My Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I feel very encouraged each time I read or hear Psalm 23: “In the green pasture you let me graze; you restore my strength; you set a table before me; only goodness and love will pursue me, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord.”
Like Jesus said: ‘The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me.” Christ himself is the Good Shepherd, who knows each one of his sheep, who gives his life for them and snatches them from the jaws of the marauding wolf. He is the true shepherd who fulfills Ezekiel’s prophecy, foretelling for Israel a shepherd who will deliver his people.
Christ’s sheepfold is the Church. In the Church, he bestows on us his life in the sacraments, his word in the teaching that she gives us, all the riches of his grace to light up our way and uphold our steps as we go forward to our heavenly home. Through her, he acts as the shepherd of our souls. Appointed to lead the flock, Peter gave his life for those entrusted to his care, and ever since then the priestly ministry has assured the continuous presence in the Church of him who remains the true shepherd of our souls.
Fortunately, with the providence of God, we have always had many good shepherds in our Catholic Church from generation to generation. Namely, popes are the representative of Christ in the world. The Lord Jesus Christ has worked through them and with them in the Holy Spirit, for Jesus promised his disciples: “I am with you until the end of times.” Thus, Jesus is really present in our daily life; He is controlling the order of the universe. Why don’t we come and worship God, the Creator and the Good Shepherd. As St. Augustine said: “My soul shall be at rest only in God.”
I would like to invite you all: Firmly recognize the kingship of Jesus; confidently accept the Lord – our Good Shepherd – and trustfully follow Jesus, who leads us to eternal life.
With love,
Fr. Thuong Hoai Nguyen, Pastor