蜜桃交友

By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

Pope Francis celebrated Mass on the Fourth Sunday of Easter, also known as Good Shepherd Sunday. He prayed in a special way for doctors and priests. citing the numbers of those who have died in Italy: over 100 priests and approximately 154 doctors. 鈥淢ay the example of these shepherds, priests and doctors, help us take care of the holy, faithful People of God鈥�, the Pope prayed.

Pope Francis then reflected on the image of the Good Shepherd presented in the reading from the First Letter of Peter (2:20-25) and the Gospel of John (10:1-10).

Jesus is the Shepherd

St Peter describes Jesus as a shepherd, the one who came to save His straying sheep. By bearing the sins of the sheep, Jesus freed us from sin. Due to Jesus鈥檚 death, we have returned to our Shepherd, the 鈥済uardian of our souls鈥� (1 Pt 2:25). St John describes Jesus not only as the Shepherd but also as the 鈥渄oor through which the flock enters鈥�, Pope Francis continued.

The sheep know the Shepherd

Unfortunately, just as Jesus said in the Gospel, many 鈥渇ake shepherds鈥� have entered to rob and exploit the Lord鈥檚 flock. 鈥淭hey are not interested in the flock鈥�, the Pope explained. Their interests have been climbing the ladder, politics or money. But the flock always recognizes who the good shepherds are and who are the robbers, Pope Francis continued.

A good shepherd is distinguished by its flock. A flock flourishes because the shepherd listens, guides and cares for the sheep, Pope Francis noted. The sheep entrust themselves only to those shepherds who are similar to Jesus, the Good Shepherd. In this respect, the flock never errs, he said. Only those shepherds who are 鈥渓ike Jesus elicit confidence in their flock. Jesus鈥檚 style must be the pastor鈥檚 style. There is no other.鈥�

Jesus's example

That style was spelled out by St Peter. Jesus 鈥渟uffered鈥� for the sheep so we could 鈥渇ollow in His footsteps鈥�. He never returned insult for injury. That is 鈥渕eekness鈥�, the Pope said. Meekness is 鈥渙ne of the signs of a good shepherd鈥�. If a pastor is not meek, he is hiding something, for 鈥渕eekness makes oneself seen as he or she is, without defenses鈥�.

A good shepherd tenderly draws near each sheep and knows each one鈥檚 name. 鈥淗e takes care of each one as if it were the only one鈥�, Pope Francis continued. In fact, if at the end of the day, the shepherd realizes that one sheep has not returned, he will go out in search of it notwithstanding how tired he is. 鈥淭his is a good shepherd,鈥� the Pope said. 鈥淭his is Jesus鈥�.

An Easter idea

Pope Francis called the image of the shepherd, the flock and the sheep an 鈥淓aster idea鈥�. He recalled that an Easter hymn calls the newly baptized 鈥渘ewborn lambs鈥�. This is the 鈥淐hurch Jesus wants鈥�, Pope Francis said. 鈥淛esus takes care of this Church鈥�.

Therefore, 鈥渢his Sunday is a beautiful Sunday鈥�, the Pope concluded his homily. 鈥淚t is a Sunday of peace, tenderness, meekness because our Shepherd takes care of us. 鈥楾he Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want鈥� 鈥�.