Reflection
Jesus asks a great deal of us — from the total reordering of society toward justice, to the forgiveness of sins — mine and yours. For all its size and difficulty, what Jesus asks is actually very simple, from the many commandments to love to this request to shepherd. Not that tending sheep is necessarily easy. But at the end of the day it is not confusing. Make sure they have water to drink, grass to eat, a safe place to sleep, and at the end of the day, make sure none have wandered off and gotten lost.
Prayer
Shepherding God, your rod and your staff are my comfort and my discipline. Nudge me when I veer off course. Yank me back from the brink of disaster. Defend my company against wolves and shelter us from storms. Lead me beside still waters and to wide field of green grass. Amen.