I am the good shepherd, says the Lord;
I know my sheep, and mine know me.
Today’s gospel gives us a very special picture of ministry. The gospel talks of shepherds. The Latin word for shepherd is “pastor,†who is what we call an ordained minister who is responsible for ministering to a Christian community or parish.
To understand the work and life entailed by the priestly vocation we need to go back to Jesus’ teaching on the good shepherd.
The life of the good shepherd in biblical times was one of personal self-giving and sacrifices. His work was that of watchful care and closeness to the flock.
There were two kinds of shepherds.
There was the hired hand for whom keeping the sheep was just the available job. He moved from flock to flock depending on the conditions of service and he would not risk his life for them. Seeing wolves or thieves coming he would flee for dear life and leave the flock at the mercy of the invaders.
Jesus said that he is not that kind of shepherd.
Then there is the shepherd-owner of the flock who grows up with the flock and stays with the same flock all his life. He knows each and every sheep in the flock individually. He calls each one by name and could tell you the personal story of each one of the sheep, when and where it was born, the problems it has had in life, and its personal characteristics. He attends to the individual needs of each and every one of them. He knows which ones were likely to stray from the flock and he would keep an eye on them when they came to dangerous places. He knows which ones are pregnant and need special food. When attacked by wolves or thieves he would risk his life and fight to defend his sheep.
He is the good shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep.
Jesus is the good shepherd. He laid down his life for the flock, i.e., the church.
In a general way he invites everyone in the church to share in the work of caring for the flock in our own little ways.
But he also calls some people from among us to a life-long commitment to the work of shepherding the flock of God.
If today some young men hear God’s voice calling them to this way of life, they should not harden their hearts.
We are called to do everything to encourage those who are called to follow the footsteps of Jesus the good shepherd. Amen.