On the Fourth Sunday of Easter, called Good Shepherd Sunday, we continue to reflect about the meaning of the Resurrection. This is also the World Day of Prayer for vocations. Today we celebrate the risen Lord as Good Shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep. As a good Shepherd, Jesus knows his sheep and his sheep hear his voice: Jesus knows each one of us, our needs, our merits and our faults. He loves us as we are and calls each of us by name. He goes in search of his stray lambs and heals his sick ones. Jesus heals the wounds of our souls by the Sacrament of Reconciliation and strengthens us in illness and old age by the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. The Gospel text offers us both comfort and challenge. The comforting good news is that Jesus the Good Shepherd knows us, provides for us and loves us. The challenge is that we should be good shepherds to those entrusted to our care. Parents are called to be good shepherd: that means they have to be attentive to what their kids are watching on TV or on the computer. They are called to attentive to what their kids are doing. On top of this, they are to have patience, patience and patience with their kids. Let us become good shepherds: Everyone who is entrusted with the care of others is a shepherd. Hence pastors, parents, teachers, doctors, nurses, government officials and politicians are all shepherds. On this World Day of Prayer for Vocations we are asked to encourage and pray for our young men to respond to God’s call to serve His Church in the ministerial priesthood. Nevertheless, each one of us should be asking ourselves today: Is what I am spending my energies on every day my real vocation? Is this what God wants me to be doing with my life? How is what I am doing giving witness to my Christian faith? So, today we ask for the grace to make Jesus, the Good Shepherd, the model for our lives. And also, we should ask for the grace to try to be good shepherds for other people, beginning with those who are closest to us, in our homes and in our families.
