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Homily stories

29 Apr 2012 - Fourth Sunday of Easter; Good Shepherd Sunday, Cycle B

SHEPHERDING goes back a long way in scripture. Abel was the first, and future shepherds would include an all-star list from Israelite history: Abraham, Rachel, Jacob, Moses, and David. “Shepherd” could also be a metaphor for Israelite kings, like David, or even for God. In the New Testament some shepherds were the first visitors to the “newborn king” in Bethlehem; Jesus told Saint Peter to “feed my sheep” (John 21:17); and Saint Paul saw the early church in terms of a flock to be “overseen” (Acts 20:28). The entire 34th chapter of the Book of Ezekiel is devoted to discussion of good and bad shepherding. False shepherds were stealing from their own people, feeding themselves instead of the flock, and in general behaving irresponsibly, This behavior triggered God’s flock-takeover until someone could be found who would follow the example of a good shepherd. So when Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd,” he’s putting himself in the role of not only Israel’s past patriarchs, matriarchs, and kings, but also God. What also makes him a truly “good” shepherd is his willingness to make the complete sacrifice of self he asks of those who follow him, whether shepherd or sheep.

Authors Joel Schorn

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Homily themes

29 Apr 2012 - Fourth Sunday of Easter; Good Shepherd Sunday, Cycle B

"A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” The handy tag-line of “Good Shepherd Sunday” could easily be expanded to include “Good and Bad Shepherds Sunday” because there’s almost as much in the readings about the latter as the former. In the bad category are the leaders and elders of the people Saint Peter accuses to their faces of not recognizing what was plain as day: Jesus is the Messiah and through him comes salvation. The Letter of John ups the ante by implicating “the world” in not knowing Christ. And Jesus himself says the hired shepherd really doesn’t care about the sheep and abandons his protective role at the first sign of danger—and thereby condemns the same authorities Peter would later have in his sights. Which brings us to the good—the ones who like Peter and the first disciples obeyed God and not men; like the early believers who knew Christ and thereby became children of God and members of the flock the Good Shepherd tends, keeps together, and lays down his life for. What kind of shepherds people need and what kind of flocks they will be today are good questions to ask.

Authors Joel Schorn

Good Shepherd shepherds

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The inner word

19 Jul 2009 - Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

Woe to the shepherds who mislead and scatter the flock of my pasture”—those are words that pastors dread to hear. Yet to ones who are part of the flock, they come as a welcomed warning. All of us expect to be well shepherded: given good direction and allowed our freedom to graze. Consider the following questions: What do you see as the qualities of a good leader? How do those line up with the qualities Jeremiah and the Psalmist describe? How well do you know your sheep? How well do they know you? Is there anything you wish the one who shepherds you knew about you? Think about the strength your faith in Jesus gives you. How can you draw on that strength more? Like Paul, do you see Jesus as your peace? What kind of peace does Jesus offer? Jesus is always acutely aware of the needs of his followers. What are the needs of those who follow you? In what way could you address one of those needs today?

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Homily stories

03 May 2009 - Fourth Sunday of Easter; Good Shepherd Sunday, Cycle B

It has been said that a mechanic is only as good as his tools. It’s a good bet that the same can be said about a shepherd. However, not too many in our congregation, unless you are reading this in New Zealand, can list “shepherd” under occupation on a census form. But in Jesus’ time, shepherds were a fairly common part of the tradition of Hebrew scripture as well as their history. David, the great king and author of the psalms, started his career as a shepherd. So those hearing Jesus’ words in today’s gospel would have known pretty much what a good shepherd needed. First, a sling with smooth stones was necessary to startle away any creature waiting to prey on the flock. David was so proficient with his, he took down the mighty Goliath. A staff was necessary to poke and, with its crook, snare an errant lamb. Thus the line “with your rod and your staff that give me courage.” Bishops today carry a symbolic vestige of this to show that they are shepherds. Jesus is the good shepherd. We call ourselves Christians. So Jesus uses us to make his presence known in our world. We have become his tools, as it were, his sling, stones, staff, and more, what he needs to protect the sheep and lead them. How are we doing?

Authors Father Dominic Grassi

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Homily stories

03 May 2009 - Fourth Sunday of Easter; Good Shepherd Sunday, Cycle B

At our daily work each of us are shepherds. We are in charge of the quality and quantity of work that we do. No one can make us be less than we are. We are responsible for our actions, and as good shepherds we must be willing to put our jobs on the line for the sake of preserving our integrity and the integrity of others—be they our customers, coworkers, bosses, or employees. Why does the Father love the good shepherd, according to Jesus? Because the good shepherd is willing to lay down his life in order to take it up again. That means he acts without being led by his fears. He acts out of love and respect for the precious gift given him, namely his life, his talents, and his very ability to work. Where do you see good shepherds in your own life? I see them in the women who watch my daughter at daycare, the people who deliver my mail, the clerks who always keep their humor at the sandwich counter, and my business partners, coworkers, and family members who wouldn’t let a wolf within a thousand yards of the work they do.

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Quotes

20 Nov 2016 - Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Cycle C

May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise, and love. —Teresa of Ávila A leader . . . is like a shepherd. He stays behind the flock, letting the most nimble go out ahead, whereupon the others follow, not realizing that all along they are being directed from behind. –Nelson Mandela

Teresa of Ávila nelson mandela leaders shepherds

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Exploring the word

01 Jan 2017 - Octave Day of the Nativity of the Lord; Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, Cycle A

In our traditional way of telling the story, we short-change the shepherds. The typical manger set reveals the imbalance: While Magi arrive at the Nativity bearing magnificent gifts in their arms, impoverished shepherds show up empty-handed. Well, almost. Sometimes a shepherd holds a lamb in his arms, or drapes one across his shoulders. Certainly sheep trail in the shepherds’ footsteps. Nothing suggests these animals are presented as gifts. When you’re a shepherd, sheep come with the territory. Of course, nativity sets are a composite of two gospel accounts. In no biblical infancy story do Magi and shepherds arrive in tandem to pay their respects to the Christ child. Either you get one set of visitors or the other. Matthew prefers the noble visitors with symbolic gifts. They fit into his overall scheme of presenting Jesus as the one sought by outsiders even as he’s rejected heartily by the historical King of the Jews, Herod. Meanwhile, Luke recounts his Nativity story with shepherds. Humble visitors suit Luke’s agenda: that the poor are specially poised to hear the good news this child will announce. Following Luke’s strand today, let’s listen closely to what he’s actually saying. Unlike the popular carol about a drummer boy who comes “with no gift to bring,” the shepherds do bring an astonishing offering to the Holy Family. They proclaim a message delivered to them in angelsong. The heavenly message goes something like this: Good news! Today everyone has something to celebrate. The Messiah of David’s house is here! The faithful on earth will know his peace. Is this message as valuable as those other, more famous presents? While it’s easier, perhaps, to compose three verses about the wise men’s more tangible gifts, good news for everyone on earth is a pretty special declaration. Has there been such an announcement before or since? Usually the daily news is good for some, not so good for others. Most of the time, to be honest, it’s good for the few, and bad for the many. Good news for everyone is surprisingly hard to visualize, like world peace. Can an event that takes place on this planet possibly be good for everybody? Is it a failure of imagination on our part that we can’t seem to see the shepherds’ gift? Or is it that the allure of gold, pleasing perfume, and ominous myrrh are so much more vivid to us? On this World Day of Peace, will any of us commit to “peace on earth, good will toward all” as more desirable goal even than gold? Mary put the shepherd’s words into her heart and treasured them for a lifetime. They’ve outlasted all the other gifts. Related scripture links Infancy narratives in Matthew and Luke: Matt. 1:18-2:23; Luke 1:26-56, 2:1-52 The Woman in John: John 2:1-12, 19:25-27 Mary at Pentecost: Acts 1:13-14, 2:1-4 Catechism links Natures of Jesus: CCC 464-469 Mary, Mother of God: CCC 144; 484-507; 721-726 Mary, Mother of the Church: CCC 773; 829; 963-972

Authors Alice Camille

shepherds nativity scene magi wise men message good news gifts world day of peace
In other words

01 Jan 2017 - Octave Day of the Nativity of the Lord; Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, Cycle A

As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. “Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.” They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed. Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they’d been told! When the eighth day arrived, the day of circumcision, the child was named Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived. From A New Message 4 Next Week (actapublications.com) based on The Message: Catholic/Ecumenical Edition by Eugene Peterson (ACTA Publications, 2013).

shepherds Nativity
The inner word

07 May 2017 - Fourth Sunday of Easter; Good Shepherd Sunday, Cycle A

As a preacher and perhaps a pastor, you know a little something about shepherding. Examine that role. Do my sheep know me? Can I call my sheep by name? How confident am I that I'm leading them toward God and green pastures? What more could I do to make myself worthy to lead them? Who shepherds me in my work? Do I trust that person? What could I, he/she, or we do together to improve our relationship? Do I really believe Christ knows my name? When do I hear him calling me?

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In other words

07 May 2017 - Fourth Sunday of Easter; Good Shepherd Sunday, Cycle A

“Let me set this before you as plainly as I can. If a person climbs over or through the fence of a sheep pen instead of going through the gate, you know he’s up to no good—a sheep rustler! The shepherd walks right up to the gate. The gatekeeper opens the gate to him and the sheep recognize his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he gets them all out, he leads them and they follow because they are familiar with his voice. They won’t follow a stranger’s voice but will scatter because they aren’t used to the sound of it.” Jesus told this simple story, but they had no idea what he was talking about. So he tried again. “I’ll be explicit, then. I am the Gate for the sheep. All those others are up to no good—sheep stealers, every one of them. But the sheep didn’t listen to them. I am the Gate. Anyone who goes through me will be cared for—will freely go in and out, and find pasture. A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of (from John 10). From A New Message 4 Next Week (actapublications.com) based on The Message: Catholic/Ecumenical Edition by Eugene Peterson (ACTA Publications, 2013).

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