Pope Francis reflects on Christ as the Good Shepherd
May 04, 2016
Continuing his series of Wednesday catecheses on mercy, Pope Francis devoted his May 4 general audience to the Christ the Good Shepherd.
“The Lord uses the image of the shepherd who leaves his flock to go in search of one lost sheep to express God’s closeness to sinners,” Pope Francis told the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square, according to the official English-language synthesis of his remarks. “God does not want even a single person to be lost.”
“In his infinite mercy, he is always ready to meet us wherever we are,” the Pope continued. “The example of the Good Shepherd also challenges us to go out in search of those in particular need of God’s mercy, especially those who have gone astray.”
The Pope added:
Jesus teaches us that in his eyes there are no lost sheep, but only sheep needing to be found. The joy which the Good Shepherd feels must also be the joy of the entire flock. For all of us are lost sheep who were found by the Lord’s mercy. All of us are called to rejoice in his merciful love, to bring that love to others and thus to join him in gathering into the fold all those whom he wishes to save.
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Further information:
- Pope Francis General Audience 2016.05.04 (YouTube Vatican)
- L’Udienza Generale (Holy See Press Office)
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Posted by: loumiamo -
May. 05, 2016 9:23 PM ET USA
In the story of the good shepherd, the protection given to the sheep is against wolves. If we r the sheep, who r the wolves? How come no one today seems to want to admit their existence? To be consistent with the story, the wolves cannot all be Satan, they must be animals like the sheep r animals, yet they r unwelcome in the herd. So the shepherd keeps them out. Based on recent Catholic teaching by the prelature, one has to ask, How dare he be so unkind, how dare he discriminate against them?
