CATHOLIC FAITHLINK: “[‘He calls each one by name’] – Message for the Day of Vocations 1971” – Blessed Pope Paul VI/ DailyGospel
“When Jesus presented himself as the Good Shepherd, he referred to a long biblical tradition, with which his disciples and the other auditors were already familiar. The God of Israel, in fact, had always revealed himself as the Good Shepherd of his people. He had listened to its complaints, he had freed it from the land of servitude and, in his goodness, he had guided the people he saved during its long and hard march in the desert towards the promised land … From age to age, the Lord continued guiding his people – much more – he carried it in his arms as a shepherd carries his sheep. He also led it after the punishment of the exile, calling it once again and gathering the lost sheep to bring them to their fathers’ land. …”
