For this Sunday in Spring, a postcard reminder of the ovine references within the sacred writings of the Judeo-Christian tradition.

Sheep have few natural defenses, so that the raising of sheep throughout most of human history required a shepherd to provide protection and leadership.

(The domestication of dogs is believed to have developed within early human communities that also raised sheep.  Many modern breeds of dogs reflect the long history of breeding for the qualities that make excellent guardians of sheep.)

The shepherd is a ubiquitous “type” in all ancient cultures in which sheep were domesticated for wool and for food.

It is not surprising that, in an ancient culture in which wealth was measured in sheep, goats, and cattle, the characteristics of sheep would be reflected in the poetry and religious writings of the people.

So that, today, although relatively few contemporary Americans have first-hand knowledge of sheep, many know “The Lord is my Shepherd”, or may acknowledge that “all we, like sheep, have gone astray”.

For Christians, there is great comfort in the parable of the shepherd who searched for the hundredth sheep, although ninety-nine were preserved for him.

This postcard illustration was copyrighted by the Ullman Manufacturing Company of New York in 1904.

The postcard was not mailed.