Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Monday of the fourth week of Easter, May 12, 2025

Delivered by Andrew Jost from the Parish of Saint Albert the Great in the Archdiocese of Makassar, Indonesia. Acts of the Apostles 11: 1-18; Rs psalm 42: 2-3; 43: 3.4; John 10: 1-10.THE GOOD SHEPHERD SMELLS OF HIS SHEEP The title for our meditation today is:The Good Shepherd Smells of His Sheep. Pope Francis once said about becomingshepherd and gave a reminder to the whole Church, specifically an address tothe bishops and priests, that they must have smell like their sheep. This expressionof the Pope has always been quoted and referred to by various elements withinthe Catholic Church. The Pope is actually teaching us about faith that involvesand communicates with the real life of every Christian.  The point is that the duty ofleadership and service do not put people only in offices, homes, behind tables,in discussion forums, meetings and planning. To imitate our true Shepherd JesusChrist, we must be able to become shepherd like Him. The following illustrationcan help us to ponder on the idea about shepherd. There were four children in a family. Theywere two girls and two boys. They really admired and loved their parents. Everyone of them testified that their father and mother loved so much each of thechildren personally and treat each one according to his and her circumstanceand character. Every one of them said that in choosing a spouse for marriage, eitherboy or girl should have similarity to their own father and mother. The boyfriends should have something similiar the girls’ father. The girl friends alsoto the boys’ mother. The shepherd smells of the sheep islike in the story above of the father and mother who did big sacrifice to theirchildren. As the sheep receive help and care, they really feel what is being athome, loved, and developed. First of all because the helpers or shepherds actlike Jesus. They do not choose people to help. They treat everyone personallyand give attention to all with love. This is a concrete way for a shepherd tohave smell like the sheep. The shepherd comes into the concrete conditions andexperiences that each and everyone has in their own lives. The highlight message about the goodshepherd who have smell of the sheep is on the truth that God does not disgustsand gives up on the smell of the sheep that are close to him. God even likesthe smell of the sheep. The different smells of the sheep obviously come fromevery walk of life, but the Lord pleases all of them and He will transform themto become fragrance gift because of His love and mercy. The sheep are not onlyin the sheepfold, but also outside of it, all of them will take pasture andshelter in Jesus Christ. Saint Peter, as told in the Acts of the Apostlestoday, also did the same thing. He succeeded in bringing people who wereoutside the borders of the Jewish territory to become members of the EarlyChurch. The shepherd that smells of the sheephas not been realized perfectly at this time of our life. We should continue topray and hope that the chosen shepherds, those who are ordained and the commonshepherds of the faithful, make this a project of lief in bringing many othersheep into the Church. All their smells must attract us to bring them toChrist. Let us pray ... In the name ofthe Father ... Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us with Your spirit so that we canbecome good sheep and be able to bring other sheep to come to You and enjoy yourpresence. Hail Mary full of grace ... In the name of the Father ...