I know my sheep and my sheep know me
Sheep ae not very intelligent animals. In countries where sheep are reared, it is common to find a shepherd herding a flock of sheep with the help of one or two dogs, because a dog is much more intelligent than a sheep. Again sheep are not very strong animals. Before being sheered, some sheep cannot even get off the ground on account of the weight of their wool. Left to themselves, sheep are defenseless against preying animals, even when the latter may be very few compared to the flock of sheep. It sounds like an insult for a human being to compared to sheep. Obviously, we are much smarter than sheep. Yet in spiritual matters, we are comparable to sheep. We can be very smart in decisions concerning passing things yet neglect matters of our eternal happiness.
Sheep, however, have one all-important quality of wisdom; the ability to listen to the voice of their shepherd and to follow. A sheep that does that has all it needs if the shepherd is good. He knows where to take the sheep for green pastures. He knows the time to bring them back home. He leads them to safety in the sheepfold. He cares for the sheep’s wellbeing; they have only to follow.
Jesus is our Good Shepherd. If we listen to his voice and follow, no matter how dull whited we are, our happiness is guaranteed. He raises us from the status of sheep to that of the children of God. This is what John tells us in the second reading: “See what love the Father has lavished on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are… Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”
