On Good Friday my hand slipped when opening a tin of sardines, and I got a deep cut at the base of my thumb. My two neighbours, Yvonne and Denise, brought me to the Clinic, and then on to Hospital Emergency. They stayed with me for five hours, replenished me with water drinks, and later with food and a bottle of wine. We hear the words, that God Our Father ‘is like a Good Shepherd, but being Good Shepherd, became a more real experience for me this Friday. God Our Father knows each of our names, lovingly, is always a helping hand, not a driving hand, coaxes us with encouragement. The young surgeon hummed as he dealt meticulously with the wound, explaining each of his actions. He inquired if I had friends waiting for me. I said that I had two women waiting. He said ‘’You are a lucky man a lot of fellas can’t get even one women. ’’What are their names. I said Yvonne and Denise. He said ‘’I will go out and tell them that this job will take twenty minutes ‘’.

Some theologian claims that Easter Sunday began on Good Friday when Jesus breathed His dying Spirit on the world. I certainly had a taste of what ‘’Good Shepherding‘’ means, on Good Friday 2011.

Liam Hickey, St.Ciarans, Hartstown, Dublin 15.