The fourth Sunday of Easter—this one—called "Good Shepherd Sunday," invites us each year to rediscover, with ever-renewed wonder, the definition Jesus gave of himself, rereading it in the light of his passion, death, and resurrection. "The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep" (John 10:11): these words were fully realized when Christ, obeying the Father's will, sacrificed himself on the Cross. It is then that what it means to be "the good shepherd" becomes completely clear: he gives life, he offered his life as a sacrifice for all of us: for you, for you, for you, for me, for everyone! And that is why he is the good shepherd!

Christ is the true shepherd, embodying the highest model of love for his flock: he freely disposes of his own life; no one takes it from him (cf. v. 18), but he lays it down for the sake of the sheep (v. 17). In open opposition to false shepherds, Jesus presents himself as the true and only shepherd of the people: the bad shepherd thinks of himself and exploits his sheep; the good shepherd thinks of the sheep and gives himself. Unlike the hired hand, Christ the shepherd is an attentive guide; he has no other ambition than to guide, nourish, and protect his sheep. And all this at the highest price: the sacrifice of his own life.

In the figure of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, we contemplate God's Providence, his fatherly care for each of us. He does not leave us alone! The consequence of this contemplation of Jesus, the true and good Shepherd, is the exclamation of moved wonder that we find in the second reading of today's liturgy: "See what great love the Father has lavished on us..." (1 John 3:1). It is truly a surprising and mysterious love, for in giving us Jesus as our shepherd who lays down his life for us, the Father has given us all that he could give us that is greatest and most precious!

This is the highest and purest love, for it is not motivated by any necessity, it is not conditioned by any calculation, it is not attracted by any desire for exchange.

Faced with this love of God, we experience immense joy and open ourselves to gratitude for what we have received freely.

But contemplation and giving thanks are not enough. We must also follow the Good Shepherd. In particular, those who have the mission of guiding the Church—priests, bishops, the Pope—are called to adopt not the mentality of the manager, but that of the servant, in imitation of Jesus who, emptying himself, saved us through his mercy. It is to this pastoral lifestyle, that of the Good Shepherd, that the new priests of the Diocese of Rome, whom I had the joy of ordaining this morning in St. Peter's Basilica, are also called.

And two of them will come forward to thank you for your prayers and to greet you... [two newly ordained priests come forward next to the Pope].

May the Most Holy Virgin Mary obtain for me, for the bishops and for the priests of the whole world the grace to serve the holy people of God through the joyful preaching of the Gospel, the sincere celebration of the sacraments and patient and gentle pastoral guidance.

Homily of Pope Francis

Sunday, April 26, 2015