The Good Shepherd and Creation

As the Good Shepherd, Jesus exemplifies how God calls us to treat His Creation.

By: Mark McDermott

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For the Fourth Sunday of Easter, Jesus shares the familiar parable of the Good Shepherd. This analogy would resonate with the audience of biblical times who relied upon pastures and streams for themselves and their flock. The Good Shepherd image shows that creation is a reflection of God’s love, a relationship that protects and sustains those who follow Him.

The modern world separates us from the connection to nature Jesus’s contemporaries knew. Machines provide food, transport, and amusement as we intentionally or unintentionally shape the land, sea, and even atmosphere. In the power we have over nature, we are distracted from the essence of God’s charge to us in Genesis to “have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all the living things.” To God, having “dominion” is a relationship of nurturing and growth, not exploitation. Indeed, the Good Shepherd has dominion over us, and yet he “will lay down [his] life for the sheep.”

Humanity’s dominion over nature is a gift from God. Like the wealth entrusted to the stewards in the Parable of the Talents in Luke’s Gospel, gifts from God are opportunities for us to spread His joy and love to others. Nature is not a supply to be expended, but a blessing that we cultivate and flourish alongside. As St. John Paul II affirmed, “We learn to see the Creator by contemplating the beauty of His creatures...[and] discover the Artist's hand in the wonderful works which He has made.” Nature, crafted by God, is humanity's enduring connection to the spiritual world, and our distance from nature strains that bond. Thus, while we intellectually comprehend the image of Jesus as our Good Shepherd, we do not feel the meaning of that dominion as deeply as those who depended upon that lifestyle for survival.

Earth Day on Monday, April 22nd, marks just over a month of spring - a season that brings the renewal of creation. Following our Good Shepherd, we can renew our connection to God as stewards of nature this Earth Day. At home, we can adjust habits to reduce our personal environmental impact. To reach further, we can support organizations like Catholic Relief Services that adapt and integrate human needs to the environment. In the example of Jesus, our Good Shepherd, let us lead our natural dominion to peace, joy, and life.