Pope Francis reminds us that the shepherds should smell like the sheep. Leaders in the Church are not above the membership but share life with them. In saying this he joins the prophetic voice of Ezekiel from 2500 years before! Woe to the shepherds of Israel who have been pasturing themselves! Should not shepherds, rather, pasture sheep? The tradition of the clergy being a caste apart (and above) is a difficult one to break. I heard of a pastor who was gently asked by a parishioner if driving a big cadillac was the right image he wanted to project as the shepherd. He answered, “I take Holy Communion to the sick in that car and nothing is too good for Jesus.” Apparently nothing is too good for him too. The challenge before us: to develop leaders who share the joys and sorrows, the griefs and hopes of their people as the way to form a genuine community of loving service.
