Every time I see the phrase “In God we trust” printed on money, I can’t help but smirk at its irony. Many of us who chase, hold, or spend that money give little thought to trusting in God. Instead, we place our trust in the money itself, or in our own ability to earn it.
The government that issues the money seems to rely more on its military power, economic strength, and technological advancements than it does on God. Yet, the phrase remains marked on the currency. But I’m glad it’s there. Perhaps it will occasionally remind the person holding it, even if just for a moment, that in the end – and even before the end – our ultimate trust belongs to God.
Our Gospel today highlights this truth. Jesus uses the image of the shepherd to show that no one cares for us as deeply, eternally, or passionately as He does. We can always place our trust in Him.
When we trust in money, we must also trust in security measures to protect it. When we trust in government, we can be disappointed by its self-serving nature. When we trust only in ourselves, we eventually face limits to our knowledge, our strength, or our health.
Sheep, however, have no built-in protection. They don’t have claws, sharp teeth, or loud cries. They don’t run fast, or climb trees. Sheep cannot fly. If they are to be safe, they must have a shepherd. But a shepherd cannot simply be a hired hand. What happens if the shepherd has no loyalty, no passion for the sheep?
This is a harsh reality to confront. Who is more likely to take care of a business: an employee or an owner? Who is more likely to take care of a house: a renter or an owner? Jesus is telling us that He is the Good Shepherd. He cares for His sheep, knows them by name and takes a personal interest in each one. He doesn’t see His sheep as someone else’s problem.
In the book “The Last Temptation of Christ,” a retelling of Christ’s passion, a serpent slithers up the wood of the cross. Out of sight of everyone, the snake whispers in Jesus’ ear as He is dying. “Look at them,” it says. “They are not worth this suffering. Give them what they deserve. Send them to Hell.”
Jesus replies, “No. I would rather die than stop loving them.” In that moment, we see the overwhelming desire of God to be with us; to enter into our suffering. In our losses, our struggles, our broken relationships, and all the pain life brings, God is with us.
There’s a story about a young boy in a parish school who was tasked with memorizing Psalm 23 for a school assembly. He was to recite it in front of the pastor and all the parents. When the big night arrived, he stood on the stage. He said, “The Lord is my Shepherd,” but then he froze, unable to recall the next line. After a pause, he started again: “The Lord is my Shepherd, and that is all I need to know.”
At first, there was silence. Then, applause. Because the boy was right. The Lord is our Shepherd, and that is all we need to know.
The next time you hold some money in your hand or in your pocket, ask yourself: Can this money love you, protect you, sacrifice for you, or die for you? It’s clear that it cannot.
The only one in whom we can truly place our trust is God.
