Sunday, May 3, 2020

4th Sunday of Easter: The Shepherd of souls


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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