GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY

 
We  are called on this Good Shepherd Sunday to listen to Jesus, the good shepherd, and imitate his humble and gentle leadership style. The personality of Jesus, is no doubt, that of an ideal leader who loves and cares for his flock. Who will do anything to protect and defend them, even laying down his life for them. 
This Sunday is also World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Vocation to priesthood, diaconate, religious and consecrated life. Priests and religious give their whole lives to the Church, walking closely with all Catholics in the joys and trials of life. “Indeed, the harvest is rich but the laborers are few.” We are called to pray to God for more hands in his Church.
 
The image of sheep and shepherd were very familiar to the people of Jesus time because their daily life revolves around these. Jesus used these images to teach the people about God’s love and care for humanity. Jesus invites us to reflect about our own leadership style, as religious leaders, leaders in the civil service, the elected leaders, parents in the family and any leadership position. There can be joys and challenges in these leadership positions. We have to imitate Jesus and always look up to him for guidance. Sheep are typically humble and obedient animal. They follow the shepherd wherever the shepherd leads them. They understand the voice of the shepherd and listen to him. They have complete trust on the shepherd, because good shepherd leads the sheep to abundance of food and flesh water. Jesus calls us to listen to him. To trust him at all times. To follow him as he leads us in our daily life. We are also called to listen to our leaders and not make their job more difficult. As we listen to our religious leaders, we are listening to Jesus. There are some sheep that would not listen to the shepherd. They unreasonably wander away from the flock. They go astray. These kinds of sheep make the work of the shepherd very difficult. What do the shepherd do in this situation? Jesus teaches us that the shepherd must search patiently and diligently for them and lovingly bring them back to the fold. In this way, Jesus teaches us to be patience with others. For Jesus, no one should be abandoned. He wants all of us to be one fold and one shepherd. He does not want us to be separated from him and from his Church. Jesus invites to help seek for those who left the Church through our kindness and generosity to them. Sheep are typically weak animal. They do not have great ability to defend themselves against animals of prey. It is the job of the shepherd to defend them. He stays awake in good weather and in bad weather. In sun and rain. In cold and heat, to watch for the safety of the sheep. He risks his life to protect and defend them. Jesus teaches us that we must defend and protect those entrusted to our care. Human life and dignity must be protected and defended at every stage. It is these model of love, care, protection, self-sacrifice of a good shepherd that the Jesus calls us to imitate and reflect in our daily life, in our family, in our society and in our nation. We are called to listen to Christ through our leaders, civil leaders, religious leaders, the pope, bishops and pastors of our church. They are our shepherds. Parents are shepherds, who must love and care for their children, and children are called to listen to their parents, just as they would to Jesus Christ. We pray for more shepherds in our Church.