Fr Richard's homily for Good Shepherd Sunday
The Shepherd of souls
There’s lots of sheep in our parishes. Our familiarity with
these mammals means that our reflections on today’s Gospel will be quite vivid.
Walking in the Dales quite a lot recently, I’ve encountered
many a sheep and lamb. Today’s Gospel tells us that sheep run away from
strangers and that they ignore thieves and brigands. So far, they haven’t run
away at speed from Canon Michael or myself and they haven’t usually ignored us
– so that’s a relief! In truth, they seem to have been quite curious about our
presence.
Once or twice I’ve witnessed farmers
tending to their sheep. On one occasion, I heard a shepherd talking loudly to
his flock while he fed them. I think he was telling one or two of them off for
being a bit too eager. But it did demonstrate to me the close bond shepherds
have with their flock.
Jesus the Good Shepherd is totally
united to us, His sheep. As Shepherd, He cares for and protects us; He leads
and guides us; He loves us and teaches us. Yes, sometimes although always with
great mercy, He “disciplines those whom He loves” (Heb 12:6). But He always comes
looking for us when we go astray, eager to take us upon His shoulders and bring
us back to the flock.
Christ tends to His sheep who are
the body of Christ, the Church, of which He is both Head and Shepherd. At
present, it might seem as though we’re ‘physically’ dispersed in our own parts
of the field, not able to gather as the Lord’s flock. Nevertheless, we are
still united as His body on earth and our Good Shepherd is always by our side.
Saint Peter, the first “chief shepherd”
of the Church on earth, both speaks and writes in today’s readings, urging us
to put our whole life in the caring hands of Christ. Inspired by the Holy
Spirit, Peter teaches the crowd in our first reading so convincingly about the
need to turn to Jesus that three thousand are baptised that day. And in his first
letter, the first pope reminds us that Christ is “the shepherd and guardian of
our souls”.
Peter’s words draw our attention to
the different forms Our Lord’s protection of us through His Church takes. The
Good Shepherd is constant in drawing us close to Him in love. But His love also encompasses warnings to us about the thieves and brigands who do prowl around seeking to lead us astray
from the flock. Today, these perils manifest themselves in different ways. The
temptations of the devil can often be very subtle. Dangers can also appear in the form of various ideologies prevalent in our day which might
seem harmless but are actually contrary to our Catholic faith and endanger our
soul. It is the particular responsibility of the Church’s pastors today to both
bring the love of Christ to His people but also to warn them against the
threats to their spiritual and moral life.
Good Shepherd Sunday indeed turns
our attention in particular to those who are configured in a special way to
Christ at ordination and “act in the name and person of Christ the head and
shepherd.” [John Paul II, Pastores Dabo Vobis, 15] Priests are the “sacramental
representation” of the Good Shepherd and are charged with proclaiming His word,
bringing Christ to the flock in the Sacraments, preaching and teaching the Gospel,
and giving themselves totally for the service of God’s people.
Please pray especially for your
priests today! Please also actively promote this life-giving vocation in your
families and, on this World Day of Prayer for Vocations, let us ask the Good
Shepherd to send labours to His harvest in the Diocese of Middlesbrough.
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