WE SEE IN THE CENTER A SHEPHERD SEATED, WITH A SHEEP AT HIS FEET LOOKING EXPECTANTLY UP. THIS CENTRAL FIGURE IS, OF COURSE, CHRIST THE GOOD SHEPHERD, WHILE THE SEATED POSTURE IS THE POSITION TAKEN, IN THE JEWISH TRADITION, WHEN ONE IS SPEAKING AUTHORITATIVELY. THAT UNDERSTANDING WAS CARRIED OVER INTO THE CHRISTIAN FAITH, SO THAT WE NOW SPEAK OF A PROFESSOR HOLDING A “CHAIR” IN A PARTICULAR SUBJECT, WHILE A BISHOP TEACHES FROM HIS CATHEDRAL (FROM CATHEDRA, LATIN FOR “CHAIR”). HERE, THEN, IS CHRIST AS THE GOOD PASTOR OF HIS PEOPLE, TEACHING WITH AUTHORITY AND WARDING OFF DANGER. THE SHEEP LIES IN THE SHADE OF A TREE — THE TREE OF THE CROSS, NOW BEARING THE FRUIT OF AN EVERLASTING LIFE OF HAPPINESS WON FOR US. THE ARCHING TREE CREATES A FRAME, SUGGESTING A WINDOW THROUGH WHICH WE LOOK IN ORDER TO SEE THIS SUMMARY OF WHAT THE CATECHISM CONTAINS; CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
