Christ is revealed to us in our Gospel as being the Good Shepherd. This is so because Christ does not send us off on our own without any direction. We are not left to wonder about in the midst of the harm of sin and uncertainty, but instead we have been invited into the Sheepfold that is the One Holy Catholic Apostolic Church where we will find protection. Within the confines of the Church we will discover all that we will need to be sustained through the entirety of her teachings as well as the grace that is extended to us within each of the seven sacraments.
Our Epistle from 1st Peter reminded us that we "were as sheep going astray, but now you have been converted to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls." This is to say that there is indeed a finite truth which exists and thus it is extended to us through what is revealed by natural law as well as the teaching authority of the Church. If we follow this path we will not go astray nor will we find our souls consumed by the dangers that are present within this world.
We must ask ourself whose voice it is that we allow to guide us into the Sheepfold. If we follow the hireling we will get caught up in the many issues of this world at the cost of our faith. The hireling is weak and can easily be stirred up to the ever changing issues that are made manifest within this world. On the other hand, the Shepherd is strong and thus does not get caught up changing His doctrine for the sake of making people happy. Instead the Good Shepherd realizes that for the salvation of His flock He must speak and lead souls to encounter truth.
One issue of modern society is the growing reality of secularism which attempts to banish God from public place. Through secularism three goals are attempted to be accomplished: (1) Life can be improved through material means, (2) Science is the available Providence of man, and (3) That it is good to do good. This series of thought has lead us to a new religion which in the words of Benedict XVI leads us into "the Dictatorship of Relativism."
We don't have to look much farther then San Francisco to see this reality being made manifest. In the minds of some the teaching authority of a Shepherd of Souls has been limited simply to saying nice things and making everyone happy. Again this is not the path of the Good Shepherd, but instead it is the path of the hireling. Archbishop Cordileone is under attack because he represents the teaching of the Catholic Church and thus in return has gone against this culture of secularism. It is offensive to the secularist to say that there is a finite truth and thus religion is more then simply going through life doing as we please. May we remember to pray for Archbishop Cordileone and for all Shepherds of Souls that they will remain steadfast in the midst of all the trials that will come their way when they teach and defend the Catholic faith.
It was only a few days ago that Francis Cardinal George past from this life to the next. May we also remember to pray always for the repose of his soul. He remarked concerning the growing secularism in our country: "I expect to die in bed, my successor will die in prison and his successor will die a martyr in the public square. His successor will pick up the shards of a ruined society and slowly help rebuild civilization, as the church has done so often in human history."
Therefore my brothers as sisters in Christ may we allow the Church to form our hearts and souls in all matters of faith and morals. The Good Shepherd is not found in the voice that only wants us to hear whatever we want to hear. The Good Shepherd truly cares for the salvation of our souls and therefore what He asks of us may be most difficult. It may require us to rid ourself of a passing feeling, temptation, or deeply entrenched sin for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. May we pray for our Holy Father, for all priests, and for all bishops that they may always hold steadfast in being Shepherds of Souls who desire to lead people into the Sheepfold of the Heavenly Kingdom. Christ desires to lead each of us into the Sheepfold, so may we in return grow close to Him through the Sacraments of the Church and the grace and mercy that they make manifest in our life. May we also never rid the voice of God from our life
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