9781644135945

The Light of the World
consolations and sensible graces they receive; they know Him also in practical life, with all
its hardships and its many trials and tribulations. They follow in the footsteps of the crossladen
Savior; they follow the Lord who was unjustly condemned and humiliated; they
follow Him “who, when He was reviled, did not revile, when He suffered, He threatened
not, but delivered Himself to him that judged Him unjustly” (Epistle). These are the true
sheep of the divine Shepherd.
“But you are now converted to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” Christ desires to be our
shepherd. If we take our Christianity seriously, we shall place ourselves under His direction.
All human prudence is treacherous, all human plans fail, and all true progress in the spiritual
life is impossible unless we are united to Christ. He guides us by means of His word and His
commandments, which are given to us in the holy Gospels. He guides us by the example He
gave us during His earthly life, and which He continues to give unceasingly in the secrecy of
the tabernacle and in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. He guides us by means of the Church, by
means of her doctrines and her teaching office, by means of her laws and her commandments,
and finally, by means of her priesthood. He guides us who are striving for Christian perfection
through the spiritual directors which He provides for us. The more perfectly we submit ourselves
to these directors and the more confidently we follow their direction, the more certainly we
shall experience that He is “the Good Shepherd.” “He that heareth you, heareth Me; and he
that despiseth you, despiseth Me” (Lk 10:16).
Why are we so reluctant to believe that our way, and the way of the Church, is the way of
renunciation, the way of the cross, the way of humiliation, the way of nothingness in the eyes
of the world? It is because we have not yet understood that our portion is to “follow His steps”
and to drink of His chalice (cf. Mt 20:22).
“I am the Good Shepherd.” If our faith in Christ as the Good Shepherd, as our leader and
protector, were only a living faith, we should live in the consciousness that He is guiding us and
protecting us, that He is solicitous for our well-being every instant of our lives. If we could so
live, how much more peaceful our lives would be, how free from solicitude! How confidently,
how safely, we should pursue our way! How happy we should be knowing that the wisdom,
love, and power of the Good Shepherd guides us to the goal of eternal life! Even in the darkest
hours we should feel confident. But we are too concerned with ourselves, with our works, and
with our miseries. Therefore we become pessimistic and dispirited. O Lord, increase our faith
in Thee, our Good Shepherd.
Prayer
O God, who by the humility of Thy Son hast raised up a fallen world, grant to Thy faithful people
abiding joy; that those whom Thou hast delivered from the perils of eternal death, Thou mayest
cause to enjoy eternal happiness. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Tuesday
“I am the Good Shepherd, alleluia” (Communion). With these words of the Lord the
liturgy distributes Holy Communion to the faithful on the second Sunday after Easter:
“I am the Good Shepherd, alleluia; and I know My sheep, and Mine know Me, alleluia.”
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