At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd. The Gospel passage chosen for today is a perfect characterization of St. John Mary Vianney whose memory the Church honors today. Popularly known as  Cure d’Ars, St. John Mary Vianney was widely known for his dedication as the Parish Priest of Ars. His steadfast love and care for the people was visibly demonstrated in the confessional wherein he spent most of his hours. His gentle manners in the confessional saw people travel from far and wide to come and receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation from him. He was declared the patron of priests and parish clergy. 
St. John Vianney is celebrated in the Church because of the way he carried out his responsibility as a shepherd to his parish flock. He ministered to his community with compassion and love because, as a shepherd who had become one with the flock, he understood their needs. As a minister of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, he understood that those who came to him were in need of compassion and love, not judgment and condemnation. He was aware that the confessional was an opportunity for the people to encounter the loving embrace of a loving, merciful, and forgiving God. He was aware, too, that as a minister of the Sacrament, he was representing God. As such, he had to ‘do’ what God would ‘do.’ 
St. John Vianney was a disciple of Jesus both in name and deed. He strived to follow in the footsteps of Jesus the ideal shepherd and minister. From the word go, Jesus’ ministry, as today’s Gospel passage recounts, was motivated by the desire to set people free from the burdens that were weighing them down. Jesus had realized that those who were walking around with heavy burdens had no one to help them put the burdens down. They might have longed to be set free but no one was willing to show them how to achieve that. As it were, not one had invited them to lay down their burdens. In the words of Jesus, they were like sheep without a shepherd. Those who had been raised up by God to shepherd them had neglected their duty. This was why Jesus prayed to God to raise up shepherds who would be up to the job. St. John Vianney was one of those whom God raised to shepherd God’s people in answer to Jesus’ prayerful request.