Being a Shepherd for 10 minutes!

Yesterday, we had the opportunity to go to Neot Kedumim (Pleasant Pasture) - It was a recalling of the agricultural aspects of biblical times; from animals, plants, and tools.  It's mainly a field trip for middle school children, but 33 grown seminarians can also learn a lot too!

One of the meditations that came from the trip was when we had the opportunity to shepherd sheep and goats.  We had a small obstacle course, where we had to herd the sheep and goats into various circles, while avoiding other objects.  Of course there is usually only one person doing this job, not two groups of 17 guys.  It just made our job easier.

The meditation came two fold.  First, Pope Francis is known for saying that the priest needs to have the smell of the sheep on them.  In other words, he was challenging the priests to be entrenched with the people, not hiding in their house or safe in their various distant ministries.  The second came to Christ carrying the lost sheep. I don't know about you, but when I think of Christ carrying a sheep.  I have the following image.

The sheep is all nice, white, and even a little cuddly.  The reality was far from the picture. I had a brief idea before arriving to Neot Kedumim of carrying the lost sheep, then we had the opportunity to get up close and personal. 

Ignoring the goats, the sheep's wool was all knotted and dirty.  Many of the sheep were not even too shy to use the outdoor facilities right in front of us.  Basically the wool was covered in dirt, possibly fleas, along with covered in their own "stuff" (to keep it clean for the youngens).  The idea I had of carrying a sheep on my shoulders or picking one up was far from my mind.  So I took this nice distant picture.

It was then I started realizing that to be a true shepherd in Christ's Church will be, however, just that; dirty.  It will involve getting into the muck of sin, people's own "stuff" to be able to lead and guide them in the right direction.  I will have to listen to our Pope, I must have the courage to respond and have the smell of the sheep all over me!  But to make it clear, I made sure to stay from the "stuff" on the sheep's wool behind me in this picture! :)

Please pray for all the clergy, including the men preparing for the priesthood as we are being encouraged to enter into the trenches and lead the people of God in the midst of "stuff!"