The 4th Sunday of Easter is also called "Good Shepherd Sunday", the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. All the baptized share in the priestly, kingly and prophetic office of Christ. As such all of them are called to be modelled upon Christ, the Good Shepherd. Any of the baptized who undertake a leadership role (e.g. as parents, teachers, government officials, class president, etc..) are called by their consecration to be a priest, prophet and king as Christ was. This applies in a special way to those who by the ministerial consecration to the priesthood are -- by a special sacramental grace -- called to be "pregnant signs" of the presence of Christ, the Good Shepherd. Read the article "Christ, Gate to the Sheepfold and Shepherd" and use the following as your guide for further reflection.
1. The Christian is baptized to leadership. By his/her baptism, the Christian is called to be of service to the greater community, actively contributing to the achievement of the common good. He/she is not a passive beneficiary, but one who is called to be "light" and "salt" of the earth.
Reflect. Identify the leadership role you have at the moment. (Are you a parent? A student with a special role towards the greater community -- classroom, school, etc.?) An officer in the Homeowners' Association of your place?) How do you make the people you serve experience the care of the Good Shepherd for them in your work?
2. One of the ways by which Christians contribute to the society -- as can be seen in the New Testament -- is by their prayer for the leaders of society.
Reflect. If Christians are required by their consecration to pray for their civic leaders, the more they are required by the same to pray for the shepherds placed over them. Do you pray for your parish priest? Do you pray that the Lord call more people to serve Him as pastors of His flock?
3. The World Day of Prayer for Vocations was instituted so that praying for vocations is not left to the good sense of individuals alone but becomes the commitment of a community.
Reflect. How does your community of faith celebrate this day? In what way do you animate the members of your community to make the prayer for vocations a significant feature of your Christian life?
