Shepherding in imitation of Christ

Good News Reflection
Monday of the 1st Week of Lent
February 22, 2010

Today's Feast: Chair of Saint Peter, Apostle
Pray for our Church leaders:
http://wordbytes.org/saints/DailyPrayers/Peter.htm

Today's Readings:
1 Peter 5:1-4
Ps 23:1-6
Matt 16:13-19
http://www.usccb.org/nab/022210.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_02_22.mp3

Shepherding in imitation of Christ

Today's readings focus us on the quality of leadership called "shepherding." Our priests are the shepherds of the parish. The bishop is the shepherd of the priests and all the parishioners of his diocese. The pope is the shepherd of the world — he is called to be Jesus Christ the Good Shepherd for everyone today, in imitation of him, in obedience to him, and as a voice speaking for him, inheriting this role from Saint Peter.

All leaders — laity as well as clergy — are called to imitate Jesus' style of shepherding. Parents are to do it as they shepherd their families. Teachers are to do it as they shepherd their classrooms. Employers are to do it as they shepherd those who work under them. Secretaries are to do it as they shepherd the people who come through their office.

How does Jesus serve you? That's how we're to shepherd others.

The Good Shepherd is caring.
He protects his flock.
He guides his sheep to safer pastures.
He goes after the lost and finds them.
He carries the weak ones over the rough spots.
He fights off the wolves and defeats them with the power of God.
Always alert to do his job well, he relies on the Holy Spirit who empowers him.

In imitation of Christ, we care about each "sheep" and "lamb" in our lives. We guide them by taking an active interest in their problems and offering them the wisdom we've gained from experience and from the Holy Spirit.

In the power of Christ, we find ways to bridge the gaps of division, i.e., seeking "the lost." We let them lean on us when they're weak or feeling unlovable or overwhelmed by difficulties. We pray for them, helping them defeat the demons that prey on them like wolves.

Meanwhile, we continue working on our own healing process and spiritual development — as fully as possible — so that we can decrease and Jesus the Good Shepherd can increase in us for the sake of others.

We must be continually open to learning how to take better care of our flocks. We develop greater compassion by getting in touch with our own pain, our own times of being attacked by wolves, our own need to be guided to safer pastures. And we do whatever is possible to heal and learn from these difficulties.

In whatever ways Jesus has shepherded us, this is how we are called to shepherd others. Our success in doing this depends on how hard we work at learning from Christ and improving how well we imitate him.

© 2010 by Terry A. Modica
This work is NOT in Public Domain and may NOT be copied without permission.
You may print one copy for your own personal use.
For PERMISSION and info on how to copy this reflection for sharing, see:
http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm

Seeking a past reflection?
Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.

WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND?
To sign up for your own subscription, go to:
http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections


Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?
Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue...

Join the cause on facebook and help spread the message!

Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.

______________________________________________________________
This is the "Good News Reflections - American Edition" mailing list.
MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION:
Change your address
Unsubscribe