With one week to go until the official release of my book, True Mercy Has Teeth: A Catholic Journey to Forgiveness and Healing, I’m excited to share another one of my favorite chapters—this one focused on the Good Shepherd.
To learn more or to order the book, visit my website: mercywithteeth.com. You'll find links to Amazon (print and Kindle), Barnes & Noble, and more as additional retailers pick it up. I’m grateful to share that St. Patrick's Guild also plans to carry it.
If you've already preordered or purchased the book, please consider leaving a review where you bought it—it truly helps others discover the message.
I’m also inviting readers to share their own stories of “mercy with teeth.” These could be moments where you received mercy, offered it, or witnessed it in action. The more we reflect on how God’s mercy shows up in the real lives of others, the more we may begin to recognize it in our own.
You can share your story by using the “Contact Me” link on my website or emailing me directly at mercywithteeth(at)icloud.com with the subject line: “A Story to Share.” I plan to highlight some of these stories on my blog in the future.
Now, with no further ado, here’s the chapter:__________________________________________________________________________________
8. The Shepherd Who Stays and Fights
“I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
– John 10:11
In John 10, Jesus gives us one of the most tender and powerful images in all of Scripture: Himself as the Good Shepherd.
It is not a generic metaphor. It is deeply intentional, rooted in the Old Testament and fulfilled in Christ. And in it, we find both comfort and clarity - especially when facing evil.
A Shepherd in a World of Wolves
The context matters. Jesus does not present Himself as the Shepherd in a peaceful meadow but as an active and aggressive protector from the evil that wishes to harm those whom He loves. This is not a sentimental or idyllic pastoral scene. It is a battlefield.
The sheep are vulnerable. The threats are real. The enemies are active.
And into this mess steps the Shepherd - not with a sword, but with love strong enough to lay down His life.
What Makes Him Good?
Jesus is not only a shepherd - but He is also the Good Shepherd. He is the moral exemplar of shepherds.
He contrasts Himself with the hireling who runs away at the first sign of danger. The hireling values his own safety more than the lives of the sheep. But the Good Shepherd stays. Fights. Protects. And, if necessary, dies.
He knows His sheep. Not only collectively, but intimately. Personally. He calls them by name. And they know His voice. That voice can be found only in true intimacy with the Lord.
That is not poetic fluff. It is spiritual survival.
In a world full of voices - accusations, deceptions, demands, and threats - we need to know His voice. Because that is how we know where safety lies when we are in the midst of the battle. When we come to Him, spend time with Him in prayer and holy silence, we learn His voice.
The Shepherd’s Authority
The Good Shepherd does not only protect. He leads.
He goes before the sheep, guiding them to green pastures, through dark valleys, even into the sheepfold of eternity.
He does not manipulate. He does not coerce. He does not dominate.
He leads with truth and love.
And He has the authority to lay down His life - and to take it up again. His sacrifice is not a tragedy - it is a victory, a deliberate act of power and love.
The Sheep’s Role
We are the sheep in this story. And while sheep are often used as a symbol of vulnerability or simplicity, in Christ’s hands, they become something sacred.
To be a sheep under this Shepherd is not weakness - it is wisdom.
Sheep do not need to know the whole map. They need to know the Shepherd. They cannot fight the wolf alone. They need to stay close to the one who can.
Our role is to:
- Learn His voice through intimate prayer.
- Obey His voice.
- Follow where He leads.
- Stay within His fold.
- Trust His protection.
Wounds and Trust
Some of us struggle to trust Christ as Shepherd because those who were supposed to protect us did not.
- Maybe a parent abandoned you.
- Maybe a spiritual leader wounded you.
- Maybe a friend betrayed you.
- Maybe you have never had a “shepherd” who protected you.
If that is you, hear this: Jesus is not like them.
He is not afraid of your wounds. He is not put off by your pain. He is not threatened by your doubts. He lays down His life - and would willingly again and again - not only in history, but in every Eucharist, every Confession, every act of mercy and grace.
Where others ran, He stays.
Where others harmed, He heals.
Where others lied, He speaks the truth.
The Good Shepherd Today
This image is not locked in the past. Christ is alive, and He is still Shepherding His people.
He does this through:
- The Sacraments - especially the Eucharist and Confession.
- Scripture - His voice made visible.
- The Church - even in her brokenness.
- Personal prayer and discernment.
- Holy friendships and community.
- Spiritual direction.
The Shepherd still speaks. Are we listening?
Why This Matters in a Book About Evil
Without this image - this truth - evil wins the narrative.
If we do not know the Good Shepherd, then the thieves, robbers, and wolves have the last word. Pain becomes permanent. Wounds define us. Bitterness replaces hope.
But if we know Him - if we trust His voice - then even in the darkest valley, we fear no evil. Because He is with us (Psalm 23:4).
We need this Shepherd now more than ever. The world is full of noise, fear, betrayal, and cruelty. But He has not left us. He walks with us. He lays down His life - for you.
And in Him, the wolves do not win.
For Reflection:
- What does it mean to you that Jesus knows you by name?
- In what areas of your life have you struggled to trust Christ as Shepherd because others failed you?
- Where is He inviting you to let Him lead again?
- Read Psalm 23
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