Shepherds & Sheep

“So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter,

“Simon, son of Jonah,do you love Me more than these?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”
He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”
Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”
And he said to Him,
“Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.”
John 21:15-17

Who do you consider a shepherd? Is it just your spiritual head, your pastor?
Is love meant to be a noun-or a verb?
I have been meditating on this passage; my thoughts are that in a very real sense
we are all both sheep-and shepherds as well.
Sheep are communal animals, as are people. Community lends itself to strength when we take
opportunities to engage and encourage those around us.
Relational responsibilities exist for all of us.
Community becomes vibrant and meaningful when we each take opportunities
to encourage and lift those around us.
We all have responsibilities not just to be fed, but also to “feed” those we touch;
What do we do with these responsibilities is up to each of us.
We live in a technologically connected world, virtually limits,
We have facetime, whattsapp, more apps than you can “shake a stick at”,
cheap global communication available (for most people perhaps
on the same device you are reading this blog).
We can call anyone, nearly anywhere, anytime.
Yet at the same time there is often a relational disconnect,
at the closest levels. We travel to distant lands to minister to those unknown-
yet those we often claim to be “friends” with,  in “community” with, see at our congregation weekly
-fall through the”cracks”…
Hurting. Sick. Unnoticed.
So if someone suddenly just “pops” into your mind, it is most likely because the Holy Spirit planted them there.
Reach out, beloved, starting with those right in front of you.

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