Reflection From

Fr. Davis

April 26, 2026

This Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of Easter, we celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday. In addition, we celebrate the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Throughout the Old Testament, the Messiah was often portrayed as being a shepherd of God’s people. King David, the greatest of the kings of Israel, was originally a shepherd who cared for his father’s sheep. God called him from shepherding his father’s sheep to be the shepherd of all the people of Israel.

The prophet Ezekiel in his discourse condemning the religious leaders of his day prophesized, “I myself will pasture my sheep; I myself will give them rest—oracle of the Lord GOD…I will appoint one shepherd over them to pasture them, my servant David; he shall pasture them and be their shepherd.” (Ezekiel 34:15,23) Though God was the ultimate shepherd of His people, He appointed those who would be His representatives on earth and carry out faithfully His work of caring for His flock.

When we look at the role of a shepherd, during the time of Jesus and even for modern day shepherds, we see that it can be a very demanding one. A shepherd is someone who needs to be constantly vigilant. He needs to be constantly on the lookout for potential threats or dangers to his flock. He is someone who needs to lead his flock to precious grazing areas and to find fresh flowing water. A shepherd needs to know his sheep and often acts as a physician when the sheep fall ill. When a sheep strays, a shepherd needs to know how to search out and bring that sheep back into the fold. Because of the shepherd’s care and the time he spends with his sheep, the sheep learn to recognize the shepherd’s voice and listen to him.

This is what Jesus explains to us in the Gospel this week, “But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep…and the sheep hear his voice,…and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice.” (John 10:2,4) As members of Christ’s flock and as His followers, we ought to be able to recognize and discern Our Lord’s voice. By spending time in His presence and in prayer, we learn to recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd, who speaks to our hearts. May we learn through prayer and spending time alone with the Lord to listen to the voice of God in our lives.

Today, God continues to choose and call shepherds to look after and care for His flock. As He called David to lead and shepherd the people of Israel, God continues to call forth shepherds for His sheep through the Holy Priesthood. He continues to appoint successors to the Apostles through the ordination of priests and bishops. We see that today: a catholic bishop carries a crozier, or a tall, hooked staff. This resembles a shepherd's staff. It highlights the bishop’s role as the chief leader and shepherd of his diocese. A bishop is the chief pastor, teacher, and administrator of the portion of God’s flock entrusted to him. He is a direct successor to the Apostles and ordains priests to assist him in his care for souls. Through the actions of the bishop and the priests, Christ continues to be present to His Church. He continues to bless and sanctify His flock. Through the celebration of the Sacraments, Jesus continues to provide us, the members of His Church, with life giving water and spiritual nourishment. This week as we celebrate the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, may we never forget to give thanks for and to pray for all bishops, priests, religious and those discerning a call to religious or consecrated life. May Christ continue to act through them, and may He continue to call forth shepherds in imitation of His own Sacred Heart.

Father John

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