His Way Will Not Lead Us into Sin

Adeladius Makwega – Mbagala

“Today we are in the Fourth Sunday of Easter. In the Gospel of this Sunday, Jesus identifies himself as the shepherd of the sheep and the gate for the sheep. As a shepherd, he calls his sheep by their names and leads them.

His sheep follow him because they know and recognize his voice. As the gate, he is the way to salvation and pasture so that the sheep may have life, and have it abundantly.

Jesus warns us about thieves and robbers who pretend to be shepherds—so we must be cautious of them.

If the path presented to us does not lead to salvation, we should pause for a moment and examine our hearts so that we may hear the voice of the Good Shepherd. His way will not lead us into sin and destruction. Let us seek him just as he seeks us.”

This is a homily by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization (formerly Propaganda Fide) of the Catholic Church worldwide, for the Fourth Sunday after Easter, April 26, 2026.

 

In this context, when Pope Francis was still alive, he strongly encouraged priests to be ‘shepherds who smell like the sheep’—an image emphasizing that pastors should be close to their faithful, sharing in their lives, joys, and sufferings.

This statement was first mentioned in 2013, and it encourages practical, engaged ministry, urging religious leaders to leave comfortable and enclosed environments and go out to serve people, especially those on the margins of society where they live and suffer.

 

Mwanakwetu adds that this responsibility is not only for pastors; even parents, guardians, and leaders—indeed everyone in society—have the duty to ‘carry the scent’ of those under their care. It is not right for a leader to smell of perfume while the community smells like sheep.

Mwanakwetu, are you there? Remember:

“His Way Will Not Lead Us into Sin and Destruction.”

Wishing you a blessed Sunday.

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