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| The Good Shepherd, mosaic in Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna, 1st half of 5th century |
The Good Shepherd metaphor no longer works all that well for me, though at one time, it did, for I loved the idea that the Lord was my shepherd. The Good Shepherd is not the problem, but I no longer relate to being a sheep. Though sheep are not dumb animals, as is widely believed, they do tend to herd, and my inclination is more toward being a loner than a member of a herd. I'd be the sheep who strays away, and the Good Shepherd would have to leave the other 99 to come to look for me. After a while, I'm sure even the Good Shepherd, the Best Shepherd of all, would be annoyed by my behavior. Mind you, I have not thought through the theological implications of not wanting to be a sheep. What I've written is sort of an extended thought for the day, about which I could change my mind once I consider further the consequences of not being a sheep.
I should add that I love the looks of Scottish Blackface sheep.
The mosaic pictured above is lovely, isn't it?
Image from Wikimedia Commons.
My neighbor's sheep were not exactly examples of intellectual acuity. Herd animals, yes. Once they started they ran blindly following one or another which was never a person. Neighbors didn't have a dog. I don't like the idea of being compared to sheep either.
ReplyDeleteSheep can remember faces for years after they haven't seen a person - like an elephant. Sometimes one sheep is dominant, but they tend to follow whichever sheep moves first.
DeleteI don't think being a sheep was intended to be a compliment --even then.... fleece 'em and eat 'em....
ReplyDeleteIt does occur to me --even Jesus is referred to as the "Lamb of God" --so we are in good company.
Up here --where sheep are really only a thing of the imagination --kinda like the ocean is too --so up here, we are thinking of talking about Jesus as the "Buffalo of God" --and that we, too, are buffalo.... but it doesn't quite have the same ring, heh?!!
Yes, there is the Lamb of God. One of my Facebook friends asked, "Jesus's parable is culturally conditioned. What would Jesus say he is today?" which is an interesting question. Maybe Buffalo of God, though I can't quite see myself as a buffalo, either.
DeleteI agree -- especially when clergy think they are the shepherd or even a sheepdog (as I once heard in sermon). I do like the art that comes from the period before Christians got so in love with suffering.
ReplyDeleteThe clergy person thought he should be the sheepdog? Oh my!
DeleteI like the early art, too. On the same Wiki page is a painting of the Good Shepherd on the wall of one of the catacombs.
yes- sheepdog - nipping at our heels and herding us about I guess -- good luck with that one with you and me.
ReplyDeleteHow did I know to say "he"? :-)
DeleteI'm with you on this one, Mimi. Perhaps it is due my RC background where it was drilled into us that "Father knew best." I no longer buy that package!
ReplyDeleteWith most of my friends, it seems cats, rather than sheep, would be a more suitable metaphor. :-)
DeleteOh, now that is a metaphor I can relate to!!! It is not possible to herd cats!
DeleteOf course, in the time of Jesus, 'I am the Good Shepherd' meant 'I am the Good King', since the kings of Israel were metaphorically described as shepherds in the OT. Hence the 'all who came before me were thieves and robbers, who cared nothing for the sheep' line.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tim. I'm not particularly fond of kings, so the switch from shepherd metaphor to king metaphor is not really helpful.
DeleteWell, our PB suggested that we explore the role of shepherd for ourselves, which I also thought about this Sunday. We have a role model for shepherding and Jesus told Peter to feed the sheep, so it sounds like you are ready to leave the herd and become a shepherd. :-)
ReplyDeletePenney, I'm not particularly suited to the role of a shepherd or any kind of a leader. That much, I know.
DeleteAnd along comes Russ to throw a bottle of Tabasco into this love-feast stew. It is a curious thing that in our polarized times, both the Left and the Right accuse one another of being sheep, or "sheeple."
ReplyDeleteYet, Mimi, if you were to take the divine view of all 6 billion of us on this little rock - strip away all the accidents of birth, ability, and appearance, looking only at the bare souls - what is left, what is our essence but sheepishness? Really, I ask you.
We are all sheep, at best, viewed from on high, outside of this earthly plane. Or perhaps something more like Al Capp's shmoos. In which case, how nice that Someone actually can find it in His heart to care for us.
"In which case, how nice that Someone actually can find it in His heart to care for us."
DeleteHow nice, indeed. She must gaze on us at times and think, "What have I wrought?" ;-)