By Fr Simon Labrooy
EVERY year on Good Shepherd Sunday, the Church invites us not simply to think about vocations, but to listen again. In the midst of daily life, the Gospel speaks clearly: “I am the Good Shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me” (Jn 10:14). Christ continues to shepherd His people today — often through ordinary men drawn into an extraordinary closeness with God and His people.
The diocesan priest is chosen from among the people and sent back to serve them. His life unfolds within the rhythm of parish life: baptising, blessing marriages, guiding the young, and accompanying the sick and grieving. In these moments, Christ the Shepherd remains present.
Rooted in a local Church, the priest belongs to a community with its own culture and hopes. He is a familiar presence — one who knows names, remembers stories, and carries his people in prayer. In a world that often feels impersonal, he reflects a God who remains close.
At the heart of the priesthood is a deep interior life. Before he is a minister, the priest is a disciple. His vocation begins in friendship with Christ, sustained by prayer, Scripture, and the Eucharist. When this relationship is alive, his ministry becomes a channel of grace. The first call is simply “to be with Him.”
This vocation is lived in communion. Through his obedience to the bishop, the priest shares in the Church’s mission, building unity within diversity.
The priest encounters Christ within everyday life — among families, youth, migrants, and the elderly. In a world marked by quiet loneliness, he becomes a sign that God has not withdrawn. Whether at hospital beds, in the confessional, or at the altar, his presence speaks of a God who remains near.
Priestly life carries sacrifice, yet within it is a deep joy: witnessing lives transformed and standing at the Eucharist, where heaven touches earth. The Church still needs shepherds. The question is not whether God calls, but whether we are listening. Vocation often begins quietly — a stirring within the heart, an invitation: “Follow Me.”
Discernment is not about pressure, but accompaniment — helping one discover where God is leading. Many vocations take root in families where faith is lived with sincerity.
Every member of the Church shares in nurturing vocations — through prayer, encouragement, and witness. For every calling begins with a deeper question: “Do you love Me?”
On this Good Shepherd Sunday, may we listen once more to Christ who still calls. The Shepherd walks among His people — and perhaps even now, He is calling new shepherds from among us.
Before you exit this article, pause and pray: Lord Jesus, Good Shepherd, raise up shepherds after Your own Heart. Give courage to those You call, wisdom to guide them, and generous hearts to follow You. May our Church be a home where vocations are discovered and embraced with joy.
Fr Simon Labrooy is the vocation director for the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur. He may be contacted at: simon@archkl.org – Herald Malaysia
