Gospel reflection for May 11, 2025, Fourth Sunday of Easter
It is no coincidence that the liturgical life of the Church is so often also embedded into the ordinary historical events. The Church mourns the loss of Pope Francis, while we reflect on how he served as a Good Shepherd, faithful to the mission, and the call of the Gospel to care for the least among us. But in the midst of the loss, as with the Resurrection of Jesus, we stand in joyful hope. As “pilgrims of hope” we do not wander aimlessly, we walk instead under the guidance and protection of our shepherds — Good Shepherds, who though still sinners like all of us, steer us towards the Kingdom of God and the promise of eternal life.
Now, on this Good Shepherd Sunday, we celebrate the election of a new chief shepherd of the Church, Pope Leo XIV.
We focus on the image of Jesus as the good shepherd who leads the flock to eternal life. At the same we look to our bishops, to the Holy Father and, and even to the pastors of our parishes and see in them “good shepherds.” Their weaknesses, human flaws, and yes, even their sinfulness, serve as models of hope for us, in our weaknesses, human flaws, and sinfulness. Pope Francis challenged the deacons, priests, and bishops to “smell like their sheep.” In Pope Leo XIV we see the markings of his sheep all over him.
The Acts of the Apostles recounts the movement of the Holy Spirit in prompting Paul and Barnabas to see the Spirit at work among the Gentiles and to show the Jewish community . They challenged them to not only accept Jesus but also the universal mission of the Son of God. Jesus is Lord and Messiah to all people everywhere, and not just for a select few.
This image develops in the Reading from Revelation. Standing before the throne of the Lamb of God is a throng of people so massive that they could not be counted, from every land, people, nation, and tongue.
On Thursday, St. Peter’s Square was awash with people and flags from all-around the world. The image that John recorded in the Book of Revelation came alive again with the announcement Habemus Papam. They came by the tens of thousands to meet our new shepherd.
Jesus is the good shepherd who leads us to eternal life. We are all connected to Jesus Christ through the ministry of Peter, now realized in the person of Leo XIV. Prior to his service in the Roman curia, Leo served as Bishop of Chicalayo, Peru for about ten years. This is an important diocese along the Peruvian coast. It was there he distinguished himself as a shepherd who, following the admonition of Pope Francis, smelled like his sheep.
Now, in the midst of this Great Jubilee Year, this simple pastor has been called to be the chief pastor of the flock of Jesus Christ. As we hear the psalmist sing today: “we are his people, the sheep of his flock.”
We have been challenged this year to be pilgrims of hope. Certainly, with the blessing of a new shepherd for the universal Church our hope, our pilgrimage is strengthened and enlivened anew.
At the core of our hope lies trust. God always fulfills his promises to his people. Whatever our personal preferences, theological leanings, or pastoral circumstances might be, we place our trust that in the person of Pope Leo, the good shepherd speaks to and leads his flock, inviting us into a deeper relationship with him.
Jesus challenges us also to be good sheep. This is not intended to be passive, unthinking, and blindly obedient, but rather to be open to walking with the shepherd in the path and direction that Jesus points the shepherd to. We see other sheep. We see the backs of the heads of the people in front of us. We have our own expectations of our pastors, our bishop and our pope.
Standing on the loggia, Pope Leo saw something none of us will ever see — the Church assembled from around the world in front of him, with the arms of the colonnade of St. Peter’s embracing the world.
We join our prayers together for Pope Leo, that he continue to conform the church to Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd who has again provided a good shepherd for his flock. Ad Multos annos, Pope Leo!
Father Garry Koch is pastor of St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel.