigamarole attached to it. I believe that Jesus is our Savior in spite of his ‘presbyters’ lording over us. I believe that Jesus loves me even though I don’t understand why. I believe he is the Anointed One as he keeps inspiring us with the best in us. And though it does not make sense to believe, I believe.
Pun intended, my belief in Jesus the Son of Godde is one of my redeeming factors, something with which I choose to define myself, a North Star that serves as a compass for my life.
The nice thing about Jesus is that we can laugh about my doubts together. He is a friend with whom it is safe to be. I forget about his being the Son of Godde, otherwise I might try to impress him with my ‘faith.’
He is the One I like to meet alone, face to face, because then he refreshes my soul, I fear no evil, he gives me courage, and my cup overflows.

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Art: Lee Hodges, I am The Good Shepherd