One of the lectionary readings for this week, is about Jesus as the good shepherd. A commentary I was reading was talking about how we no longer have a concept of sheep and shepherds, and how people have a hard time relating to this text. As I think about this text, and its meaning that we are only a part of the whole, I have to wonder why this is such a difficult thing to comprehend. Is there a reason that we can't see ourselves as part of a bigger picture?
I think part of what I see day to day, is the intentional desire for people not to want to see themselves as part of something else. More might be required of them. Someone might expect them to behave in ways that are respectful of the whole, or that honor all those that are on the same path.
It is much easier to play a game where it all depends on you, than it is to play a team sport. Team sports require that we work together, that we talk with each other, that we learn how to think about other people being as important as we are. That is difficult for most people in our society to do, without intentionality. My hope is that our faith community will choose to look at that intentionally and move toward an unselfish understanding of the shepherd.