For me the Good Shepherd is also the perfect image of the mother: she knows us and we know her, she recognizes our voice and we recognize hers. There is a unique and intimate relationship between us and our mother. Many years ago a fire consumed a building in New York City. A blind girl was trapped on the fourth floor, perched on a window ledge. Firefighters could not maneuver the ladder truck between the buildings, so a net was set up to catch the girl, but because she was blind she was terrified to jump. Everybody was screaming and yelling: "We love you, please jump." She would not jump. After some time her mother arrived at the scene. She said to everybody, "Do not make noise, I handle it." Then she whispered: "Jeannie, I am here, jump, I will catch you." The girl jumped and was saved. Happy Mother's Day. I know I have the best mother in the world, and so do you.