Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/609

 hath a hundred  sheep,  and  if  he  shall  lose  one  of  them,  doth not leave  the  ninety-nine  in  the  desert,  and  go  after  that  which was lost,  until  he  find  it? And when  he  hath  found  it,  doth  he not  lay  it  on  his  shoulders,  rejoicing? Then, coming  home,  doth he not  call  together  his  friends  and  neighbours,  saying  to  them: ‘Rejoice with  me,  because  I have  found  my  sheep  that  was  lost/ I say to  you  that  even  so there  shall  be  joy  in  heaven  upon  one sinner that  doeth  penance,  more  than  upon  ninety-nine  just  that need not  penance.”

The Love  of  Jesus  for  us. By  the  simile  of  the  Good  Shepherd our Lord  teaches  us  how  great  is  His  compassionate  love  for  all  mankind. All men,  Jews  and  Gentiles,  are  His  sheep,  and  He  gave  His life for  all,  being  sacrificed  on  the  Cross  to  redeem  them  from  sin  and hell. He is  therefore  the  only  Good  Shepherd,  and  all  others  who  are called to  the  pastoral  office  are  good  shepherds  only  so  far  as  they imitate Jesus  in  their  love  and  care  of  the  flock  confided  to  them. Moreover Jesus  knows  His  own. He knows  all  about  them,  their  needs, their weakness,  their  thoughts,  their  endeavours;  He  leads  them  into the fold  of  His  Church,  He  helps  them  by  His  grace,  He  enlightens them by  His  doctrine,  and  nourishes  and  strengthens  them  with  His Flesh and  Blood  in  the  most  Blessed  Sacrament. His pastoral  love  is, therefore, infinite  and  divine.

The following  doctrines  are  especially  conveyed  by  this  parable:

The Sacrifice  and  Death  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. Our  Lord  distinctly foretells  His  Sacrifice  and  Death  in  the  words: “I  lay  down  My life  for  My  sheep.”

Jesus is  the  Lord  and  Chief  Shepherd  of  the  redeemed.  The  sheep belong to  Him,  because  He  has  bought  them  with  His  Precious  Blood.

The One, United , Catholic  Church.  Our  Lord  foretold  that  the Gentiles also  would  believe  in  Him,  and  that  all  the  faithful,  both  Jews and Gentiles,  would  be  united  in  one  fold,  under  one  Shepherd. According to our  Lord’s  words  there  was  to  be  only  one  Church,  and  this Church was  to  be  united. It was  not  to  be  split  up  into  a multitude  of national  churches  in  every  part  of  the  world,  but  was  to  spread  itself