JMJT! Praise be Jesus Christ! Now and Forever!
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Carmel-
I hope all of you are enjoying a day of rest and allowing the imagery of the Good Shepherd that we heard in today's Gospel reading to permeate your souls. Indeed, we have a Good Shepherd who loves his flock so intensely that not only does he protects and hear his sheep, but he goes after His lost ones and even lays down his life for each and every one of us. Every soul is that dear to Him. If we think of what the shepherds signified in the days of Christ, especially at His birth, we see that they were the lowly, humble ones who listened. They had ears to hear and were the only ones open enough (other than the Magi), to hear the angels proclaiming the glory of God and to recognize who was in their midst. St. Teresa of Avila captures this imagery in a poem entitled Shepherd, Shepherd, Hark that Calling.
Shepherd, shepherd, hark that calling!
Angels they are and the day is dawning.
What is this ding-dong,
Or loud singing is it?
Come Bras, now the day is here.
The shepherdess we'll visit.
Shepherd, shepherd hark that calling!
Angels they are and the day is dawning.
O, is this the Alcade's daughter,
Or some lady come from far?
She is daughter of God the Father,
And she shines like a star.
Shepherd, shepherd, hark that calling!
Angels they are and the day is dawning
Shepherds are humble, cultivate silence and solitude, and listen. They are protective of their flock. Our Lord Jesus is the ultimate shepherd who laid down his life for His sheep. He has also appointed shepherds in His Church to watch over the flock and ensure their safety and that they follow the narrow way that leads to eternal life. That is an integral part of our Carmelite charism- to pray for all priests and bishops, our shepherds here on earth.
St. John of the Cross wrote a beautiful poem speaking of our Lord as a youthful shepherd who pines for his beloved. He is thirsting for the one he loves, and yet finds himself alone, and eventually dying for his loved one. Such is the love of Our Lord for each individual soul, as well as the Church universal. I hope you enjoy this and have time to meditate on how Our Lord continues to thirst for union with you, and to call you not only to his flock, but to shepherd your soul closely and intimately with Him.
The Youthful Shepherd
by St. John of the Cross, (translated by Rhina P. Espaillat)
A youthful shepherd, wandering and feeling
far from his heart's content, goes sad and lonely,
his thoughts on one he loves, and for her only
his breast pierced by love's wound, deep and unhealing.
He weeps-not for the blows that love keeps dealing—
no, he has no regrets for the affliction
that tears him so: he weeps for his eviction
from her remembrance. How his heart is reeling
to know that she forgets him who is kneeling
before her! Just to think she has refused him
sends him afar, where strangers have abused him,
his breast pierced by love's wound, deep and unhealing.
He cries, “Unlucky she, forever steeling
herself against my love, she who retires
when I approach, frustrating my desires,
my breast pierced by love's wound, deep and unhealing!”
See him there where, at last, himself revealing
on a tree's branches, by fair arms extended,
he clings aloft, although his life has ended,
his breast pierced by love's wound, deep and unhealing.
