Monday, May 04, 2020 - Fourth week of Easter Time - Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 10, 11-18 - I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.

Dear Christians! Once again, Jesus defines Himself as the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd is the one who dispenses love, freely and without limit to his sheep. He is at the service of his flock and is ready to sacrifice himself for it.

Jesus insists on this sacrifice. The Good Shepherd is not like the simple steward who at the slightest sign of danger runs away and leaves the flock abandoned. Likewise within the Church, all the baptized faithful are called to follow the example of Jesus the Good Shepherd. Through baptism, we are no longer employees, wage earners seeking remuneration, in the exercise of our mission.

To know is another character that defines the Good Shepherd. In carrying out our mission, in exercising our responsibility, do we really know those we are in charge of? Does the teacher know his students? Do the leaders of the local Christian communities know the leaders of their constituency? It is the duty of the Good Shepherd to know his flock.

"I still have other sheep, which are not of this enclosure: those too I must lead. They will listen to my voice: there will be one flock and one shepherd," says Jesus. The Church must not and cannot turn in on itself, according to the exhortation of Pope Francis, it must go out. It is therefore the duty of every baptized person to do everything possible to ensure that all men are in the same enclosure and under the same shepherd.