Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, April 21, 2021 -- THREE
Spiritually Speaking
I am a good shepherd. Are you?
By Fr. Thankachan Joseph SDB, St. Patrick Church
The fourth Sunday of Easter is known as the “Good
Shepherd Sunday.” We have the popu-
lar images of Jesus the Good Shepherd
carrying a sheep over His shoulders or
we have a smiling Jesus sitting under a
tree with a little lamb on His lap. These
images of the shepherd appeal to us be-
cause they show Jesus’s tenderness and
compassion. A shepherd in those days Fr. Thankachan
walked ahead of the sheep, seeking out Joseph
a safe path, taking them to the pastures,
water, and shelter. The sheep followed him, because they
recognized his voice, and they trusted him. An image
of Jesus as a Good Shepherd is reassuring us that He
is always our support on our journey through life. The
people of Heppner are actually very familiar with this
term “shepherding.” The Irish settlers of Heppner were
raising plenty of sheep once upon a time. Jesus the Good
Shepherd gave us a good example of leading, feeding, and
protecting His flock. We are all called to be shepherds.
During the rampant spread of corona, I have closely
followed the lockdown stories of different countries. I
have seen how different communities, priests, religious
and consecrated persons turn out to be caring shepherds
in their own localities. The stories of altruistic service and
ultimate sacrifices have proved once again that the virus
cannot kill the compassion, empathy, and caring nature of
mankind. An example is the way people have reached out
to the migrant workers. I was reminded of the words of
Mother Theresa: “The biggest disease today is not leprosy
or tuberculosis but rather the feeling of being unwanted,
uncared for and deserted by everybody. The greatest evil is
the lack of love, and charity, terrible indifference towards
one’s neighbor who lives at the roadside assaulted by ex-
ploitation, corruption, poverty and disease.” She narrates,
“I remember I picked up a person from the street who was
nearly eaten up with maggots and he said, ‘I have lived
like an animal in the street, but I am going to die like an
angel, loved and cared for.’” This is what is expected of
everyone who is a shepherd.
Who is a good shepherd? The dictionary meaning
of “shepherd” is this: “a person who protects, guides, or
watches over a person or group of people.” In the Chris-
tian term, “shepherd” mostly refers to pastor, a member
of the clergy, etc. “Shepherd” is not limited to clergy
alone. For example, parents, teachers, employer, etc. are
all shepherds. Shepherding is nothing but self-giving for
the sake of someone else – a sacrificial love, dedication,
commitment towards the flock that is in one’s care.
It is good to understand the characteristics/tasks of a
good shepherd. St John in his Gospel explains a shepherd
as having mainly three tasks: 1) one who guides the sheep,
2) one who feeds/provides for the sheep, and 3) one who
protects the sheep from all dangers of life.
1) Guide the sheep: it is the duty of the shepherd to
show the sheep greener pastures for grazing. Those of
you who are reading my article, I am sure, are in one
way or another a shepherd. How do you lead the flock
that is entrusted to your care? As we were going through
the lock-down period due to the threat of COVID-19, we
had a lot of time to spend with our families and children.
Today those sheep under your care are looking for good
models. There should not be a disparity in our doing and
talking, for the dichotomies are actually confusing to the
sheep. When you spend time together with the family
these days, try to be a good example.
2)Feed the sheep: Psalm 23 begins like this: “The
Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I
shall not lack.” I am sure all of you are working hard in
your workplace, to actually earn more so that you can
provide better things for your children and family. Like
the psalmist, “But He would feed Israel with the best
wheat. I would satisfy you with honey from the rock”
(81:16); or again in prophet Isaiah we see: “He shall feed
his flock like a shepherd” (40:11). Are you only worried
about providing material things? Do you pray together
with your family? Do you provide for spiritual growth of
your sheep? I know many parents will look for the best
school, best sports centers, and other matters pertaining
to this world. How many of you really spend time with
your children to impart spiritual matters? Have you ever
asked your kids to set aside the electronic gadgets and
asked them to spend a little more time in prayer and
reading the scriptures?
3)Protect the sheep: Jesus says in John (10: 11), “I
am the good shepherd: the good shepherd lays down his
life for his sheep….” Recently, I have seen a picture that
struck me greatly. A young deer goes to drink water from
a lake; as it was gulping water, a crocodile comes to eat
up its young one. Noticing the danger, the mother deer
comes across the younger one and becomes the prey to
the crocodile. A good example for laying down a life for
the sake of another’s. In biblical days, shepherds guard-
ing their flock by night would gather their flocks into an
enclosure and sleep literally by lying across the entrance
so that before a wild beast would attack the sheep, it
would have to attack the shepherd first. Jesus is the Good
Shepherd who lays down His own life to protect His flock.
I am sure this is true of every parent.
The “Good Shepherd Sunday” theme invites every
one of us to be like Jesus the Good Shepherd: Jesus, who
has come “that they may have life, and have it abundant-
ly” (John 10:10). When we encounter difficulties in our
lives’ paths and face serious problems the presence of
Jesus the Good Shepherd reassures us that we are not
abandoned, that Jesus is supporting and holding us up.
Psalm 23 assures us that God as the Good Shepherd will
lead us, His sheep, to green pastures, will give repose,
and we will not want anything because He the Shepherd
is always there as a comforter.
We need to ask ourselves two important questions:
(1) Am I a faithful member of God’s flock? Only those
sheep who follow the guidance of the Shepherd could
ever hope to arrive at the green pastures or be safe from
the greedy wolves. (2) How could I participate more
closely in the work of shepherding God’s flock in my
family? God made this promise in Ezekiel to His people
that He Himself was going to be their good shepherd, for
the shepherds had not fulfilled their promises: “You have
not strengthened the weak, you have not healed the sick,
you have not bound up the injured, you have not brought
back the strayed, you have not sought the lost, but with
force and harshness you have ruled them. So, they were
scattered, because there was no shepherd; and scattered,
they became food for all the wild animals” (Ezekiel
34: 3-4). The image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd is a
challenging image for the Church today. In order that we
might be united with the Good Shepherd and united more
with one another, are we ready to listen to His voice, are
we ready to do His will, here and beyond? Like the good
shepherd after the heart of Jesus Christ, let’s try to lead,
feed, and protect the sheep who are under our care with
dedication, commitment, and, above all, unconditional
love of Jesus Christ.
~ G-T Trophy Corner ~
The Heppner Gazette Times would like to see pictures of your trophy animals
from this hunting season. Please send a photo along with your name, age, town
you live in, location of the hunt and a description of the animal to editor@
rapidserve.net, upload to Heppner.net or text to 541-980-6674.
Owner/Broker David Sykes
541-980-6674
188 W. Willow
P.O. Box 337
Heppner, OR 97836
david@sykesrealestate.net
Do you have property to sell?
Now is the time!
I have buyers looking for
homes, land and
building lots in the
Heppner, Lexington
and Ione area.
This is a good time to sell!
Call, text or email me.
A View from the Green
Willow Creek
Seniors golf results
released
The Columbia-Blue
Senior Golfers played at
The Dalles Country Club
on April 12. The winners
from Willow Creek CC at
The Dalles were as follows:
-Columbia Division
(handicap 18 and below):
Gross: 6. Scott Burright –
89, 8. Duane Disque and
Dave Pranger – 90. Net: 2.
Dennis Peck – 71, 8. Jim
Swanson – 77.
-Blue Division (Handi-
cap 19 to 24): Net: 7. Dave
Creswick – 78.
-Senior Division
(Handicap 25 and Above):
Gross: 3. Roger Ehrman-
traut – 103. Net: 8. Al Scott
– 77.
The golfers enjoyed
beautiful, sunny weather
conditions.
The next CBSGA Tour-
nament will be at Heppner’s
Willow Creek Country Club
on May 10. Tee-off times
will be at 7 a.m., 11 a.m.
and 3 p.m. Pre-registration
is still available for the 7
a.m. tee time. The 11 a.m.
tee time is filled. The 3 p.m.
tee time is also available.
Due to the virus, lunch
will not be provided by
the Willow Creek ladies.
However, a food trailer will
be on the premises for the
players.
Any questions about
the May 10 tournament
should be addressed to John
Edmundson, local director
for WCCC Seniors, 541-
676-5177.
Thirteen women turned
out for the Willow Creek
Country Club Ladies Play
Day on a cold and windy
day April 13. Hostesses
were Judy Harris Betts and
Pat Edmundson.
Results are as follows:
Low gross of the
field-Virginia Grant. Low
net of the field-Sharon Har-
rison. Least putts of the
field-Pat Dougherty.
Low gross-Flight
A-Corol Mitchell; Flight
C-Lorene Montgomery,
Low net-Betty Carter, Least
putt-Chris Linder. Best
ball winners (modified
team)-Virginia Grant, Betty
Carter, Pat Dougherty.
Sunday men’s play on
April 18 took place at the
China Creek golf course in
Arlington. There were no
results available.
The next men’s play
will be Sunday, April 25.
The Mustang Scramble has
been cancelled. A reminder
that the shootout is sched-
uled for Sunday, May 2.
This is a two-man event so
golfers are reminded to get
their partner lined up.
Eighteen teams are par-
ticipating in the Wednesday
night match play.
Over the Tee Cup
WCCC men play at
Arlington
Heppner FFA
chapter to hold
plant sale
fundraiser
T h e H e p p n e r F FA
Chapter will hold a plant
sale fundraiser at Heppner
High School on Thursday,
April 29, from 3-6 p.m.,
Friday, April 30, from 1-6
p.m. and Saturday, May 1
from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
“Heppner FFA is proud
to bring healthy plants to
our community for the 15 th
year,” said an FFA spokes-
person. “The plant sale will
offer numerous varieties of
fruits, vegetables and flow-
ers for sale.”
This event is open to
the public. “All are encour-
aged to attend to get healthy
plants and support Heppner
FFA.”
For more information,
follow Heppner FFA on
Facebook. Visit bit.ly/hep-
pner-ffa or search “Heppner
FFA”.
Funeral Notice
Rebbecca E. Owen
– Rebbecca E. Owen of
Hermiston, OR was born on
January 29, 1977 in Herm-
iston. She died on April 11,
2021 in Richland, WA at the
age of 44 years.
A celebration of life
service and potluck will be
held at the Lexington Bible
Church, Lexington, OR on
Saturday, April 24, 2021 at
noon.
Following the church
service and potluck a con-
voy will travel to the loca-
tion where she wanted her
ashes spread.
Everyone is invited to
share memories of Rebbec-
ca with her family at burns-
mortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of
Hermiston is in care of
arrangements.
ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE:
Simply Homemade Catering
Providing home cooked food for all your catering needs
Suzanne Rea
541-377-1099
K2 Aerial provides agricultural
spraying of pesticides and
broad cast spreading of
dry materials such as
seed or fertilizer.
541-980-8498
Located at the Lexington Airport
Clay Spence of Albany and Tommy Wolff of Heppner called-
in these two Long-Beard tom turkeys. Photo taken in the
Heppner Unit last week.
Blue Mountain Manufacturing
“Quality By Design”
54182 Hwy 74
Heppner, Oregon
541-676-5472
LOCAL HERSCHEL PARTS DISTRIBUTOR
• KNIVES
• PLANTER PARTS
• TILLAGE TOOLS
& MUCH MORE
WE ALSO STOCK SHW BALE SPEARS
WITH WELD IN SLEEVES
www.millerforks.com
MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M.
Valby Lutheran Church
Valby Road
Ione Oregon. 97843
Church Services
1st & 3rd Sundays
10:00 AM
Available for:
Weddings • Funerals
Family Events
541-422-7300
Old
Country
Church
All Are
Welcome