SEARCH FOR SHEPHERDS
Ten of our students considered
living the seminary life. After
taking the exams, half of them passed.
Only two however made it to the last stage of decision-making. We are praying that the two will
finally make it to the seminary’s new school year this June.
This is the time of the year when
we are reminded of a primary role of Jesus in the daily life of the Church and
of each Christian. Jesus is the
Good Shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep. He willingly gives his life for the welfare of his
flock. Not only does he lead the
flock, he also leads those outside of the flock to fullness of life.
Being likened to a flock reminds
us that being church means living together the call of the Lord for us. We are not individuals each looking for
his or her way. We already have a
leader, a guide, a shepherd who knows us and whose voice we follow.
Jesus is truly present in the
church as Shepherd and this we know through the shepherds we have in our midst
today, called and appointed to the task by Jesus himself. Bishops, priests, religious leaders
share in the solicitude Jesus has for the entire community that worships him
and follows him. In a special way we are all shepherds of one another, in our
homes, in schools, in parishes and in society itself. There is no perfect shepherd like the Lord, but modern-day
shepherds are called to try their best to live selflessly for the ones they
lead.
Why is it difficult to find
shepherds today? I think it is
because there are special qualities needed from shepherds, which they must
willingly offer to the Church.
The first quality is
generosity. To lead others to God
demands sacrifices. There are
other options on how to spend your life.
There are the tempting offers to enrich oneself, or one’s family,
business, career and skills first.
But Jesus demands a generous
heart that is bent on giving and not on receiving, on sharing and not on
gaining personal satisfaction.
This makes many afraid. If
I give, what will happen to me, what will become of family or dreams? Will I be richer for offering myself to
others?
The second quality is friendship
with the Lord. This is important
because a shepherd offers his life prompted by the voice of the Good Shepherd
he want to imitate. This is a life
that demands faith anchored in a deep relationship with God. Offering oneself as a shepherd to God’s
people is first a response of love to the One who died and rose again. Only if a person falls in love this way
with God can he also fall in love with people who together with him seek the
Lord.
Let us pray that God will supply
us with shepherds we need, shepherds after his own heart. As we pray for more good priests, let
us ask ourselves too how we can be shepherds to others as catechists,
volunteers and servants in our communities.
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