| June 1, 2022 -- Both the Old Testament and the New Testament are full of references to sheep and shepherds.
In the first letter of St. Peter to the young churches in his care we read:
“Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them, not because you must, but be- cause you are willing, as God wants you to be”. These instructions from St. Peter are a direct echo of the charge Jesus gave to Peter after his resurrection, when he told him “Take care of my sheep” (John 21:15-17). Whether we are pastors of a church [keeping in mind that pastor is another word for shepherd] or are put in charge of a group of people in some other capacity, such as a Grange Master or a Scout Master, we should heed this direction.
A closer look at Jesus’ conversation with Peter shows that Jesus gave three slightly different instructions. Jesus asked Peter three times “Do you love me?” and when Peter said that he did, the first time Jesus said, “Feed my Lambs”, the second time he said, “Take care of my sheep” and the third time he said, “Feed my sheep”. Why the different wording? The Lambs are the new members of the flock, and they need special care and more attention than the older members. They do not yet know the ways, have not yet learned what to trust and what to be wary of, are not yet sure which foods are most nutritious and to be sought out, and which foods are to be avoided because they may be harmful in the long run.
“Take care of my sheep” or “tend my sheep” refers to the entire flock, the entire congregation or member- ship entrusted to the shepherd. The good shepherd has many duties and responsibilities, which are spelled out in the 23rd Psalm.
Getting back to Jesus’ instructions to Peter, the third command was to “feed my sheep”. How does this differ from “feed my lambs” and “tend my sheep”? I view the three instructions as progressive: first tend to the newest members, bringing them fully into the fold; then care for all those who are members of the fold; and finally provide spiritual nourishment so that all can advance from being merely part of the flock to leaders of the flock.
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