The Shepherds Staff

[twinc]

The shepherds staff was usually handed on to the nearest male relative - so who got the Good Shepherd’s staff - Where is it now !? - twinc

 

[bpbasilphx]

I’m not too sure what your question means. Are you?

Please elaborate. In the form you’ve asked it, you’re assuming information that might be unknown to others.

 

[Randy_Carson]

The shepherds staff was usually handed on to the nearest male relative - so who got the Good Shepherd’s staff - Where is it now !?

Right here…

In John 21:15-19, the Jesus commands Simon Peter three times to “feed my lambs” and “tend my sheep.”

15When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed (bosko)* my* lambs.” 16Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of (poimanao) my sheep.” 17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, "Feed (bosko)my sheep.

In this passage, we can see that Jesus leaves Peter in charge of feeding, tending and caring for His sheep. Who feeds, tends and cares for sheep? A shepherd!

Unfortunately, many non-Catholics object to the Catholic understanding that Peter was given this unique leadership position, and they cite a passage from earlier in this same Gospel wherein Jesus presents Himself as the Good Shepherd, and says there is to be but “one flock and one Shepherd.” (John 10:11-16) Therefore, the immediate question springs to mind: If Christ is the Good Shepherd, why can’t He “feed” and “tend” His own sheep?

Of course, Jesus is God, and He is clearly capable of taking care of His own flock – even after He ascends to heaven. So, why does He appoint Peter to this role? Obviously, all sheep belong to Christ, and they do not cease to belong to Jesus after the ascension. Yet, Peter is told to “feed” and “tend” them. Jesus commissions Peter to act as His “stand-in” or “vicar” after the ascension. Jesus will remain the one Shepherd, yet Peter will “feed” and “tend” the sheep, in the sense that Jesus will not be physically present to do it. Thus, Peter will be the visible, vicarious shepherd of the flock.

Because of the implications of this earthly authority and the unique Catholic claims for the papacy, non-Catholics seek alternative explanations for Jesus’ words. One attempt is to claim that Peter simply has the same authority to care for the flock of Christ that all of the other apostles had. However, this argument fails for two reasons.

First, the extent of the authority Jesus gave to Peter can be seen quite clearly in the original Greek. For example, the word which is used for “feed” in John 21 is bosko – a word which the Jewish historian Philo of Alexandria, and other 1st Century writers, use to denote “spiritual nourishment.” Similarly, the word “tend” is poimanao – the same Greek word which is translated as “rule” in passages such as Matt 2:6, Rev 2:27, Rev. 12:5, and Rev. 19:15, where it is applied to Jesus Himself. Peter, like Jesus, is to “rule” over the sheep, and to “supply them with spiritual nourishment.” Thus, Peter is established as the vicarious shepherd (i.e., “supreme pastor”) of the Church in Christ’s physical absence.

While it may be argued that any shepherd would have similar responsibilities for his sheep and that the Bible is full of passages using the relationship between sheep and shepherd as a metaphor for our relationship with God, in the context of the New Testament, only Peter received this unique appointment directly from Christ Himself. Jesus took great care to identify Peter’s new responsibility as head of the Church with His own role as Head of the Body, the Church. No other Apostle received this focus.

Second, in Luke’s Last Supper account, we see quite clearly that Peter was singled out to play the role of a leader and unifier among the Apostles. The passage is as follows:

Luke 22:31-32
“Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers. 33But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” 34Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

In Luke 22:31-32, Satan sought to destroy all of the Apostles, but Jesus prayed for Simon Peter alone that Peter might strengthen all of the other Apostles whose faith would be shaken, as well. Clearly, Peter is not merely “one Apostle among others.” Rather, he is also responsible for the welfare of all. That is a special ministry – the ministry of the vicarious shepherd. No other Apostle is given the responsibility for caring for the Twelve in this way, and this assignment is all the more significant when we consider that in the following verses (v. 33-34), Jesus predicts Peter’s three-fold denial. Despite Jesus’ foreknowledge of Peter’s denials, Jesus prays for and assigns to Peter the task of caring for the others.

In summary, we know that Jesus is the Good Shepherd and that there is one Shepherd and one flock (cf. John 10). Yet, in the passage from John 21, we can see that Jesus leaves Peter in charge of feeding, tending and caring for His sheep. Peter becomes the shepherd who will lead the flock after Jesus’ ascension. Therefore, while Jesus is forever our Good Shepherd reigning from heaven, He has made provision for us by naming someone else to stand in His place, to be His vicar, here on earth. The Vicar of Christ established by Jesus is the Pope of the Catholic Church.

Not only does Peter (and his successors, the Popes) hold the keys to the kingdom of God (cf. Mt 16:18, Is. 22:22), but he holds the shepherd’s crook or crozier, as well.

 

[puppypatrol]

The shepherds staff was usually handed on to the nearest male relative - so who got the Good Shepherd’s staff - Where is it now !? - twinc

The Good Shepherd’s staff was passed on to Peter, Christ’s representative on earth and was passed on from Peter to Linus etc… on down to Benedict XVI figuratively because of their office and being Christ’s representatives on earth.

Christ referred to Himself as “The Good Shepherd” and “The Gate” as a figure of speech or a parable. There wasn’t a literal staff to be handed on.

 

[bpbasilphx]

You took the words right out of my mouth, puppypatrol! The passages are NOT talking about a literal shepherd’s staff.

Not only does Peter (and his successors, the Popes) hold the keys to the kingdom of God (cf. Mt 16:18, Is. 22:22), but he holds the shepherd’s crook or crozier, as well.

Actually, the bishops of Rome NEVER adopted the use of the baculum (Western form of the crozier). When a bishop from elsewhere was elected pope, he laid it aside.

Paul VI was the first pope to carry a pastora staff tipped with a Crucifix. It is not a crozier. Benedict XVI has taken a different form. To me it looks too much like a processional cross.

Eastern bishops generally don’t use a crook style, either.

 

[twinc]

All good stuff for some by some,but totally irrelevant to the question,which is not about the shepherd or the sheep or Peter.s staff or the staff of the present Bishops nor about the Good shepherd but about His staff and it was stated that a shepherd’s staff was usually passed on from the shepherd to the closest living male relative - think again whilst I’m off on holiday - it was also asked where is it now - twinc

 

[Randy_Carson]

All good stuff for some by some,but totally irrelevant to the question,which is not about the shepherd or the sheep or Peter.s staff or the staff of the present Bishops nor about the Good shepherd but about His staff and it was stated that a shepherd’s staff was usually passed on from the shepherd to the closest living male relative - think again whilst I’m off on holiday - it was also asked where is it now - twinc

Jesus didn’t carry a shepherd’s staff around with him; saying “I am the Good Shepherd” was a metaphor similar to “I am the vine - you are the branches.”

He did carry a cross though…and that was passed on to Peter and numerous Bishops who died as martyrs for the faith.

We, too, are called to take up our crosses and follow Him?

Will you?

 

[Nita]

All good stuff for some by some,but totally irrelevant to the question,which is not about the shepherd or the sheep or Peter.s staff or the staff of the present Bishops nor about the Good shepherd but about His staff and it was stated that a shepherd’s staff was usually passed on from the shepherd to the closest living male relative - think again whilst I’m off on holiday - it was also asked where is it now - twinc

So, are you talking about a literal physical staff? If so, Jesus was not a shepherd of literal animal sheep. Why would He have a literal shepherd’s staff?
And if it’s not a literal staff you’re referring to, but a symbolic or metaphorical one, then “nearest male relative” would be metaphorical also. (Altho, never heard of a literal shepherd’s staff being handed on to nearest male relative. Assume you made this up. If not, source, source, source.)

P.S. “Bread” is called the “staff of life”. He passed this staff on to His bride, the Church.