Jesus the Animal Lover

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Sunday, May 12, 2019, Fourth Sunday of Easter

Acts 13:14, 43-52
Ps 100:1-2, 3, 5
Rev 7:9, 14B-17
Jn 10:27-30

By Marc Massery

Have you ever had a pet you loved? Did you ever want anything bad to happen to that animal? Of course not.

In the Gospel reading today, we're the animal and Christ is our loving Guardian. It goes without saying that His love for us is far beyond any love we could have for a bird, turtle, fish, cat, or dog.

Jesus says, "My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me" (Jn 10:27).

As men and women of God, we can hear the voice of Jesus - through Scripture, through our pastors, through daily events and situations, and of course, in the silence of our hearts. And we try, albeit imperfectly, to follow Him.

On the other hand, sometimes we forget that our Shepherd is good. When we lose sight of Him, we wonder if He's abandoned us, if He really knows and cares about us.

During uncertain times, He asks us to trust and to keep trying our best to follow Him. When we live this way, He will reveal the truth to us - that He knows us. He knows every thought, every fear. He knows our past: every moment of shame, dishonesty, selfishness, and humiliation. He also knows our fondest memories, what we like, what we love, and what we long for.

He knows it all.

In His mercy, the Lord has a plan for each of His sheep. Seeing beyond our weaknesses and sinfulness, He only considers the good within us. He wants to use our gifts for His glory and bring the desires He placed within our hearts to fulfillment.

As His sheep, we just need to rely upon His provision, protection, and leadership and find our way back to Him when we wander astray.

There's one more thing we need to do, too.

In St. Faustina's Diary, Jesus says, "Souls who spread the honor of My mercy I shield through their entire life as a tender mother her infant, and at the hour of death I will not be a Judge for them, but the Merciful Savior" (1075).

We need to tell as many as possible that the Lord is good and merciful. We need to tell the world that He knows us, loves us, and wants what's best for us, because we're His beloved sheep, and He is our loving Shepherd.

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