F. Michel: "The shepherd, the wolf and the hired hand"

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away" (John 10:11-12). The Mishna, with the precision of an insurance contract, enters into the details of the major circumstances that would exonerate the hired hand of responsibility (Baba Metsia 7,9). The attack of a wolf is not considered a major circumstance and the hired hand is required to keep to his post, confront the wild beast and protect the flock. It would be quite different if two wolves attacked at the same time: in this case, the hired shepherd is not considered responsible for the loss of the sheep. Nonetheless, the hired shepherd is not responsible even when the wolf is alone if its attacks are so frequent that they come to be expected. The attack of two dogs is not considered a danger that exonerates the hired shepherd of his responsibilities, except in the case, detailed by a disciple of Rabbi Meir: if the two dogs attack simultaneously and from two different directions. Needless to say, the shepherd is not responsible if the attacker is a robber, a lion, a bear, a leopard, a serpent or a panther. This list is both precious and picturesque, giving us a description of the fauna that was to be found in the Land, before the Land of Israel was deforested, and which survived long after the beginning of our era. Even today, panthers can be found in the area of Ein Gedi.

These precisions in the Mishna underline the contrast between the two extreme attitudes outlined in the Gospel: the attitude of the hired help, who flees when he sees the wolf approaching, and the attitude of the true shepherd, who, not only faces the danger, but is willing to risk his life in order to save his sheep. In the second case, the lack of proportion and the extremity of the commitment brings us out of the parable and into reality: the very mystery of Christ who gives up his life for his flock.