Full life - Herding the flock

The apostle Peter also left an urgent commission to the church of Jesus Christ. Some understand it as an assignment only for leaders, but I believe that in the context of today's world its fulfillment is for the whole church. The church as a community of faithful in Christ needs more and more men and women who understand the meaning of pasturing.

Feeding is a metaphor for shepherding. Pastoring is a cultural metaphor. Peter is not expressing a wish, but an order, a mandate, a mission (like the Great Commission of Christ). This commission of Peter is not directed at managers, or businessmen, or presidents, or trade unionists, but rather pastors or those called by God who exercise the ministry of piety and brotherly love with the diligence that corresponds to the occasion. Why promise a good for tomorrow if you can give it today? Why leave for later the announcement of the Good News of salvation to that person that God has placed in your heart if you know that it is a matter of life and death? Yes, salvation is a matter of life and death!

After asking Peter 3 times- Do you love me? - and answering him affirmatively, Jesus did not say: -Thank you Peter for loving me-, but: -Feed my sheep- (John 21.17), that is, take care of your brothers as a shepherd his sheep. The church should have a shepherding heart and although the pastors at the head of the churches should be respected as such, each member of the congregation should prepare to, when the appropriate time comes, in the face of the need of any other brother or sister, to assume the role of shepherd. What does it mean to graze?

First of all it means to feed. What is food and how should it be fed? The word of God is food, or good advice based on Scripture. We can all feed the body of Christ, it is not necessary to be a bibliographer, or to have been through many discipleship. The word fresh is a balm that relieves pain and nourishes the soul. It is a matter of the heart rather than scholarship, not emotionalism, but the flow of a true relationship with God. When we have a true relationship with our Lord we can be shepherds with his Word.

Another meaning is to guide. We are not the Holy Spirit, but if he indwells the Christian, then he also enables us to lead others. You don't necessarily have to be a leader, but rather have a servant's heart. Opportunities abound in the church to channel other brothers who are weaker, who have not grown enough, who have fallen and need restoration. Sheep often fall, slip, wander into the deserts of life, and need the hand of a watchful and godly servant. Guide them to mobilize them to action, serve them with the best exhortation, minister to them to seek together the best solution to their problem. Each one should be attentive to the spiritual needs of those around us and guide them with the help of the Spirit.

A third aspect is that of caring (protecting). Humanism creeps into the churches, subtly dressed in the latest fashion clothes creeps in, but it is still a system contrary to Christianity, therefore "atheist". There are many new doctrines, religious trends, fads, concoctions of any kind of "spirituality" that claim to bring peace and well-being, but ultimately lead to separation from God. I recently heard a sister in Christ say that “yoga” was the best way to get in touch with the divine. I reserve what I told you, out of respect. We have too many reasons to protect God's flock from ravenous wolves and pamphlet doctrines.

The people of God need shepherds while the shepherd, announced by the prophet Ezekiel in the verse that leads this meditation, arrives; people transformed by the power of the gospel (Romans 1.16 and Thessalonians 1.5), anointed by the Word; that they graze, but also allow themselves to be grazed. You are one of them, do not hesitate. Take the Word into action!

God bless you!