Today is often referred to as Good Shepherd Sunday, a time to pray for vocations and also for those who currently shepherd the flock. There are some problems with this image, at least for me. First of all, my guess is that most of you have never seen or touched or smelled a real, live sheep, much less a real shepherd. Our holy cards have sanitized what shepherds were really like.
In Jesus’ time, shepherds were looked down upon. They performed an essential task for the community, but their job made them highly unpopular. They smelled funny. They were uneducated and ill-mannered. Their job did not allow them the luxury of keeping the Sabbath and therefore, in addition to being unwashed, they were ritually unclean.
On the other hand, they were strong, dedicated and brave. They could easily flatten a wolf. They were tireless in their search for lost sheep. They acted as living gatekeepers, literally lying down at the entrance to the sheep pen at night so no sheep could escape and no wolf get in. My main objection to the image of shepherd, however, is not to how bad a shepherd smells but what his ultimate goal is: he protects the sheep until he can fleece them. Or worse.
I think a more appropriate image would be to think of Jesus as the Good Sanitation Worker. Think about it. Like shepherds in years past, the sanitation worker performs an essential function for our society. Nevertheless, most people look down on garbage collectors because, like shepherds, they also smell funny. But think of what a mess we would have if we had no sanitation workers.
Jesus, our good sanitation worker, takes away our spiritual garbage. But best of all, he helps us recycle. He looks at what is broken and worn out in our lives and shows us ways to repair and renew ourselves and our relationships.
Today’s priests follow in Jesus’ footsteps, more as spiritual sanitation workers than as shepherds, even though the word “pastor” originally meant shepherd. Through confession and the sacrament of reconciliation, priests help us unburden our souls of the garbage we have collected over time. Through counseling they help us recycle our lives.
These days, because of the scandals that continue to rock the Church, the priesthood has probably fallen lower in many people’s eyes even than sanitation workers. Power, privilege and prestige no longer mark the priesthood. Good. The only thing worse than a priest shortage would be for young men to want to become priests for the wrong reasons.
But the People of God still need men of courage, humility and sacrifice willing to take on the essential role of helping Christ clean up his church. We need good, Catholic parents who, though mindful of the faults of too many churchmen, are still proud to be known as Catholics and are willing to encourage their sons and daughters to enter religious life.
With fewer men entering the priesthood, is it any wonder the garbage is starting to pile up? Yet despite all its current problems, despite all its past sins, the Roman Catholic faith is still capable of great holiness and goodness and has the potential to once again bring the light of Christ to our wounded and broken world in dire need of healing, justice, peace, hope and love.
Perhaps as you listen to me this morning, some of you young people feel the stirrings of the Holy Spirit calling you to follow Christ by becoming a spiritual sanitation worker. We need you. We are counting on you. With you, the Church may once again become a shining example of sacred service to the Gospel of Christ and the Reign of God. Without you, what was once beautiful about Catholicism will be hidden by so much trash.
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