We feel blessed to join you in reflection on this Good Shepherd Sunday. Our Gospel today defines Jesus as our protector.  

“I am the good shepherd,” says Jesus. “A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”  

Jesus goes on to show a distinction between his actions and the actions of a hired shepherd. Jesus has vowed, out of deep love, to protect his sheep from danger. The hired shepherd does not tend to the sheep out of love. When danger appears, the hired shepherd flees.  

“I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold,” Jesus continues. “These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd.”  

One flock and one shepherd… consider what this might mean to you.  

For us at CMMB, we think of the world’s health workers and the millions of people, including ourselves, who depend on them for their wellbeing. But who do health workers rely on?  

The answer is all of us. If there is anything we have learned in these tumultuous years, it’s that health workers cannot protect us if we do not protect them. Theresia Mukethe, a former nurse and CMMB project officer in Kenya explains best what precisely this means.  

“We cannot achieve the progress we need without a safe and supported workforce,” says Theresia. “That means health care professionals everywhere feel valued, respected, and empowered with the appropriate training and supplies to provide high-quality care—while prioritizing their own well-being.” 

On our blog, you can read more about Theresia and her work to improve community health—especially for those situated in some of Kenya’s most scarcely resourced contexts.