Good Shepherds
“My sheep hear my voice;
I know them, and they follow me.”John 10:27
Just a few days ago, on May 8, 2025, the Church founded by the Good Shepherd, built upon Peter, welcomed her 266th Successor of St. Peter, the Vicar of Christ, the Visible Head of the Church on earth — Pope Leo XIV.
The Fourth Sunday of Easter is also know as “Good Shepherd Sunday” because the Church proclaim the Gospel passage where Jesus says He is the Good Shepherd. How providential it is that on the first Sunday after the election of Pope Leo XIV is Good Shepherd Sunday. Perhaps it serves as an affirmation by the Spirit that Pope Leo is indeed the Successor of St. Peter, the Chief Shepherd of Jesus’s flock here on earth. At the same time it may also be a reminder for Pope Leo that he ought to imitate the Good Shepherd in his ministry and that it is not he who is shepherding the Church but that it is the Good Shepherd Himself through him.
As members of the Body of Christ, as sheep of the flock of the Good Shepherd, do we know the Voice of the Good Shepherd? Are we attentive to His Voice? He knows us, but do we know Him? If we do not know His Voice, we cannot know Him. If we do not know Him, we will not follow Him.
What are the voices we are listening to? Are the voices we are listening to and the shepherds we are following reflect the Voice of the Good Shepherd? Do these voices affirm our identity as beloved sons and daughters? Do these voices move us to love and mercy and service? Do these voices bring us closer to God?
If we truly are listening to the Voice of the Good Shepherd then how we live ought to show it. The Voice of the Good Shepherd is love and mercy. As sheep of the Good Shepherd we are called to love God and neighbor as ourselves. We must not be afraid of standing up for and defending the Truth, the Truth that is the Good Shepherd. Like Paul and Barnabas who preached Jesus Christ crucified even when told not to and was driven out of the city, we must be relentless in proclaiming the Truth and living out love and mercy.
May we listen to the Voice of the Good Shepherd so that we nay in turn become the good shepherds He has called us to be, configuring our hearts to His, loving those entrusted to our care, and bringing the Good News to all.
Watch this week’s reflection below.
