In Pisidia, Saint Paul preaches about the history of salvation and the many messengers whom God had sent to His People. A number of the persons whom Paul mentions labored in the fields as herders before being entrusted with the flock of the Lord. In fact, in descriptions of the kings in the Old Testament, the verb that is used to describe the responsibility entrusted to them is the same Hebrew verb for “to shepherd”. The prophets, especially Ezekiel, criticized wicked kings from the past as precisely those who failed to care for the people as a shepherd properly cares for the sheep entrusted to him. The image of shepherding well is close to God’s heart in salvation history.
With this in mind, we can listen anew as our Lord says to the apostles, “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me” (John 13:20). Our Good Shepherd is the fulfillment of all that was foreshadowed in the good shepherds that came before Him. Moreover, He is the source of the ability and responsibility to shepherd well that He gives to those whom He continues to send as shepherds.
Today, let us pray in a special way for Pope Leo, for the bishops in communion with him, and for the priests that assist them. They have been entrusted with the task of shepherding the Church in the footsteps of Christ. We pray that they may always have Christ before them, showing them how to lead others well. We pray that we may have the grace to receive them respectfully as those entrusted with this mission from the Lord.