Sunday Reflection with Fr Robin Gibbons - 18 July 2015

16^th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

We haven't had a true shepherd in my Oxfordshire village for many years, but some people remember the last one and tell tales of what he did and how he really understood the sheep. These are good country tales, laced with realism and humour a reminder that we need to spend a bit more time learning about our countryside.

We still have sheep in fields around us, and the nearby Cotswolds are full of sheep, and some shepherds, for they still exist. It's fascinating to watch them with their dogs, rounding up part of the herd, separating out the different animals and shepherding them into a fold before moving them on.

It's no surprise that the scriptures use the image of shepherds and flocks to describe people and those called to care for them. God is seen as the divine shepherd as the much loved psalm 23 tells us. We understand immediately what the psalmist is telling us, that the true vocation of shepherding is all about a relationship of care, nurture, understanding, and guidance, done with goodness and kindness but constantly. And yet care of others is also demanding and hard, the way of the Gospel is a road we travel each day and all day, those who are pilgrims with us, and we ourselves, can be demanding at times. That's why Jesus makes his disciples take time out!

There is a danger that we can bury ourselves in our work for others without remembering that we need to be cared for ourselves, we must not overdo things. Those who are Christ's disciples also need time to hear him, learn from him, receive him: 'You must come away to some lonely place all by yourselves and rest for a while'.

There is a story of the 4^th c desert father, St Anthony, who was resting and relaxing with his brothers, this shocked a passing hunter , Anthony told him to keep pulling his bow string, until the man complained that excessive use would break it, Anthony said; ''It is the same with the work of God. If we stretch the brethren beyond measure they will soon break. Sometimes it is necessary to come down to meet their needs.'

It's a reminder that rest and recreation are also part of the work of God. Sometimes we need to remember that the Good Shepherd wants time out with us too!