Today is Good Shepherd Sunday. The gospel reading is John 10:11 – 18. This is where Jesus tells us that He is the Good Shepherd. He then describes what a good shepherd does. We learn that a good shepherd will lay down his life for his sheep. If a lion  comes into the flock, the good shepherd will risk his life going after the lion to rescue his sheep. He will also go after the lost sheep and bring them back to the fold. We are all called to be good shepherds. 

We don’t have to be an ordained priest, deacon or sister, if we believe in God then we are called to be a shepherd. Being a shepherd means protecting the sheep from danger. Being a shepherd means going after the sheep that have strayed in order to bring them back to the flock. How can we do this? By being a good example for those around us. By living the words of Jesus. When we are at work or school, at home, anywhere we are, in whatever we are doing.

He who is a hireling and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. – John 10:12

I am not, nor have I been a good shepherd. Rather throughout my life I have been the hireling. When the wolf has come, I have fled. I have left the sheep unattended and they have been taken by the wolf. Is it too late to bring the sheep back?