Good Shepherd Sunday Homily 2023

I wanted to become a priest because of the witness of the priests and Sisters in my home parish, who themselves were shepherds—men and women who knew me and my family, who were familiar, trusted voices. They led me to a deeper faith and were examples of active lives of service. They were not perfect, nor were they sinless. But they were people in love with God and not afraid to lead, as best they could. And that brings me to the greatest challenge of all. Being a shepherd to one flock, one family, is challenge enough. Multiple flocks still need relationships, knowing and leading. True shepherding is hard to do online or with a program.
It’s about gathering. It’s not about only going to church, but being church; the human, messy, getting misunderstood, trying to be all-things-to-all-people kind of shepherding. And there is nothing else I would rather be or do or aspire to, than being a shepherd. And only Christ, the Good Shepherd empowers me to serve. Let us be profoundly grateful for the shepherds in our lives, and pray God will open more hearts and lives to shepherd for the Kingdom.

~Fr. John Haugen