During these year’s Lenten season, one of the spiritual activities we tried to live with our SEAS Catholic community was to spend at least thirty minutes with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament every morning for the forty days of Lent. The first fifteen minutes was about personal moment with the Eucharistic Lord in silence. And the other fifteen minutes was community Lauds prayed together with the Lord exposed in the Blessed Sacrament. In the personal segment, Linda Schubert’s pamphlet on prayer, “Miracle Hour” was a very fruitful worship aid for me. I prayed her litany of praise aloud in my inner self, and I tried to let it open my spirit, to draw me into the realm of the Eucharistic encounter with the agonizing Lord.

Today’s Gospel (Jn 10:1-10), the fourth Sunday of Easter, year A, recalls back to my mind some of the seventy-four titles in that litany of praise, which Ms. Schubert excavated from the holy Bible and weaved into a sacrifice of praise and adoration to Jesus (Ps 103:1). They include among others: Jesus as the Sheepgate, as the Door, the Defense, the Provider, the Bread of Life, the Living Water, the Savior, the Redeemer, the Way of Life (to the Father), the Good Shepherd, and others. In the Gospel reading, Jesus presents himself in farming and shepherding imagery in very peculiar terms: “I am the gate for the Sheep” (Jn 10:7); “I am the gate” (Jn 10:9); “I am the good Shepherd.” (Jn 10:11-18). He takes the shepherd metaphor to a sublime and deeper level. He is not only the shepherd who guards the sheep, he is also the gate by which the sheep enter into the sheepfold, the house of the Father, the abode of salvific life itself. Jesus, the good Shepherd is the guide, the way, the truth, and the life

As a good Shepherd, Jesus knows his sheep, he genuinely cares for them, and he generously sacrifices himself for them. Jesus’ voice is known by the sheep that follow him. Jesus says the sheep run away from the stranger. Jesus’ good shepherd leadership style can serve as a model and a challenge to religious leaders and all faithful. To the religious who may tend to be “strangers” when relating to their flocks and also to the credulous faithful who may be easily deceived because they believe things too readily without sufficient discernment. As the gate, Jesus keeps the sheep from the danger posed by deceitful and unsafe environment, from wild animals, from poachers, from abductors, kidnappers, and those who manipulate society in the name of religion.

The need for quality pastoral leadership and confident-secure discipleship is reinforced by the first and second readings. Peter’s enthusiastic words in Acts of the Apostles persuade the crowds to be baptized (Acts 2:14a, 36-41). The truth that God has made the risen Jesus whom we crucify by our sins both Lord and Christ is something we can depend on (Acts 2:14a). The truth that forgiveness is a guarantee for repentant hearts is something we can trust, and the truth that the promised Holy Spirit is accessible to all, is a blessed assurance (Acts 2: 36-41). The pattern of Jesus’ shepherd leadership is also sketched in the reading from the first letter of Peter (1Pt 2:20b-25). When we went away like sheep, Christ, our good Shepherd patiently suffered for doing what is good; to return us to the Father. He committed no sin, no deceit was found in his mouth. He did not return vengeance for vengeance, rather he entrusted everything to God, the just judge, leaving us an example that we should follow. He did all these so that we could return to the Shepherd and Guardian of our souls. Yes, Jesus did all these for us

On Easter Monday, around this time last year (April 21, 2025), Pope Francis, a shepherd like Christ, the Good Shepherd, passed away at the age of 88 at approximately, 7:35 AM in his residence at Casa Santa Marta in Vatican City. In the first exhortation he gave the Church, Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), the Pope of Joy and humor exhorted us with his favorite imagery of a pastor, “to be shepherds with the smell of the sheep” and to foster missionary communion with creative pastoral flexibility. He taught us to lead with vision and encouragement in difficult times (In front), to lead with solidarity, empathy, and patient listening (in the Midst/Beside), and to lead with care and trust, making sure that no one is left behind and trusting the “instinct” of the people to find new ways forward (EV., 24 & 31). Thank you Pope Francis, the Pope with the smell of the sheep; the Pope of Human and Divine Love; of Fraternity and Social Friendship; of Care of our Common Home, Earth; of the Light of Faith; of Mercy and Peace. Rest on and may your memory continue to be a blessing for the Church

Dear Jesus, on this Good Shepherd Sunday, please help all leaders to imitate you in gentleness of style while being firm and supportive of the rights of the people they lead. We pray for an increase in vocations, for men and women with hearts so great enough to love, and so strong enough to fight the good fight of faith. Amen.