Every year, the 4th Sunday of Easter is nicknamed “Good Shepherd Sunday” due to the fact that the Gospel for this Sunday in all three years of the three-year cycle of Sunday readings come from John 10 where Jesus speaks about Himself as the Good Shepherd. The Opening Collect for the Mass, as well as the Prayer after Communion, use the language of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. For this reason, the invocation from the Litany of the Sacred Heart which seems most appropriate for this Sunday is the following:
Heart of Jesus, full of goodness and love, have mercy on us
Jesus explains how, as the Good Shepherd, He does not flee in the face of danger, but rather He stays in order to protect His flock from being harmed. He will never abandon His flock. Even when they have strayed, as we do when we sin, Jesus goes in search for us in order to bring us back. He explains that if even one out of the ninety-nine wander off, even that one is worth His going to search for them. Only a shepherd whose heart is full of goodness that comes from love will be willing to show attention to every member of His flock. During this Easter Season, we rejoice in the victory that this Good Shepherd has won by sacrificing His very life for us so that we can be assured of being brought to the peaceful pastures of Eternal Life.
Good Shepherd Sunday is day on which the Church invites the faithful to pray for their shepherds – the Pope, the bishops, and the priests. I would ask that you pray today in particular for the priests of our diocese who will be making announcements about assignment changes this weekend. I know how hard it can be for a parish to receive the news that one of their shepherds is leaving. No doubt the sadness stems from an appreciation for the love that the priest has shown to them as he has served the flock entrusted to his care. For the priest who is leaving, this is also hard. As priests, we love the people that God has asked us to care for for the duration of the time we have been asked to serve in a particular parish.
By this point, I think most of you reading this are aware of my being one of those priests who will be leaving at the end of June. The uniqueness of my new assignment as Vice Rector of Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis necessitated a slightly earlier announcement, but I am happy that I can finally announce this weekend who my replacement will be. As I have been praying about this transition since it became clear last November, I have found great comfort in praying about that image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. Though I hope that I have been a good shepherd to all of you, I am consoled in knowing that we all follow the Good Shepherd who is Jesus Christ. The greatest gift a priest can give to His people is to facilitate a deeper relationship with the Good Shepherd, such that when changes take place, though my relationship with you may change, your relationship with Him remains firm. He will continue to be that source of strength and comfort to you, and in that I have great peace. To be sure, I will miss you all terribly, but I am so grateful for the six years that the Lord has given to me to be your shepherd. You have helped me to experience the love of the Good Shepherd in your love and support for me, and my love for you has prompted me to do my very best to serve you and help you to grow in holiness. Please pray for me, for our Cathedral priests, and our Bishop today, and please know of our daily prayers for you.