Sheep are extra stupid. It's no accident that the first mammal to be cloned was a sheep. Sheep seem to need more help than other animals. There are several different kinds of sheep dogs, but no pig dogs, cow dogs, or horse dogs. There are so many sports teams now that they're running out of names. When you get to ducks, stingrays, ravens, and avalanches, you're getting hard up. Nevertheless, no one names his team "the sheep."

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, calls us sheep. We've been called worse, but this is far from a compliment, although He shares in our "sheepishness" by letting Himself be called the Lamb of God (see Jn 1:29, 36). By calling us "sheep," He makes it clear that we are not only weak, we're helpless. Without Him, we can do nothing (Jn 15:5).

Sheep, despite their stupidity and helplessness, can have the abundant life (see Jn 10:10), as long as they realize that they are sheep and that they need the Good Shepherd always and for everything. If sheep know nothing but the Good Shepherd, they will never "be snatched and scattered by the wolf" (Jn 10:12) but will be led to green pastures (Ps 23:2). The only hope for us sheep is to follow the Good Shepherd, but this is the only hope we need.

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, October 9, 1998

Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 17, 1998