Saturday 28 March 2026
Ezekiel 37:21-28. The Lord will guard us, like a shepherd guarding his flock – Jeremiah 31:10-13. John 11:45-56.
Love for the whole world
Ezekiel speaks of the shepherd David who is to be king and the peace that God promises the people of Israel. Peace seems to be a place we humans are perpetually striving for and failing to reach, but God is always reminding us it is where God is. Present and promised. In Jeremiah, we can again wonder at the shepherd who is bringing the flock home to himself. The care, protection and peace of the God of love is always offered. Do we allow it in our hearts? Do we wander back with humility like scattered sheep to find it? The image of sheep following the shepherd is initially hard to reconcile with Jesus who will be horribly crucified. But this is the Good Shepherd who’ll lay down his life for his sheep. Caiaphas argues, ‘It is better for you to have one man die for the people than to have the whole nation destroyed’. And while Jesus withdrew from the threats, it ultimately happened as Caiaphas prophesied. The suffering man, the dying son, the risen Christ. That strange, compelling act of love for the whole world.
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