Urban Shepherds
This week the church asks us to reflect on John 10: 1-18, Jesus the Good Shepherd. Jesus used metaphors, such as this, to make his teachings relevant to the day to day lives of his listeners, many of whom lived a pastoral culture. Today, most of us live in urban environments without experience of sheep and shepherds. So to improve my understanding of this week’s lesson, I went in search of real urban shepherds.
I contacted one family actively minding sheep on a river bank that meanders through the city, a person whose neighbour shepherds sheep through the streets of a city to pasture at the top of a hill overlooking the city, and an organization online that promotes ‘the grazing of sheep as a sustainable solution for managing urban landscapes’.
Through my research, I've come to understand the unique lives of sheep in urban environments—they're incredibly valuable but also remarkably susceptible to harm. These gentle creatures require constant attention and nurturing, as they tend to wander off. Their innocence leaves them oblivious to potential dangers, and their indiscriminate grazing habits can lead them to consume harmful plants. They know the voice and smell of their owners and will follow them obediently, without hesitation.
The presence of feral city dogs poses a significant threat to their safety. Thus, caring for city sheep demands vigilant guidance and care to ensure their well-being amidst the urban landscape. The family related me a painful story of a 2am attack by a band of feral dogs. They heard the plaintive bleating of the sheep crying out to their masters. At that hour of the morning they went in seach of their scattered sheep till daybreak, only to find some seriously injured, wandering, and some dead.
It is within this poignant context of caring for vulnerable beings amidst the perils of the city that Jesus metaphorically identifies himself as the "Good Shepherd." Just as a vigilant urban shepherd tends to his flock, guiding them away from danger and providing them with nourishment and protection, Jesus offers us compassion and guardianship.
His role as the good shepherd embodies a profound sense of responsibility and care, offering us solace and direction as we wander aimlessly or fall prey to harm. In the bustling complexity of urban life, Jesus' metaphor resonates deeply, highlighting our need for guidance, protection, and His steadfast presence amid the challenges and uncertainties of city life.
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