As young boy growing up in Nazareth, Jesus learned to read as the other boys of the town did - from the Bible, the only "textbook" they had. Given his ability to read and therefore to understand what was read in the synagogues, it is not surprising that he developed an ordinary Jew's familiarity with Scripture and that he could quote Scripture quite freely or teach in a way that frequently echoed of the words of the prophets.

In today's passage from Ezekiel, we hear of God's promise that "there shall be one shepherd for them". In his teaching on the Good Shepherd, Jesus affirmed this doctrine of the union of all the tribes but in a more universal sense: all of humanity are God's children, God's sheep and will be gathered together under the one Shepherd, Jesus, so that at the end of time, Jesus will be both the head of the Church and the head of all creation (Ephesians 1:22-23).

Through Ezekiel, God also promised an everlasting covenant of peace. Through his sacrifice on the cross, Jesus established this everlasting covenant of peace, reconciling us with God, so he himself is our peace (Ephesians 2:13-14).