The King of Love (The Good Shepherd)
20 X 24 - acrylic on birch
INSPIRATION: The Good Shepherd is my favorite vision of Jesus and The King of Love My Shepherd Is, is my most favorite hymn. Written by Henry W. Baker in 1868. It was sung at Princess Diana's funeral. Listen
Lyrics:
The King of love my Shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack if I am His,
And He is mine forever.
Where streams of living water flow
My ransomed soul He leadeth,
And, where the verdant pastures grow, with food celestial feedeth.
Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
But yet in love He sought me,
And on His shoulder gently laid,
And home rejoicing brought me.
In death’s dark vale I fear no ill
With Thee, dear Lord, beside me;
Thy rod and staff my comfort still,
Thy Cross before to guide me.
Thou spread’st a table in my sight;
Thy unction grace bestoweth;
And oh, what transport of delight
From Thy pure chalice floweth!
And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise within Thy house forever.
NOTE: The Good Shepherd is the earliest known image of Christ, depicted in the Catacombs.
"I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me..."
---John 10:14
"I have been all things unholy. If God can work through me, He can work through anyone." --St. Francis of Assisi
"He is the Merciful Father who, in Jesus, loves us beyond measure, always awaits our conversion every time we make mistakes; He awaits our return when we turn away from Him thinking we can do without Him; He is always ready to open His arms no matter what happened."
--Pope Francis
In Bishop Barron's Daily Gospel Reflections, he wrote, "There is no greater manifestation of the Divine Mercy than the forgiveness of sins. When G.K. Chesterton was asked why he became a Catholic, he answered, 'To have my sins forgiven.' This is the greatest grace the Church can offer: reconciliation, the restoration of the divine friendship, the forgiveness of our sins."
home | contact | about my work
Reproduction or use by permission only.
