“My sheep hear my voice. I know them and they follow me.” Jesus, in today’s Gospel John 10:22-30.
“The prayers of Catholics around the world will be that the universal shepherd can lead his flock to safe pasture.” Mark Easton, BBC commentator.
Today is Good Shepherd Sunday, due to the Gospel passage in John where Jesus calls himself the Good Shepherd (John 10:11) and refers to his flock of followers. He also calls himself the gate to the sheepfold, the one who protects the sheep from bandits and thieves, putting himself in possible danger for their sake.
This year, my neighbour’s small flock has given her ten Torddu lambs, the Badger Face Welsh Mountain sheep that are so attractive. Recently moving them to fresh pasture, all Mary had to do was open the gate of their field and walk through it as she called them. The flock followed, its trust in her clear, and a ewe with her two lambs which were frantically calling each other after they had become separated were able to be reunited. Peace then reigned for a while and this good shepherd could have a rest!
Peace was mentioned nine times in the words of the new shepherd of the Roman Catholic church, Pope Leo XIV, as he addressed the crowds from the Vatican balcony after his election this week. He emerged traditionally robed like Benedict, wearing a similar red mozzetta (short cape) and the same ornate stole bearing golden images of the four Gospel writers, but speaking like Francis who wore simple white robes at his first appearance. In doing so, Leo may have already been building bridges with the traditional and progressive wings of the church, beginning to fulfill the calling in his title pontiff meaning bridge-builder. His chosen name also reflected this as his predecessor Leo l was instrumental in persuading Attila the Hun in the fifth century not to attack Rome, with Brother Leo also being a close companion of Francis of Assisi and Leo XIII prioritising diplomacy and social issues in his pontificate. Leo is also the name for a lion, king of the jungle, linked with authority, leadership and courage – Leo XIV will need all this and more as he sets out on the challenging times ahead. With this Pope’s experience of community as an Augustinian friar and his stated belief in synodality, walking and working with colleagues under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, he will not be alone in his task and, as his colleague, Very Revd Anthony Pizzo, observed, “We are in hopeful space.”
Abundant hope is the theme of Christian Aid Week which begins today, highlighting Guatemala where, in the Alta Verapaz region, 90% of the population live in poverty. Christian Aid is partnered there with Congcoop, an organisation providing training and resources for communities to develop crop production in the face of climate change and economic need. The work created and the practical skills learned can change lives and communities – hope becomes a living reality and not just a possibility.
May it be so for those in Guatemala, in the Roman Catholic Church and in Anglicanism too as the next Archbishop of Canterbury is discerned. May it be so for us, too, and the flocks for which we hold responsibility or of which we are a part, whether great like the Pope or on a small scale like Mary. And, if you were to take a new name like Robert Prevost who has become Leo XIV, what would you choose and why?
With my prayers; pob bendith,
Christine, Priest Guardian.