Jesus is our Good Shepherd

King Duncan tells this story. Two television evangelists were talking. One was explaining how he was seeking to be the ideal shepherd to his television flock. “There are three ways I seek to do that,” he said. “What three ways do you mean?” asked the other evangelist. “Well” he explained, “First we FIND them. Every year we find new stations to carry our ministry. Then we FEED them. I give them the plain unvarnished word of God.” But what’s the third thing?” asked the second evangelist. “Well,” he answered, “Once we’ve found them and fed them, then we FLEECE them!” Sadly, there tends to be a more negative than positive attitude towards television evangelists. Several of them in my lifetime have been disgraced and lost their flock that initially was very committed to them. We know as well that the loss of reputation and ministry is not limited to TV evangelists. We, as Catholics, sadly, have a recent history of some of our Catholic priests who have lost their ministerial privileges as well. Today is an important celebration. Today is Good Shepherd Sunday. Jesus describes Himself as the Good Shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. Fleecing the flock is a long way from laying down your life for them. There is a contrast that Jesus uses. He has a stark contrast between the good shepherd and the hired hand. The sheep belong to the shepherd. He works very hard not to lose a single one of them. The hired hand, however, oftentimes could care less. The sheep belong to someone else. Why should he risk his life for someone else’s sheep? A lack of care sadly is replete in much of our world today. You probably know people who have such an attitude. Care, compassion, commitment, responsibility, empathy, kindness, tenderness, pledged – these are some of the authentic and genuine markings of a good shepherd. Jesus is our Good Shepherd. It speaks of a person that says we REALLY do matter to Him. One of the more striking images of Jesus as the Good Shepherd comes from Luke’s gospel. Do you recall it? Look it up if you don’t. It is Luke 15:4-7. Those markings identified above all become vivid when that passage is read and taken into our lives. Keep praying for Good Shepherds. Keep praying for Fr. Oscar and myself. Keep praying for priests who are in the mold of Jesus. For as your priest, we are called to Good Shepherds as well. –Msgr. Mike