Feed My Sheep
A qroup of us at work had to take online training courses for our employer. We were chatting at work about these courses. At the end of each course there were Quizes. I pointed out that “There are no pop Quizes in life. Every day is the final exam.” It may not be profound as some of them thought, but we have to admit that today is all we have and it could be the final exam before we stand before Jesus.
In our Gospel reading today Saint Peter had 3 pop Quizes from Jesus. Simon, son of John, do you love me?………… Peter was distressed that he had said to him the third time “Do you love me?”
Every day we get the opportunity to feed Jesus’s sheep. Every day we answer the question, Do you Love me? Jesus spoke so many times of people being like sheep without a shepherd. What speaks out to me is way we treat others is the way Peter was to feed Jesus’s sheep. We have children and grandchildren that we watch or come into contact. What do we do and say? We shepherd His sheep by the way we treat our spouses and co-workers and children.
Everyday is the final exam on how we feed His sheep. We don’t know if we will ever see that person again. Today is the the day! Today is the day that may matter most to that person’s soul.
Sunday’s readings for Acts chapter 1 said we shall be His witnesses. No encounter we have is insignificant. It may not be anything but renewing our prescription to the newspaper.
Many years ago, we had a neighbor who moved across the street from us in Florida. My bride, Anna, went over to welcome them and offered to bring sandwiches as they unloaded their possessions. Years later that same neighbor remembered her good deed and fixed sandwiches for us when we left to move to Oklahoma. She said that my wife’s act of kindness was the thing that most mattered to her moving into the neighborhood. She said it made her and her husband feel that they belonged.
Food comes in many forms. Sometimes it is advice not to do something that might lead the person into a situation where they might sin. We need to encourage husbands and wives to be faithful to their marriage vows. There are lots of ways to fed and lead.
When I was in basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia, the Infantry motto was “Follow me”. It was January and cold for a Florida boy in 1966. I was a mess with pneumonia. Part of the basic training program was a week at the rifle range. I missed the first week of the week at the rifle range. Still I passed with the help of my Drill Sargeant who had faith in me. The point is I did not consider myself a leader. However, the Army saw potential in me and I went on to be a leader.
We like Peter are just feeding His Sheep. We are merely following Jesus command to ” Follow me “. Peter only knew that he had to follow Jesus. I cannot think of anyone else I would rather follow.
You may not think you have an impact but you do. You are a leader.
Every action, every day is our final exam to” Follow” Jesus. Jesus sees the same potential in you. Because of the Holy Spirit and your Baptism, you are qualified………………………….. Follow Jesus.
God Bless you Always
Bob Burford
