{"id":9448,"date":"2026-04-28T17:10:24","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T15:10:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/predication.net\/?p=9448"},"modified":"2026-04-28T17:10:26","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T15:10:26","slug":"when-a-shepherds-work-stinks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/predication.net\/?p=9448","title":{"rendered":"When a shepherd’s work stinks"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus’ words are neither soft nor vague. He says clearly: ‘I am the gate… I have come so that they may have life.’ He also reveals the cruel truth that we would rather not hear: that there are thieves who come not to serve, but to steal, kill and destroy. The Gospel is not a children’s story about a good shepherd. It is a radical call to distinguish between the voices and actions of others, and to become a shepherd unafraid of dirt, sweat, or the smell of hard work. A good shepherd does not smell of popularity’s perfume. Sometimes, a good shepherd simply smells of sheep; of reality; of the struggle for truth. That is why the sheep recognize him.<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The world we live in is both beautiful and complicated. Some people are genuine leaders, while others merely pretend to be. Those in the public sphere, such as politicians, are expected to be the shepherds of society. In the words of Christ, they must enter through the gate of truth and tear down the fences of manipulation rather than climb over them. Their task is not only to govern the state, but also to take responsibility for each individual and their future. It must be said, however, that there are some among them who take their role seriously: they consider the common good, do not forget the weak and seek solutions for everyone, not just their ‘people’ and voters. They embody the spirit of true service. Society needs such leaders.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

But we cannot close our eyes to reality. How many times do we see the opposite? When a shepherd’s work stinks, he starts to follow polls instead of conscience. He stops telling the truth because it would cost him votes. Instead of service, cold calculation. Instead of courage, compromise and corruption. Instead of truth, marketing.<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

This is where courage is needed to name things. The document Dignitas Infinita, issued by Pope Francis, clearly addresses the issues facing today’s world: poverty, war, the arms trade, drugs and organised crime. It also addresses the suffering of migrants, human trafficking, abuse and violence against the defenceless. These are not abstract topics \u2014 they are real human suffering that should concern people in the public sphere, and politicians are responsible for addressing them. Directly.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A good shepherd is not a power-hungry manager. They are not technocrats who crunch numbers. Rather, he is the voice of the voiceless: the poor, the unborn, the elderly and the vulnerable. He must have the courage to remind us that a society’s worth is not solely measured by economic growth, but by how it treats the weakest among us and defends human dignity. And that comes at a cost. This reveals who the true shepherd is and who is merely pretending to be on<\/strong>e.<\/h2>\n

The Church is not a safe club for the comfortable. According to God’s plan, it is a place of truth, where people will encounter challenges as well as comfort. The vocation of a priest or bishop is not a function or a career. It is a pastoral vocation, meaning bearing responsibility for souls and the Gospel of Christ. The shepherd should be the voice of the marginalised and vulnerable. The voice of those who are not heard: The voice of the unborn child who cannot defend themselves. The voice of the sick and elderly, whom society perceives as a burden. They should be the voice of victims of abuse, the poor, migrants and the injured; the voice of truth and of crooked laws.\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If a pastor is bored with his job, he will only say what people want to hear. He will select beautiful words from the Gospel about love, acceptance and peace, while disregarding the more challenging and uncomfortable teachings. He will avoid topics such as abortion, euthanasia, abuse, family breakdown, corruption, injustice and the loss of a sense of truth or human dignity. Yet these are precisely the issues that plague today’s world. A pastor who is afraid to address these issues cannot heal them.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Gospel is clear: life is a gift, and every person has infinite dignity, as ‘Dignitas Infinita’ reminds us. This dignity belongs to everyone: the unborn, the elderly, the healthy, the sick, the strong, the weak, the accepted and the rejected. It is impossible to ‘dilute’ the Gospel into a mere pleasant message about God’s love that will not offend anyone. God’s love is real \u2014 and sometimes the truth hurts.\u00a0. This dignity belongs to everyone \u2013 unborn and old, healthy and sick, strong and weak, accepted and rejected. It is not possible to \u201cdilute\u201d the Gospel into just a nice and sweet message about God\u2019s love that will not offend anyone. God\u2019s love is true \u2013 and the truth sometimes hurts.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

It also means addressing the issues that trouble society as a whole, even if this provokes resistance, misunderstanding or criticism. A shepherd who remains silent out of fear ceases to be a shepherd. However, it must never be about shouting for effect, harshness without love or condemnation. It is about truth connected to love. A truth that may hurt, but only to heal<\/strong>.<\/h2>\n

Actors, influencers and artists are also shepherds. They have a huge impact, too. Their words, attitudes, humour and values shape the thinking of generations.<\/strong>
\nActors, influencers and artists are also shepherds. They also have a huge impact. Their words, attitudes, humour and values shape the thinking of generations. Young people often listen to them more than they do to their parents or teachers. That’s why popularity, money and fame aren’t the only things that matter \u2013 responsibility is important too.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When a shepherd’s job becomes difficult, he starts seeking popularity. He starts saying what ‘works’. He promotes anything that sells, even if it destroys a person, and anyone who pays him. He relativises the truth and gradually becomes just another influential businessman<\/strong>.<\/h2>\n

We need pastors who are not afraid to say that just because something is legal, it doesn’t mean it’s good. Not everything that is modern is true. Not everything that is popular leads to life. We need people who are truly ‘in’ \u2014 not for the paycheque or for algorithms, but for the truth about humanity and God’s plan. The document Dignitas Infinita warns against digital violence and ideologies that break down a person\u2019s identity. Publicly known personalities have enormous power in this area \u2013 they can either deepen or heal wounds. A good pastor does not seek applause. He seeks the truth. He has the courage to live by it publicly.<\/strong>
\nThe first shepherds are spouses and parents. They perhaps have it the hardest because their love is tested daily by the realities of life: fatigue, worries, conflicts and decisions that no one else will make for them. When a shepherd grows weary of working within the family unit, he begins to resign. He does not want conflict; he does not want to be “the bad guy”. He gives in to maintain peace, but this comes at the cost of boundaries, truth and support. Love is not just tenderness. Love is also demanding. It’s not just about saying yes or no; it’s also about providing explanations, guidance, prohibitions, protection and setting an example.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

We need pastors who are not afraid to say: not everything that is legal is good.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

And there is another part that is more important than education \u2013 the relationship between husband and wife is the first place where children learn what love, fidelity, forgiveness, sacrifice mean. Marital love is the first image of a shepherd. Because a shepherd is not someone who commands, but someone who gives himself. Someone who serves. Someone who carries the other. And if the husband can take care of his wife, the wife can take care of her husband \u2013 if they carry each other in love even in difficulties \u2013 then an environment grows in which they can also take care of the children. Not with perfection, but with fidelity.<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

The family is the place where children learn to distinguish the voice of the shepherd from the voice of the thief. They learn what is true, what is good, what has value. And if they don\u2019t learn this at home \u2013 where will they learn it? In a world that screams, entices and lies? Therefore, being a parent means having the courage to love fully. Not only tenderly, but also truly. Not only comfortably, but also sacrificially. Because it is this kind of love that leads to life.<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Universities and schools are places where truth is sought. They are not production lines for diplomas. Teachers and professors are shepherds of the mind; they shape not only knowledge, but also character, direction and the ability to see things as they truly are. When a teacher is tired of their work, they adapt to the pressure of the times so as to avoid problems. They avoid unpleasant questions in case they provoke conflict. If he still teaches, he teaches what is safe, not what is true. Here, the true mission of a teacher or professor is revealed: a deep, personal interest in the subject and the truth. This requires commitment, preparation and honesty. It requires patience, even if the results are not immediately visible. A true teacher knows that their work is like sowing seeds. He does not see the results straight away. Sometimes he does not even know if he has made an impact on his students, yet he continues to work nonetheless.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The world does not need resigned teachers who \u201cunlearn their lessons\u201d and leave. It needs people of interest, effort, and determination. Those who believe that truth has meaning, that shaping a young person is more than just passing on information. Even though this work sometimes \u201cstinks\u201d \u2013 it is demanding, invisible, unappreciated. It has a huge meaning \u2013 it shapes people who will one day shape the wor<\/strong>ld.<\/span><\/h2>\n

Jesus says, ‘I have come so that they may have life, and have it abundantly.’ Not for glory, comfort, power or recognition. He came so that man could recognise the fullness of life and enter into it, because it originates in God and transcends the visible world. The abundance he speaks of is not an excess of material possessions, but participation in the very life of God. Even on earth. However, the fullness of life is not limited to one, two or three areas of human life and society, but encompasses the entire spectrum of justice based on God. This is precisely why it makes sense to be a shepherd..<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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