His Holiness Pope Shenouda III speaks about the meaning of “the shepherd” and how shepherding is a divine work not merely a human office, stressing the necessity for the shepherd to be filled with the Holy Spirit and called by God and to have spiritual wisdom to offer true pastoral care.

Main idea

• The shepherd is a divine title: God is the first Shepherd (Ezekiel, Psalm), and a person is called a shepherd when he carries the Spirit of God and lets the Spirit work in him.

• Filling with the Holy Spirit is an essential condition: Before the shepherd begins his work he must be filled with the Holy Spirit — who gives the power to forgive, bind and loose, — for the task is not formalities or duties but the work of the Spirit.

• The calling is not self-made: A person does not call himself; God calls him; the choice and calling from God are the guarantee of the success of the shepherding, and God works by His grace in the shepherd so that his work succeeds.

• The Spirit leads, not merely human will: The true shepherd is led by the Spirit not only by his human will; true freedom is the submission to the Spirit.

• Spiritual wisdom is necessary for shepherding: Filling with the Spirit is accompanied by wisdom from above, not worldly craftiness, but spiritual wisdom that enables the shepherd to manage the church and people.

• Biblical and historical examples: He referred to the apostles, Barnabas and Saul, John the Baptist, Joseph and Solomon, and the role of the Spirit and wisdom in their success or the fall when self-examination was absent.

• Practical outcome: A shepherd filled with the Spirit and wisdom appears as a spiritual example in his speech, conduct and ministry; successful ministry is ministry in which God works, not ministry for human glory.

• A pedagogical and spiritual appeal: Confirm your calling, ask for filling of the Spirit, renounce human glory, and cultivate spiritual wisdom to lead the flock toward true salvation.

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