In our very short Gospel today we hear Jesus as the Good Shepherd: “The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me.” Jesus, the Good Shepherd, protects & cares for his people, for his Church. He knows and loves every sheep individually. The sheep for their part also need to recognise the shepherd’s voice and stay close to him as he will protect them from danger and lead them to good pasture. This is an image of the relationship which we are each called to have with God, within the “sheep-fold” of the Church.

Here on earth, the Pope is called in a very special way to be the face, voice and heart of the Good Shepherd to the Church and to the world. We give thanks to God for the election of our new Pope – Pope Leo XIV. I was very moved to watch all of the emotions on his face as he stood on the balcony at St Peter’s after he had been presented to the huge crowds below. You could see his deep emotion with perhaps incredible gratitude, joy, but also an understanding of the cross he was about to take up in imitation of Christ himself. He spoke very beautifully in his opening address about the need to build peace in the world – the peace that only the Risen Christ can give – about our need to be a missionary Church, reflecting God’s unconditional love for all. He spoke about our mission as Christians to be ‘bridge builders’ in our divided world today. What a mission – a mission we are all called to share.

On this “Good Shepherd Sunday” the Church also asks us to pray for those whom he is calling in a particular way at this time to serve the Church as priests, deacons and religious. We pray for Devon, our Westminster seminarian who is with us on Sundays this year, and all those in formation for our diocese. We pray many others will hear & respond to that same call, maybe even someone from our parish here in White City! May we all hear the voice of Christ, the Good Shepherd, calling us to a life of deeper service and mission in the Church & world.


With prayers & blessings - Fr Richard, Fr Ephrem & all the parish team
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