The image of the Good Shepherd is one of the most beloved for Christians. The favorite Psalm of most people is Psalm 23 which begins “The Lord is my Shepherd.” This is somewhat surprising when you consider that in the modern world you very seldom see a shepherd. I remember seeing a shepherd in Huitzila, Mexico. What struck me was that the shepherd was behind the flock, not in front of it. He kept pushing them in the right direction but he stayed behind to urged the stragglers forward and to correct the sheep who started to wander off. That changed my whole idea of how Jesus shepherds us — not with a charge ahead where we try to keep up, but with urging, pushing, correcting, directing always there to support us as we stumble forward.
