On this May 3rd, in our liturgical calendar, we observe the Fourth Sunday of Easter, along with the World Day of Vocations. In the Gospel of St. John, we hear about the shepherd of the sheep leading out the sheep, calling them by name, and going ahead of them.
There are some things to note here: first, Christ, by His Incarnation, has experienced many of the life situations that we face in our own lives; He has walked there himself, He has gone ahead of us. He was acclaimed by the crowds, betrayed by a close friend, had to work with the sweat of his brow, He knew both popularity and infamy, He spoke to the simple and the learned. Christ knew how to be obedient to the will of the Father, even as He asked for obedience from His disciples. Poverty and abundance were His. His chastity is a model for all of us, in whatever state of life we find ourselves in.
Second, Christ continually leads His sheep out of the sheepfold. Please note that nowhere does the Scripture say that the road by which we are led will be wide and comfortable. The Shepherd will lead us across some rocky and narrow paths, across some places where the wind will be blowing mightily. In fact, Psalm 23, which is most well-known for the words, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want, He makes me lie down in green pastures”, also speaks of the Shepherd accompanying His sheep through “the darkest valley”, and through the “right paths”, not necessarily easy paths. Ultimately, however, in following Him, we will find pasture and rest, and green places of repose. These will be the “still waters” where we will be able to regenerate ourselves, as Psalm 23 states.
My brothers and sisters, on this Day of Prayer for Vocations, we are reminded yet again of our need for good shepherds, of shepherds after the Lord’s own heart. Shepherds who are able to, on one hand, be compassionate to sheep who are weak, and on the other hand, to be firm against those who would like to sow harm and dissent in the sheepfold. St. Ambrose of Milan, one of the greatest Latin Fathers of the Church, wrote to the Bishop of Rome of his time, Pope Siricius: “Since you know the sheep of Christ you will easily catch the wolves and confront them like a wary shepherd, lest they disperse the Lord’s flock by their constant lack of faith and bestial howling” (Faith of the Early Fathers, William A. Jurgens ed., vol. 3, pg. 148). Jesus, the Good Shepherd, is the One who knows His flock, and those who have been called to the weighty and essential task of shepherding, need to know their flocks as well. They also have the task of confronting those who couple their lack of faith with loud shouts, sometimes amplified by means of social communication, or “bestial howling”, as St. Ambrose pithily puts it. Sometimes, in charity, the shepherds will need to say things that cut people to the heart, as was the case with St. Peter and the crowds, in the First Reading. At other times, they will lead people to experience the unending joy, as the prayer over the offerings suggests. They are called to bear in mind at all times, that there is only one “shepherd and guardian…of souls”, the One by whose wounds we have been healed, as St. Peter mentions in today’s second reading.
Today, the 3rd of May, is also Polish Day here in the Valley. Yesterday, on May 2nd, we would have celebrated Kashub Day in our area, also in the Heritage Park in Wilno. May 3rd is a time to observe the Solemnity of Our Lady Queen of Poland, as well as the Polish Constitution of the 3rd of May 1791, Europe’s first modern and codified constitution. Sadly, because of the present circumstances, we are unable to gather for these events.
I would like to close this reflection with words of Pope Francis for this World Day of Vocations, who issues “an invitation to cultivate the interior disposition of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Grateful that Lord gazed upon her, faithful amid fear and turmoil, she courageously embraced her vocation and made of her life an eternal song of praise to the Lord” (Pope Francis, Message for World Day of Vocations May 3rd 2020).
May Christ, the shepherd and guardian of our souls, lead us out into safe pastures. May shepherds of the Church always model their lives and pastoral activities after the example of Christ, the Good Shepherd. May we obtain good and holy vocations to priesthood and religious life, also from the Valley. And may Our Lady, Queen of Poland, always intercede for us, together with St. Joseph the Just.
(Fr. Pawel Ratajczak, OMI, May 3, 2020)