Practical devotion to do today: the shepherd and the sheep

THE SHEPHERD AND THE SHEEP

1. Jesus the Good Shepherd. So He calls himself, and describes the work he does in souls. He knows all his sheep, calls them by name, and does not forget any of them. He leads them to abundant pastures, that is to say, he sends his ministers to eat the divine word, and more, he feeds them with his grace and with his meats themselves. What a good Shepherd! Which one ever came to die to feed his sheep? Jesus did it.

2. The soul, unfaithful sheep. How many souls are there who worthily correspond to the care of such a good Shepherd? Jesus calls you so that you follow him, and you run after your whims, your passion, the traitor devil! Jesus draws you to himself with the chains of love, with the benefits, with the inspirations, with the eternal promises, with the repeated forgiveness; and you fled like an enemy! You don't know what to do with Him, and you offend Him .. Ungrateful soul, so do you correspond to your God?

3. Jesus lover of souls. Only passionate love could push Jesus to say that, despite the infidelities of the soul, He goes in search of the lost sheep, places it on his shoulders so as not to tire it, calls the neighbors to congratulate him on having found it ... Why not abandon it? Why not leave it alone? - Because he loves her, and you want to save her; if the soul is damned in spite of so much concern, it will only have to reproach itself.

PRACTICE. - Are you faithful or unfaithful sheep? Give your heart to the Good Shepherd.