Pope Francis Visits a Nativity Scene, Church of St. Alfonso Maria dei Liguori January 8, 2014, Rome, Italy.

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[Jesus said] “I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep.     John 10:14-15

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Pope Francis uttered certain words on Maundy Thursday, March 28, 2013, at a Chrism Mass  (when the priests of his diocese, Rome, came together, as they do at that Mass in every diocese in the world) which quickly went viral: “The priest who seldom goes out of himself … misses out on the best of our people, on what can stir the depths of his priestly heart. … This is precisely the reason why some priests grow dissatisfied, lose heart and become in a sense collectors of antiquities or novelties — instead of being shepherds living with ‘the smell of the sheep.’ This is what I am asking you — be shepherds with the smell of sheep” (National Catholic Reporter, October 29, 2013). Well, the picture above shows him practicing what he preaches! Jesus used that image of himself in an agrarian world 2000 years ago. Everyone was familiar with sheep back then, their problems, the challenges facing shepherds taking care of them, the threats they faced and the hardships they endured. We, today, are not. I think the last time I saw a live sheep was years ago, through the window of a train. Certainly no smell was noticeable. But yes, I know that was not what the pope was talking about. We are the sheep, aren’t we? Priests are called to get so familiar with the joys, pains, challenges, happinesses and challenges of their flock that they become, in essence, their shepherd. The very word “pastor” is the Latin word for shepherd, so it will be clear what “pastoral care” means! So I did a little research on what it really means to be a modern day shepherd – the real thing – and tried to relate it to modern-day Christianity. Take a look at shepherding today as described by a real-life shepherd, Kim Goodling, and I really do mean take a look at this:

https://www.livingwithgotlands.com/2019/09/skills-of-a-shepherd/

It is one tough vocation! It is also, quite frankly, a guide to being that other type of shepherd, a pastor of a human flock. And, in a special way, what it means to be a genuine Christian, a child of God. Looking at Kim’s list of requirements in the clip above, they can all be applied to the real life of a Christian. They are all other-focussed, all requiring love and selflessness, whether it be family or neighbor, and how to act in an emergency, applying it to your – my – real world somehow. However, looking at today’s gospel, we are fortunate to have the Good Shepherd taking care of us – the sheep! All those skills and requirements listed above in actual, real-life shepherding are found in the life of Jesus, up to and including his own death. It was for us he died, taking the utter evil of our sins upon himself that we might live in grace and hope. So he goes way beyond even the real shepherd: Jesus is even prepared to die horribly to save us!

Note also one extraordinary element in today’s readings. St. Peter, in the first reading, is talking to the religious leaders who had succeeded in getting Jesus crucified. His words are: “It was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead; in his name this man stands before you healed”. Now this is a man addressing a  fearsome group of leaders who seemingly had almost the power of life and death as they knew how to manipulate the Roman authorities. Peter should have been scared to death of them, but he was not. They were the ones who had heard Jesus say “I am” to the high priest’s question: “Are you the Christ (the Anointed), the Son of the Living God”. It was because of Jesus’ answer to that question that he was declared guilty and condemned to death (compare Mark 14:61-62 and Exodus 3:13-16). Peter in today’s first reading now seems to be completely beyond fear of any consequences. The power of the Holy Spirit had begun to be present in their midst. The Lord himself had said he had to return to the Father in order to send the Holy Spirit down upon them. So even down to our time, we have the power to stand up to the threats that might be thrown on us, just as Peter had – and this was the man to had denied even knowing Jesus three times! This clearly was one of the first such moments which has remained down to our own day, we have the Holy Spirit of God among us, with us and upholding us. And that is the power which can make us good Christians, even, when situations demand it, good shepherds. When we too, as Pope Francis says, would have the smell of the sheep, if we act as true, loving, reliable and trusted neighbors, friends, family – or even strangers!.

Jesus the Good Shepherd, Etsy.

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