Smell Like Sheep

By Benjamin O'Loughlin 

Shepherds smell like sheep. Duh.

But what should be obvious was one of the key novelties of Pope Francis' Chrism Mass homily Holy Thursday morning. 

The pope was right on when he decided to repeat the obvious. Too many shepherds don't smell like sheep. And that doesn't just go for bishops, priests and deacons. Some of them definitely need to be closer to their sheep. But they're not the only ones.

You're a mom or a dad. A teacher, a mentor. Do you smell like sheep? Have you ever listened to the music your kids listen to? Have you made a real effort to understand it? Do you know who's who in the current pantheon of rock stars and sports idols? Do you care about the things your kids care about? Do you know why they care?

If you don't, you don't smell like sheep. If you don't smell like sheep, they won't recognize you as one of their own. You won't be able to watch over them at night when wolves are on the prowl, or show them the way to greener pastures come sunrise.

For shepherds, there are no ivory thrones. Just a shepherd's crook, made for walking alongside our sheep.

Go here for more of the pope's Holy Thursday homily.