Good Shepherd

Amazing. On the very day that the Cardinals are entering into conclave to choose the next successor of Peter, the preset Gospel of the day is John 10:11-18 - “the Good Shepherd” - and the first reading (Acts 11:1-18) chronicles Peter’s words and actions involving the most dramatic change ever in the history of the Church.

These readings, like yesterday’s, tell us about good shepherding, which helps us understand both the role of the shepherds among us (from the Bishop of Rome to our local Assistant Pastor) and our own role when we ourselves may participate in Christ’s shepherding.

To understand good shepherding, however, it may be appropriate to reflect first on the tragic reality of bad shepherding.

Many who have left the Church or organized religion often refer to bad experiences with pastors, nuns, or other prominent church people. Sometimes they are just using these “bad experiences” as an excuse to justify their own rebellion against God and their image of themselves as the center of the universe.

Sadly, however, there are indeed bad shepherds among us.

No human being is perfect, of course, and even the best of us share to some extent in the frailties that beset us all.

Most of the “bad shepherds” are basically good people who share so much in certain human frailties (e.g., anger, addictions, sins of the flesh) that their being instruments of Christ on a practical level is severely impaired.

I say “on a practical level” because as Catholics, we believe that Christ’s grace overcomes human frailty in a very real way, especially in the speaking of the Word of God and the celebrating of the Sacraments: the spoken Word of God mysteriously retains its own power even when the human speaker is an immoral man and the Sacrament validly administered by the most immoral of priests still conveys its grace ex opere operato by the power of Christ.

That is not to say that bad shepherds or scandalous behavior should be tolerated. Not at all!

We as Church should do everything that can be done to build each other up, to help each other to repentance and continual conversion, to fix what is broken, to heal what is hurt, and to strengthen where there is failure, but if the failure is a dangerous one and rehabilitation is not reliable, separation from public ministry is required (while not forgetting the obligations of charity, justice, and public safety).

Of course, when we speak of “bad shepherds,” we are not just talking about “those people” – those pastors, those bishops, those people on the Finance Council, or whomever. Each of us – in differing ways and differing degrees – are called to participate in Christ’s shepherding of his people, if only in helping ourselves or in helping someone else walk more perfectly in the ways of God.

How may we be “bad shepherds?” Sometimes, as mentioned above, our human frailty may get in the way. Sometimes, as I discussed yesterday, our “shepherding” may not be in and through Christ but may follow the way of the world or of our own whim.

Today’s Gospel shows still other aspects of bad shepherding, as our Lord speaks of the “hired man” with no concern for the sheep, who works for pay, and who deserts the sheep when trouble comes.

Indeed, some of us may “love the faith” but hate the people - we have “no concern for the sheep.”

Likewise, some of us may reduce our Church involvement because “we weren’t getting anything out of it” – we only “work for pay.”

Finally, when trouble comes, when the wolves circle round, we may try to distance ourselves – “we leave the sheep and run away.”

The Good Shepherd

Whether we are ordained ministers or lay people, our model should be Christ and in today’s beautiful Gospel, our Lord presents these three aspects of himself as the Good Shepherd

#1. “A Good Shepherd lays down his life for his sheep”

Our Lord repeats this thought several times in this short passage.

He lays down his life for his sheep freely, in response to his Father’s command, and his Father loves him for it.

Laying down one’s life is the ultimate act of commitment and as our Lord says elsewhere “greater love has no man than this.” (John 15:13)

Good shepherding requires that kind of commitment: a complete giving up of “self” for the sake of the flock.

That is one of the reasons why ministry in the Church is so often associated with celibacy, poverty, and obedience: each of them being powerful signs and paths of total commitment and total surrender of “self” for the sake of the Kingdom of God.

Even when we ourselves are not called to those kinds of ministry, however, we must remember that our living out of the Gospel and also whatever participation in Christ’s shepherding we may have requires commitment, sacrifice, and the surrendering of self to God.

There is also a Paschal dimension to this: “because I lay down my life in order to take it up again.”

If we commit to Christ and share in his surrender of self, so may we by his grace share in his resurrection to eternal, glorious life.

#2
I am the good shepherd,
and I know mine and mine know me,
just as the Father knows me and I know the Father…

There is an infinity of meaning in that simple statement, for it ties our relationship with Christ together with his relationship with the Father.

Words cannot fully capture this reality. While we are on this earth, only in prayer (and only if we are given the grace) can we even begin to appreciate the ineffable joy of this infinite, everlasting interrelationship that Christ offers us.

This reminds us that whatever participation we may have in Christ’s shepherding absolutely requires knowledge of Christ and knowledge of the Father in the Holy Spirit. We gain this knowledge from Scripture, from the writings of saints, from the teaching of the Church, and most especially in our daily lives of prayer.

This also reminds us of the need to know our sheep, including ourselves, as well as we can, while also remembering that the most important thing is not knowing ourselves or knowing each other but knowing Christ.

#3
I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold.
These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice,
and there will be one flock, one shepherd.

One of the most amazing things following the death of the great Pope John Paul was the tremendous outpouring of respect and admiration that came even from those who did not belong to his immediate fold: from those who were not Catholic and even from those who were not Christian.

He led and people heard his voice.

Tragically, the earthly flock of God is not now one. This is a bad thing and many bad things have resulted from it. We must all pray and work for the unity of all Christians and for the spread of the Gospel.

The example of the great Pope John Paul is instructive: he respected people, he was repentant, and he was honest.

He reached out to people where they were, giving them appropriate words and signs of respect (one can show respect to people while still making clear that one does not agree with what they say or do). He was not afraid to apologize when apologies were appropriate. He was also honest about the truth, about beliefs that were shared, and about differences yet unresolved.

So too we should always be mindful of those outside our particular circles, those who believe differently from ourselves: reaching out with respect, humility, and truth.

Ego sum pastor bonus
et cognosco meas,
et cognoscunt me meae,
sicut cognoscit me Pater,
et ego cognosco Patrem;
et animam meam pono pro ovibus.