After the heart of the Good Shepherd
Fourth Sunday of Easter (B)
One of the most consoling images of Christ is that of the Good Shepherd. We are aware of pictures featuring Christ carrying a lamb over his shoulders, inspired by the parable of the shepherd seeking out the lost sheep (Mt 18:10-14). One of the best known of the psalms is Psalm 23, “The Lord is my Shepherd”. We never tire of singing it at funerals.
We have the sense of Christ’s personal care for us, especially in dark and difficult times. We believe that, trusting in him, we will be led to fresh waters and green pastures. The image inspires our trust and confidence in Christ’s personal guidance and support throughout life.
In describing himself as the Good Shepherd in our Gospel today Jesus says that the good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. In comparing the actions of a hired man who runs away when a wolf approaches, the good shepherd’s first concern is not for his own safety but for the safety of the sheep.
Of course, we know that these words were fulfilled by Christ literally giving his life for us on Calvary. But, it is also true, that Christ’s whole live was given for others, especially the poor and suffering.
After the resurrection when Jesus confirms Peter in his role with the question, “Do you love me”, his simple request of the head of his church is “feed my sheep”. Leadership in the Church is to be such that it is devoted to the wellbeing of the people.
St Peter himself, in giving instruction to those entrusted with oversight of Christian communities, says, “Be the shepherds of the flock of God that is entrusted to you: watch over it, not simply as a duty but gladly because God wants it” (1 Pet 5:2). He adds that a Christian leader is not to be a dictator, but should be an example for all to follow. The role of a leader in the Christian community is singular devotion to the needs of the people.
When we speak about leadership in the Church the model is that of the Good Shepherd.
In speaking of the role of bishops the tradition speaks of the threefold duty of teaching, sanctifying and governing.
The document on bishops from the Vatican II spoke of the role of the bishop is these words:
Individual bishops who have been entrusted with the care of a particular church – under the authority of the supreme pontiff – feed their sheep in the name of the Lord as their own, ordinary, and immediate pastors, performing for them the office of teaching, sanctifying, and governing. (CD 11)
The first duty of a bishop and a priest is that of preaching and teaching. Vatican II described this role in these words,
In exercising their duty of teaching … they should announce the Gospel of Christ to men, calling them to a faith in the power of the Spirit or confirming them in a living faith. They should expound the whole mystery of Christ to them. (CD 12)
In speaking about the sanctifying role, the Fathers of the Council, referring to the Letter to the Hebrews, taught,
In exercising their office of sanctifying, bishops should be mindful that they have been taken from among men and appointed their representative before God in order to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. (CD 15)
And when speaking of the role of governing, the Fathers at Vatican II, stressed the servant role of leadership saying,
In exercising their office of father and pastor, bishops should stand in the midst of their people as those who serve. Let them be good shepherds who know their sheep and whose sheep know them. Let them be true fathers who excel in the spirit of love and solicitude for all and to whose divinely conferred authority all gratefully submit themselves. Let them so gather and mould the whole family of their flock that everyone, conscious of his own duties, may live and work in the communion of love. (CD 16)
Within the Church pastoral ministry of bishops, and indeed priests, is intended to reflect each of these roles working in harmony. Each aspect of leadership is essential and interacts with the others. It is in the exercise of each of these roles that the distinctive nature of pastoral leadership in the Church is established.
This threefold service is reflected, in a way, in the sanctuary of our churches. The ambo or lectern is the place where the Word of God is proclaimed and the homily given. The altar is the place where the sanctifying power of the Sacrament of the Eucharist occurs. The chair is where the minister, bishop or priest, presides over the community.
When the Lord spoke of the good shepherd being prepared to lay down his life for his sheep this takes on particular meaning for the Catholic priesthood in the call to embrace celibacy. The bishop and priest lives solely for the service of God’s people. He has accepted celibacy, as the Lord teaches, for the sake of the Kingdom.
Thus, leadership in the Church is different from other forms of leadership which we might find in the world around us. It is not management or the raw exercise of power and authority. Leadership in the Church flows out of a pastor’s heart, the heart of a good shepherd.
Today is often referred to as Good Shepherd Sunday and it is designated as a day in which the Church prays for those exercising Holy Orders. I invite you to join me in praying for priests (and the bishop) of the Archdiocese of Hobart today. We pray that they may be true shepherds, after the heart of Christ, the Good Shepherd.
Archbishop Julian Porteous
Sunday, 21 April 2024