[전삼용 신부의 연중 제11주일 복음 특강] 착한 목자 되기: 행복한 성체 되기 I 수원교구 조원동 주교좌 성당 주임 2026.6.14 천주교/신부님강의/가톨릭스튜디오

#FatherJosephJeonSamyong #CatholicStudio 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A, 2026 – Becoming a Good Shepherd: Becoming a Blessed Eucharist "When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, harassed and disheartened." (Matthew 9:36) Praise be to Jesus! It is the 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time. In today's Gospel, Jesus looks upon the people of the world with deep compassion. The Bible records that people were "harassed and disheartened like sheep without a shepherd." The original Greek word 'erlimenoi,' translated here as 'disheartened,' does not simply mean a state of being dejected; rather, it signifies a wretched state where one is torn to shreds by wild beasts, cast down on the roadside, and lacks even the strength to stand up on their own. What is most needed for those who are wounded, lost, and fallen is neither flogging nor excellent preaching. He is the 'Good Shepherd' who will soothe their torn wounds, restore their spirit, and lift them up. Look at the prophet Elijah of the Old Testament. He fled into the wilderness to escape Jezebel, and lying down under a broom tree, he begged to die. "Lord, this is enough; take my life." (See 1 Kings 19:4). Even a great prophet becomes like this when his spirit is broken. At that time, God did not rebuke him. He sent an angel to place a baked loaf of bread and a jar of water at his head and gently woke him twice. "Arise and eat, for you have a long way to go." (See 1 Kings 19:7). Strengthened by that food, Elijah walked for forty days to reach the mountain of God. God is a Good Shepherd who first feeds the broken and, only after completely restoring them, gives them a mission and sends them out. In today's First Reading, God declares to Israel: "You shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." (Exodus 19:6). Then, what is a priest who saves the world—that is, a shepherd? The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches this, quoting Bishop St. Gregory Nazianzo: "One must first purify oneself before purifying others; one must first sanctify oneself before sanctifying others; one must first become God oneself before making others God." (See Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1589). Indeed. The order is key. First, oneself; then, others. Only those who have first become happy through God's love can feel true compassion for others and lead them to happiness. It is like a candle that has gone out; it cannot light another candle. Only when the fire on my wick burns brightly can I transfer light to hundreds of candles without losing my own flame. Then, who would dare to become a shepherd who uplifts the spirits of others in this harsh world? To uplift the spirits of others and embrace their wounds, one very clear prerequisite is required. It is precisely the fact that "I must first realize, deep down in my bones, that I am loved, and that my vital energy must live to the ends of the universe." How can I lift others up when I myself have collapsed to the ground? There is someone who demonstrates this principle most painfully. This is the story of broadcaster Kim Hee-ah, who overcame the harsh trials of a red birthmark covering half her face and maxillary sinus cancer, becoming a shepherd of hope for countless people. Growing up in an orphanage from a young age, she was subjected to countless mockery and treated like a monster by the world because of the birthmark on her face. As an adult, cancer also afflicted her face, forcing her to undergo major surgery to remove half of her bones. An ordinary person would have resented the world and locked themselves away in a deep cave of depression. At first, she, too, clung to God, shedding tears of blood, begging Him to please remove this red spot. Then, one day, she had an astonishing experience during prayer. She encountered, deep in her heart, the image of the Lord gazing upon her hideous face, weeping with more pain and shedding more tears than she did. At that moment, a lightning-like realization struck her soul. "Ah, the Lord loves me so dearly! This birthmark is not a scar, but a mark of His love, a special memory He has for me!" The moment she realized she was loved so deeply by the Creator of the universe, her once-destroyed self-esteem soared to the heavens. From that day forward, she never once prayed for the birthmark on her face to be removed. Instead, she began to live thinking only of, "How can I please Him who loves me so much?" Once she found happiness through being loved herself, she finally became the perfect "shepherd" who saves others. When her daughter fell while walking and bled from her knee, she did not make a fuss, scold her, or feel anxious. Instead, she hugged her, smiled brightly, and said, "Oh my daughter! It's a relief it's only this bad. I'm so grateful that you were hurt more than this. Isn't it?" Even the child, initially bewildered, came to learn his mother's steadfast attitude of peace and gratitude. Later, even whe...