If I started by speaking to you about Psalm 23 without being more specific, you might not know what I was talking about. But, if I said, “The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want,” you would have something to grab onto, a point of reference. That psalm is often the responsorial psalm used at funerals. In Catholic images, we see Jesus represented as a good shepherd always watching out for us, always protecting and caring for us, always trying to keep us safe as a shepherd would take care of his sheep.

Yes, Jesus presents himself as the good shepherd. Remember that the Church is a continuation of Jesus in the world today. Pope Francis often speaks about the Church’s role to shepherd and guide; he emphasizes that the shepherds are to reach out to those in need, providing guidance and direction to those who have gone astray.

Admittedly, when he speaks in this way, the Holy Father often is exhorting the leadership, the pastors of the church, to extend God’s care and mercy to those who need it the most. Pastors see the great need to act as a conduit of God’s mercy to all. Every pastor knows that, as a leader, he must watch out for what people need even if they don’t realize or understand what they need. Using the analogy of sheep and shepherd, the shepherd may have to go after a sheep and nudge the sheep back to the fold even if the sheep is quite happy somewhere else. Likewise, a pastor seeks out people and finds a way to remind them that they belong back in the fold, back in with the rest of the sheep, back in the Church.

However, that role of shepherd can extend to others in the Church. After all, each one of us has, so to speak, a little flock of friends and relatives. Perhaps, on occasion, you could take on a shepherd’s role and help usher someone back into the fold. People stray from the mark in life and in society. Going astray does not necessarily mean going off the deep end. Going astray can be very slight, but the slight straying often leads to a great departure.

How can you be a shepherd? There are multiple ways. Is there someone in your life who is homebound and cannot come to church? Well, help that person contact the pastor to arrange for someone to make home visits with the Eucharist on a regular basis. Is there someone in your family whose marriage was never celebrated in the Church? Encourage that person to seek sacramental marriage. Has a Catholic relative of yours died, and the family has decided not to provide a proper Catholic funeral? You could be the shepherd’s voice reminding the relatives of that person’s deep devotion to the sacraments. Do you know someone who is pregnant? In your role as shepherd, you could suggest that the person start preparing for the child’s baptism even before the baby is born by attending the parish’s preparation program. Is there someone in your life who has not yet returned to regular attendance at Mass after Covid. You could invite that person to come back sooner than later. All of these are very concrete ways to emulate the role of good shepherd reaching out to keep the fold intact and healthy.

Jesus is the original good shepherd. We should imitate and reflect his care and concern for those entrusted to him. Be a good shepherd to those whom you meet and steer them in the right direction. Be the shepherd. Lead the way.