On this fourth Sunday of Easter 2024, Pope Francis highlighted that for Jesus, the Good Shepherd who gives himself for his sheep and always seeks them, each one is worth “the price.” infinite of his life.” The Holy Father spoke after the Marian Prayer in the St. Peter’s Square.
The Holy Father meditated on the Gospel (Jn 10:11-18) in which Jesus says and repeats that “the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.”
“Jesus explains that he is not a mercenary, who does not care about the sheep, but rather the one who knows them. That’s right: He, the Lord, Shepherd of us all, knows us, each one of us, he calls us by name and when we go astray, he searches for us until he finds us.”
Pope Francis also highlighted that “Jesus is the Good Shepherd, who sacrificed his life for us and, resurrected, gave us his Spirit” and “thinks of each of us as the love of his life.”
“Let’s think about this: for Christ I am important, irreplaceable, I am worth the infinite price of his life. It is not a figure of speech: He gave his life for me, he died and rose again for me because he loves me and finds in me a beauty that I often do not see.
Pope Francis encouraged everyone to see themselves with the eyes of Jesus and not with the eyes of the world that measure the value of people by success. “Today Jesus tells us that we are of great value to Him and always.”
So, it is necessary to look for Jesus the Good Shepherd and ask “Do I know how to find a moment every day to embrace the certainty that gives value to my life?” Do I know how to find a moment of prayer, adoration, praise, to be in the presence of Christ and allow myself to be caressed by Him?”
“Brother, sister, the Good Shepherd tells you that if you do, you will discover the secret of life: you will remember that the Good Shepherd gave his life for you, for me and for all of us, and that for Him you are important, what’s more, irreplaceable. May the Virgin help us find in Jesus what is essential to live,” Pope Francis concluded.