The Good Shepherd

Surrexit pastor bonus, qui animam suam posuit pro ovibus suis, et pro grege suo mori dignatus est, alleluia.

Christ, the Good Shepherd, is an excellent image to keep in mind as we enter the period of the conclave in which the cardinals of the Church will, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, choose the papal successor to our Holy Father Pope John Paul II.

[Jesus said to them,] I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hireling and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hireling and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.

-The Gospel of John 10:11-15 (RSV)