The Good Shepherd
A homily on St. Joseph and Pope Francis at DuBois Central Catholic
Editor’s Note: This is a summary of a homily that Fr. Ben Daghir preached at DuBois Central Catholic on May 1, 2025.
Today, we gather on a special day. It's the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, and we also offer this Mass in loving memory of our Holy Father, Pope Francis.
It's a day to consider the example of good shepherds—two humble workers in God's vineyard—who spent their lives quietly, faithfully, and tirelessly shepherding others.
And there's one image that brings both of them together beautifully: the image of the Good Shepherd.
Pope Francis wore a very simple cross around his neck—not fancy, but a plain silver cross. If you look closely at it, you'll see Jesus the Good Shepherd, carrying a lost sheep on His shoulders, with the rest of the flock following behind Him. That cross tells us a story about how to love, lead, and live like Christ.
Pope Francis once said the following words about being a shepherd. He said:
"A good shepherd is always in three places: In front of the flock…Amid the flock…And behind the flock."
Let's consider these three positions of a good shepherd.
The first position: a good shepherd is in front of the flock.
A good shepherd is in front of the flock because he shows the way and leads with vision. In the Book of Proverbs (29:18), we hear, "Where there is no vision, the people perish." A good shepherd is in front of the flock, leading them by example and with a clear vision.
Like Jesus, Pope Francis showed us the destination—by talking about Heaven—and the way to get there: loving the poor, caring for the environment, forgiving enemies, and never giving up on mercy. A good shepherd leads with vision, courage, and hope.
St. Joseph was like that, too. When the angel told Joseph to flee to Egypt to protect Mary and the baby Jesus from King Herod, Joseph led the Holy Family. Joseph led his family through danger and the unknown because that's what a good shepherd does—he leads in the front.
The second position: a good shepherd is amid the flock.
One of my favorite lines from Pope Francis (and one of his most famous lines) refers to the second position of a shepherd.
Pope Francis once said, "A good shepherd smells like the sheep."
Sheep don't smell great; they live in dirt and mud. Sheep are messy, but that's the point. A good shepherd isn't afraid to get muddy with his sheep—to be with them in their stress, sadness, fear, and sin. Pope Francis was that kind of shepherd. He didn't sit above the people or far away from them. He went out into prisons, into hospitals, into the poorest neighborhoods. Pope Francis listened. He cried with people. Pope Francis laughed with them. Pope Francis smelled like the sheep.
The third position: a good shepherd is behind the flock.
A good shepherd is behind the flock because sometimes sheep wander off, get tired, and fall. A good shepherd is always watching, ready to go after the one who's lost, weak, or falling behind.
That's the image on Pope Francis's cross: Jesus going after the one lost sheep. A good shepherd is behind the flock and observing all of them. He watches closely. He's looking for the sheep that's confused, lost, weak, abandoned, and so forth. Pope Francis always sought those who felt forgotten, unloved, or left behind. A good shepherd is behind the flock, ready to return the lost sheep to the group.
Today, I want to say something to our teachers, parents, and grandparents. You know how exhausting it is to love this way—to be out in front, to walk beside, and to stay behind when needed. It's holy work. Shepherding is hard. It's draining and exhausting. It takes everything from within us to be a good shepherd. But I want to say: it is worth it. It is worth every tired moment. This kind of love, like that of a good shepherd, is the love of Christ.
And to our senior class—your time at DuBois Central Catholic is almost done. I invite you to pause and reflect:
Who has been your shepherd here at DuBois Central Catholic?
Was it a teacher, a coach, a classmate, a parent, a priest, or a staff member?
Was this shepherd in front of you, showing you the path and giving you a clear vision?
Was this shepherd beside you, walking with you, and compassionately listening to your struggles?
Was this shepherd behind you, quietly catching you when you stumbled and bringing you back to where you needed to be?
And now the fundamental question: what type of shepherd will you be for others?
Because the world needs good shepherds—leaders who serve, who love, and who stay close to the ones most easily forgotten. It needs people like St. Joseph—quiet, courageous workers who never stop protecting what's holy. It needs people like Pope Francis—who love the lost, listen deeply, and are not afraid to carry others on their shoulders.
We thank God for the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ. We honor the humble work of St. Joseph, who protected the Virgin Mary and the baby Jesus. And we remember, with love and respect, Pope Francis, who shepherded by seeking those on the peripheries and margins of society.
May we never forget the image on the pectoral cross that Pope Francis wore: the good shepherd who leaves the 99 to find the one lost sheep.
Fr. Ben Daghir
Beautifully written reminder! I feel recharged, and anxious to get to my job in the social service sector. Thanks for the boost! Praise God!