Edition Nine | 4th May 2020
Our world today needs good shepherds more than ever before. Teachers need good shepherds and in turn, students need us to be good shepherds. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, is our example of service as we prepare to accompany students returning to schools soon. In this way, Jesus leads us in our mission to enable our students to achieve the fullness of life (Jn 10:10).
The Good Shepherd
Pope Francis
Pope Francis, drawing inspiration from this Sunday’s readings, recalls that one should take care of one’s neighbour and focused his attention on three characteristics a good shepherd should possess.
The shepherd’s first characteristic, he said, “is to be passionate, zealous. One cannot be a true shepherd without this fire.”
The second feature, he continued, is, “someone who knows how to discern: to discern where the dangers are, where the graces are… where the real road is.” In practice, this means no matter the situation the shepherd always accompanies the sheep (or person) and patiently “brings them to the fold.”
The third feature, he noted, is “the ability to denounce,” meaning knowing how to report evil and to not be naive. “An apostle cannot be naive: ‘Ah, it’s all right, let’s go ahead, eh? It’s all right … Let’s party, everyone … everything is possible …’. because there is the fidelity to Jesus Christ to be defended. And they know how to condemn it: that concreteness, to say ‘ no,’ like the parents say to the baby when he starts to clap and goes to the electric socket to put his fingers in: ‘No, no! It’s dangerous!'”
Pope Francis concluded, praying for all the shepherds of the Church to serve the Lord well.
As reported on Zenit - The World seen from Rome June 22, 2017