Dear Preachers:

A few years ago, friends of mine traveled to Greece. Much of their time was spent in the countryside and small villages, so they returned with many stories. One daily event in particular fascinated them. Each evening, numerous shepherds would bring their flocks together into one large, secure enclosure for the night. That in itself wasn’t unusual. What intrigued my friends was what happened the next morning.

By dawn, all the sheep had mingled, forming one large flock. Yet when the shepherds arrived, each picked up his staff, called out with a distinctive, shrill cry, and led his sheep out to pasture. Despite the mingling, the sheep responded only to the voice of their own shepherd and followed him down a separate path. Each one knew the unique sound of its shepherd’s voice.

That style of shepherding, still practiced today, hasn’t changed since the time of Jesus. He spoke of himself as our shepherd, encouraging us to listen for his voice, to ignore others, and to follow him.

When Jesus told his disciples to listen to his voice, I wonder if he realized just how hard that would be in the 21st century. It can be difficult to stay focused, to ignore the constant distractions and tempting shortcuts that promise quick solutions. In the noise and busyness of our lives, it takes real effort and energy to hear the voice of the right Shepherd and not be led astray.

Today is often called “Good Shepherd Sunday.” It can sound a bit sentimental. We’ve all seen the holy cards and stained-glass windows showing the spotless shepherd in a peaceful garden, gently carrying an innocent lamb on his shoulders. These are beautiful images, but they don’t offer a very realistic picture of either his life – or ours.

Just a few weeks ago, during Holy Week, we heard again the story of Jesus’ suffering. Because he continued to proclaim God’s love for us, he was rejected, beaten, tortured, and killed. In his agony, he did not resemble the clean, serene shepherd of the stained glass. Yet he was – and still is – our Shepherd.

Our lives, too, are rarely spent in a peaceful garden. They are often filled with chaos, disrupted plans, disappointments, and setbacks. We aren’t always spotless lambs either. We have histories. We’ve taken detours, gotten lost, and strayed. Still, this Good Shepherd Sunday is for us – those who are sincerely trying to hear the Shepherd’s voice amidst the clamor and confusion of life. Many voices claim to speak for our good, but they often lead us astray and disappoint us. The Good Shepherd never will.

The Good Shepherd promises his followers “eternal life.” And even now, we catch glimpses of that life in those around us who have clearly heard and responded to his call:
– They don’t return anger for anger.
– They forgive, even before being asked.
– They gather regularly with their faith community, like we are doing today.
– They serve the poor.
– They set an example of faith and love in their homes.
– They are unafraid to speak about their faith.
– They put aside their own plans to help those in need.

In other parts of Scripture, Jesus describes such people as “lights of the world” and “lamps on a lamp stand – visible, guiding examples to others.

Jesus is possessive – but not in a harmful way. He simply refuses to let go of us. He will not lose track of us, or let us slip away. Our Good Shepherd says, “I’m not going to let go of you. You belong to me – and to my Father.”

So be confident in that promise. Show your belonging by practicing forgiveness, patience, compassion for the needy, commitment to your community, and by helping others to recognize and respond to his voice.

The eternal life we begin to experience here and now needs to be nourished. That’s why we pray, reflect on Scripture, and gather as a community of believers – followers of the same Good Shepherd.

Click here for a link to this Sunday’s readings:
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/051125.cfm

QUOTABLE

JUSTICE BULLETIN BOARD

"I have made you a light to the Gentiles, that you may be an instrument of salvation to the ends of the earth"
--Acts 13:47

I learned something several years ago that I seem to continually ponder. In his book, Words of Wisdom (Novalis, 1999), Fr. Walter Vogels centers on the Wisdom literature of the Bible that has been called “the neglected side of biblical faith” (16). In liturgy, we more often hear texts from the Law and the Prophets in which salvation-history theology is presented. Wisdom literature does not belong here. Vogels says Wisdom writings could be considered as creation theology.

Vogel writes, “In the creation theology of the Wisdom literature, God has put humanity in charge. Individuals have to use their minds and reflect on their experience to determine for themselves what ought to be done. . .See--judge--act is how the wise function” (18). He states, “In salvation-history, God tells the human being what to do and how to act, since God is in charge” (17). “[In creation theology] God trusts people because God has endowed humanity with minds to think (Genesis 2:19). . .We grow not only by our successes but--sometimes more quickly--by our mistakes” (19). In the scripture above, both theologies are working. God makes us a light and we, in turn, will help create, as instruments who see, judge and act.

When our just God asks us to create a more just world, we are to use our minds and experiences to make this happen. We do not have to wait for God to tell us what specifically to do. It is already written in our hearts and we have only to see the unjust problem, discern the correct path, and respond.

This year is the tenth anniversary of Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ encyclical. In the document, he expresses his distress for the earth and how we, humans, have been negligent. Do you feel the urgency of his call to respond? Our common home is crying out. Vogel writes, “In the Wisdom literature, God does not determine history, people do. . .After God created the universe and other living beings, as his last work on the final day, God created humanity and entrusted the world to them. . .Humankind is now in charge of its world (Genesis 2:15, Psalm 8)” (17). What will you do?

I urge you to join the Cathedral’s Laudato Si’ Circle or the diocesan NC Catholics Caring for our Common Home by contacting socialconcern@hnojnc.org.

Barbara Molinari Quinby, MPS, Director
Office of Human Life, Dignity, and Justice Ministries
Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral, Raleigh, NC

FAITH BOOK

Mini-reflections on the Sunday scripture readings designed for persons on the run. “Faith Book” is also brief enough to be posted in the Sunday parish bulletins people take home.

From today’s Book of Revelation reading:

“I, John, had a vision of a great multitude,
which no one could count,
from every nation, race, people and tongue.”

Reflection:

In a competing and divided world, the Book of Revelation gives us a vision of our mutuality. We are interdependent; our present and our future are entwined. We cannot live lives of indifference and isolation; not if we plan to go before, “the one who sits on the throne” and be fed together at the same eternal banquet table.

So we ask ourselves:

• Do I share John’s vision of the future unity of all peoples?

• What am I doing to heal divisions that I perceive around me?

POSTCARDS TO DEATH ROW INMATES

“One has to strongly affirm that condemnation to the death penalty is an inhuman measure that humiliates personal dignity, in whatever form it is carried out."

---Pope Francis

Inmates on death row are the most forgotten people in the prison system. Each week I am posting in this space several inmates’ names and locations. I invite you to write a postcard to one or more of them to let them know that: we have not forgotten them; are praying for them and their families; or, whatever personal encouragement you might like to give them. If the inmate responds, you might consider becoming pen pals.

Please write to:

• David Godwin #1142266 (On death row since 4/23/2019)

• Mikel Brady #1403339 (10/28/2019)

• Tillman Freeman #0849836 (4/19/2022)

----Central Prison P.O. 247 Phoenix, MD 21131

Please note: Central Prison is in Raleigh, NC., but for security purposes, mail to inmates is processed through a clearing house at the above address in Maryland.

For more information on the Catholic position on the death penalty go to the Catholic Mobilizing Network: http://catholicsmobilizing.org/resources/cacp/

On this page you can sign “The National Catholic Pledge to End the Death Penalty.” Also, check the interfaith page for People of Faith Against the Death Penalty: http://www.pfadp.org/

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