When tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, Moses came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There, God appeared to Moses in the burning bush, and missioned him to lead Israel out of Egypt. God took the lead and assured Moses: I shall be with you (Exodus 3:12).

Now Moses is old and "can no longer come and go" as he wills. In the quiet of his heart Moses hears God telling him how God will take the lead in the journey. And God consoles Moses with these words, which he passes to his successor Joshua: the Lord himself will lead you; he will be with you; he will not fail you or desert you. Have no fear, do not be disheartened by anything.

Jesus never fails to come to the sheep's rescue. Neither would he desert them. The Good Shepherd knows his own and his own know him. Jesus lays down his life for his sheep (John 10:14-15). He gives himself to us, as Word in the Scripture and in person in the Eucharist. Christ the Good Shepherd goes before us, leading us to share in the joys of heaven, in the unity of the Father and the Spirit.