Dear Friends,

   This Sunday is Good Shepherd Sunday—a day when we reflect on Jesus as the shepherd. Now, some people don’t love this image because… well… sheep aren’t exactly known for their brilliance. But that reaction says more about us than it does about Jesus. Our ego hears “sheep” and gets offended. The Gospel says, “focus on the shepherd.”

    So let’s do that.

    A shepherd doesn’t keep his distance. He’s not managing from an office somewhere. He’s out there—walking the same ground, dealing with the same weather, keeping an eye on everything. When Jesus calls Himself the Good Shepherd, He’s saying He’s not removed from our lives. He’s right in the middle of them.

    A shepherd knows his sheep. Not just “generally,” but personally. He knows their habits, their strengths, and yes—their tendency to wander off and get themselves into trouble. And the sheep know his voice. That’s the key. In a world full of noise, the question isn’t whether we’re “smart enough”—it’s whether we’re actually listening.

    A shepherd protects. When danger comes, he doesn’t run—he steps in front. Jesus makes that very clear: the Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. That’s not a metaphor. That’s the Cross.

    And a shepherd gathers. He goes after the one who wanders. He brings back the lost. He doesn’t say, “Well, that one made a bad decision, good luck.” He goes and finds it. Which is good news… because we’ve all had our moments.

    So maybe the point isn’t whether we like being called sheep. The point is whether we’re willing to follow the Shepherd. Whether we trust His voice more than all the other voices competing for our attention.

    Because if we do, He promises something better than just good advice. He promises life—real life—eternal life!

God bless you all,

Fr. John