Like a gentle shepherd, God invites us to journey with him. On this 4th Sunday of Easter, as we reflect on Jesus the Good Shepherd, we must ask ourselves how have we allowed the Lord to direct our lives so that all we do will give God the glory. The concern of a good shepherd is to guide and protect. These actions of Jesus, the good shepherd are based upon the relationship that has been developed with us. The good shepherd knows us, acts out of love on our behalf, is always present with us, and keeps us safe. 
 
The shepherd of our hearts guides us every step of our lives. We believe that God can make a way out of no-way.  He prepares a table before us in the sight of our enemies and calls us blessed. The Psalmist reminds us that “We are God’s people the sheep of his flock.” 
 
The Good Shepherd makes sacrifices for his flock. One of the dynamics of family life is that Parents make sacrifices for their children acting out of love and not just out of an obligation. God knows our needs before they ever reach our lips. God anticipates our needs and goes before us to prepare the way. Who are the people who have helped and shepherded us in our lives? How have we helped and shepherded others along the way? 
 
I heard a phrase this week that said, “God will not give us more than we can bear. He may bend us but we will not break.” Some of us may feel that God giving us too much and bending us too much. It is in the moments of “bending” that our faith is tested. We must trust in the “unchanging hand” of God to see us through. The same God who brought us through so much in our lives will bring us through this moment as well.  The reality is that the journey that we travel in this life teaches us how to live the life of faith. 
 
Tomorrow is not promised to us. We must live in the present moment.  Maybe this moment is filled with pain, dashed hopes, broken relationships, and unrealized dreams. We may not know how to deal with this situation. God is with us! God knows your prayers. He has counted your tears. All you have to do is just call him up and tell him what you want. 
 
Prayer is a powerful gift that we must use when reflecting on our vocation and where God is leading us.  Amid all the voices calling us in this world, do we recognize the voice of Jesus our Shepherd who is calling us to deepen our relationship with him? God’s grace will keep us strong and give us reason to say, “Thank you Lord for that all you have done for me.”  Trust God and know that God will never abandon us.