God takes care of us. All the readings stress this and show how it continues and progresses.

In the first reading God says to the Israelites, “if you hearken to my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my special possession, dearer to me than all other people, though all the earth is mine.” If we listen to God he will respond with care. “We are his people, the sheep of his flock.”  Like a shepherd knows and cares for his sheep, God knows and cares for his people.

Then God sent Jesus to redeem us, to love us, to care for us. What love and care that is. Can we really imagine actually sacrificing ourselves for someone, even for a good cause? But Jesus did. He gave himself for each of us.

But then he saw all the people like sheep without a shepherd and realized there needed to be more people here on earth to continue to care for the people like God has been, like Jesus has been, and to continue and progress he empowered the disciples to do what needed done. He made sure there were people here to love and care for the people, to heal them and protect them.

If we listen to God, he will care for us, through his love, the love of his son, and through those empowered to continue this love here on earth.