Shepherds for Christ

Good News ReflectionMonday of the 13th Week in Ordinary TimeSolemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles June 29, 2009
Today's Saints: Peter & PaulPray for faith growthhttp://wordbytes.org/saints/DailyPrayers/peterpaul.htm
Today's Readings:Acts 12:1-11Ps 34:2-92 Tim 4:6-8, 17-18Matt 16:13-19http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/062909.shtmlAudio: http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_06_29.mp3
Shepherds for Christ
Today's Gospel reading describes the holy quality of "shepherding" that's required for Christian leadership — in the priesthood, lay ministers, parents, i.e., any type of Christian leadership.
Here, St. Peter is being gifted with the insight to recognize Jesus as the Messiah. Then he's called and commissioned to shepherd others into the same realization.
In Christianity, everyone is called to evangelize. It's our primary mission as we follow Jesus and continue the work he began. The responsibility is especially great when one is also called to any role of leadership. Not only are we examples to those we lead, but when we are in charge of meetings, or directing clubs or choirs or religious education classes, or having positions of authority in parish or diocesan ministries, we have been given vehicles for the mission.
All leaders — clergy and laity, religious and secular — are called to lead others to Christ, and we do this by imitating his style of shepherding, teaching the truth the way he taught it while doing the tasks of our ministries and meetings.
Parents have been commissioned by Christ to shepherd their families. Teachers have been commissioned to shepherd their students. Employers have been commissioned to shepherd those who work under them. Secretaries have been commissioned to shepherd the people they deal with on the phone.
In today's second reading, we're reminded that St. Paul suffered in his shepherd's ministry, like Jesus did and like we do if we're involved enough to really make a difference for the kingdom of God. The good news is that the strongholds of evil ("the gates of the netherworld") cannot prevail against our Christ-inspired efforts to seek the lost and bring them to God. Jesus destroyed the locks on these gates when he conquered sin and death.
The "gates" are the escape route from Satan's prison. Those who are enslaved to sinful lifestyles and the devil's deceptions are waiting to be shepherded out of darkness into the safe pastures of unconditional love, forgiveness, and the saving power of God. We cannot drag them out, but we can throw open the gates and show them the way out and pray that they will recognize the escape opportunity.
A Christian leader who does not go into Satan's territory to rescue lost souls nor protects his flock from wandering into danger is no follower of Christ, because this was Christ's entire mission.
You are Christ's representative to the flock he has given you, using the gifts and talents that the Father has given you, your baptismal in-filling of his Holy Spirit, your apostolic calling from Christ, and yes, even your sufferings. We are all apostles sent into the world to spread the Good News. We are all shepherds being led by Jesus as we lead others to him.
For a printer-ready copy of this message to share with others, please go to Catholic Digital Resources:http://catholicdr.com/calendar/June/Peter-Paul.htm
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
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