In today’s Gospel we hear about Jesus and His apostles, worn out from their ministry, seeking a bit of peace and quiet to recuperate. But, like the mother of a newborn baby, exhausted from sleepless nights but still able to comfort her child, Jesus still finds a bit more to give to the people who come to Him. Jesus is a good shepherd for everyone. Picturing Jesus as our shepherd also emphasizes God’s kindness to us. Jesus takes on the role of caring for all our needs and guiding us through life if we will follow Him. The image of the good shepherd also highlights our weakness. We may rather not think of this, preferring to be proud of our achievements and status, but it is good for us to be reminded that we are all dependent upon God’s grace. Fortunately for us, through God’s grace we are given the great gift of Jesus to be our shepherd, and we can be confident that if we follow Him we are in the very best of care.