Every Sunday, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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“The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.”
These opening words of Psalm 23 are among the most loved in all of Scripture. We hear them often at funerals. They gently invite us to trust in the Lord—the one who leads us to green pastures and still waters, restoring our souls.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus calls himself both the shepherd and the gate. In his time, shepherds would gather their sheep into a secure enclosure at night and lie across the entrance. In this way, the shepherd himself became the gate—protecting the sheep from danger and keeping them safe.
When morning came, the shepherd would call out, and the sheep would follow. They recognized his voice. They trusted him. Most followed without hesitation—but not all. Some were stubborn, wandering off on their own. And those were the ones who often became lost, needing the shepherd to come and find them.
I have a picture of two sheep hanging in my home. One looks outward, attentive, as if listening for a voice. The other looks straight ahead, seemingly determined to go its own way. It’s a simple image, but a powerful one.
Jesus desires to be our shepherd. He knows each of us by name. But we must choose to listen—to accept his care, his guidance, and his protection. So the question becomes: which sheep will we be? The one who listens and follows, or the one who resists and wanders?
Trusting the shepherd means surrendering to his lead, believing that he knows the way better than we do. His path is the one described in Psalm 23—a path of peace, protection, and life. Even when we walk through dark valleys, we need not be afraid. He is with us. His rod and staff give us comfort.
Rather than stubbornly pressing ahead on our own path, may we learn to listen more closely for his voice—and follow where he leads. His way is the way to safety, to peace, and ultimately to life, where we will dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come.
Today is also the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Please join me in praying that many men and women will hear and respond to God’s call. Ask the Lord to open hearts—especially those he is calling to the priesthood, the diaconate, and the consecrated religious life.
Have a blessed week everyone.