The world has enough leaders: what it needs now are shepherds

Shepherd with flock, Had-Dingli, Malta, 26 December 2014

I always get a bit edgy when I have to offer a reflection on the Good Shepherd. The reason being that the image is no longer fashionable. Nowadays, nobody wants to think of himself or herself as forming part of any herd. And rightly so. However, whether we like it or not, we might already from part of a herd.

Who is my shepherd?

Roberto Benigni, an Italian comedian likes to say, "Do not waste time constantly looking for new things - that is the oldest thing that ever existed!" We spend so much energy to be unique and different, to be original and to shine out among others. The truth is, however, that in doing so, we are giving in to other people's influence on us, people whom we accept uncritically. Therefore the first question that today's gospel puts before us is, "Who is my shepherd?" In other words, who are my role models? Whom do I follow? Who influences my thoughts, my outlook on life?

It is so easy to have ideas or people or trends who influence the way that I think - and therefore behave. Any idea or person who does not stand for critical consideration is like those whom Jesus mentions, who climb over elsewhere. We grant them full access to our mind and heart because they appeal to our passions and fears and we offer no resistance to them.

Belonging to Christ's flock

If there is a herd that I must belong to, it must be none other than the flock which has Jesus as its shepherd. Somebody once told me, "The world is tired of leaders. The world needs shepherds."
Jesus is that shepherd who enters through the gate. That is, he does not impose himself upon me. In contrast to the false shepherds, Jesus can withstand our critical mindset, we accept him out of reason and faith, out of our own free will.

Jesus is the Gate

It is interesting how Jesus shifts from first being the one who leads the sheep to eventually being the gate of the sheep. He ways. "Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture." He gives us full freedom unlike the other shepherds, who are false shepherds, and therefore who oppress others and keep others bound to them. We accept to be in his flock not because we are coerced but because he knows us by name and we in turn, recognize his voice.

Isn't it ironic that the first cloned mammal was actually a sheep? But we are not Dolly. Each one of us is unique and precious in God's eyes.

Think of Mary of Magdala crying at the tomb. Lost in her anguish she cannot even recognise Jesus whom she loved so much. But he knows her well. He calls her by name: "Mary!" It is only when she hears his voice that she recognizes him. Jesus knows our name, the name that was given to us in our baptism, signifying a new creation in the Risen Christ. Just as Mary was brought to her senses when he called out her name, so too, Christ reminds us of our real identity whenever we are alienated and distracted by competing voices all wanting us to take up their identity.

Walking through the valleys of darkness

Psalm 23 which we sang today is probably the best known of all psalms, which is hardly surprising. Who has not turned to this psalm in times of sorrow and of trial? In the end, we all long for a shepherd to lead us to clear waters to have our soul revived. When we pass through valleys of darkness, that is, of shame and guilt because of the burden of our own sin; or the abyss of doubt and uncertainty about our future or that of our loved ones, when we feel lonely and all around us looks dark and scary, we long to be led by the hand to remember at least that we are not alone. In times like these, most often we do not even ask to be delivered from this darkness. All we want is the comfort of God's quiet presence.

Vocations day

I cannot end today's reflection without mentioning that today is also world vocations day. In his message, Pope Francis speaks the "liturgy of the street." By this he means, how while we go about our mundane and daily lives, we find Jesus right there beside us, where he shares his word and breaks the bread. And there are some of us who discover within them a seed planted by God which develops into a desire to continue this mission of Christ on Earth, i.e. of walking the daily lives with others while sharing the Word and breaking the Bread.

Each one of us has the duty of not only of praying for those who are considering the priestly vocation but we all have also the responsibility of creating a culture that encourages young people to respond to this call.