A Daunting Task
"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"
Today is Good Shepherd Sunday. I always think of this passage even though it is not the exact reading for today.
I can't help but think that, in His humanity, Jesus felt the weight of human need very acutely at that moment as he looked out on the thousands before him hungry in spirit and in physical need.
He knew also how daunting and overwhelming it would seem to us, too, His future laborers and sheep herders. It is daunting. It is overwhelming, when we think about it. How will we present our faith so that people will listen? How will we get them to recognize the shepherd’s voice? how will we comfort the single mom and keep her spirits up? how will we show others that beautiful liturgy IS important for their souls? how will we explain that suffering is redemptive to a man frightened by Cancer? how will we be able to bring up all our children in the Faith while living in this crazy world? how will we write in a way that will move and comfort and calm? how will we handle all those soul crushing Pharisees in our lives? the nay sayers? the detractors? how will we get it all done? How will we not get exhausted? and afraid? and....daunted?
I think Jesus took on that feeling we all have at times in this reading. The feeling of sudden "surprise" at how large and truly overwhelming the task of bringing the Good News to the world would be for us as he looked out at that crowd - so troubled and abandoned. For He immediately tells his disciples to PRAY to the master of the harvest to send and strengthen future disciples who would be called to take up the task.
It is comforting to know that Jesus understands. He knows how hard it is for each of us to "be the feet of him who brings the Good News" to a world that still remains lost and abandoned in new and different ways. What are we among...so MANY?
Whatever we do: mothering, fathering, bringing the Sacraments to others, writing, building, contemplating, praying, fasting, feeding. We can go to Him when we feel overwhelmed by this task. He knows how we feel and He gives us the strength to harvest our part of the vast field and to be good shepherds like Him.