Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church

Homily for May 11, 2003
Year B - Cycle I
4th Sunday of Easter
by Fr. John Carney
Topic:  Shepherding Each Other
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Gospel Reading:  John 10:11-18
“Jesus said, ‘I am the good shepherd.  A good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep.  A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them.  This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep.  I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep…’”
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Do you read the obituaries?  Who doesn’t?  Younger people.  I think all clergy read them.  I read them religiously every morning, I always tell you, first of all to be sure I’m not listed.  Why get up, right?  And more and more, I notice how many are younger than me, who have died.  You look at that as well.  But a lot of times, when I read the obituaries, I am actually saddened by the trivial description of the life that’s mourned.  Now, granted the obituary is the funeral notice, it’s not a eulogy; but oftentimes the things listed are almost ridiculous.  And I just say, if that poor person is remembered for that nonsense, what a life, what a waste, and may they rest in peace.  There’s a Fr. Ed Steiner in the Midwest.  He’s a parish priest who was watching obituaries for a number of years.  He noticed that one funeral home in his local town had a template and it was very obvious they just kind of “plugged in” some data…they were all written exactly the same.  In one case, he used the name, “Mr. Blessed.”  It said, “Mr. Blessed is survived by his devoted wife and three children.  He was well known for his lifetime devotion to golf, constantly seen playing in many area tournaments.  Upon his retirement, Mr. Blessed dedicated his time to the improvement of his game.”  What a life. 
 
There is nothing wrong with golf.  There was this fellow who played golf Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, religiously.  He was playing one Thursday with his friend, and he was about to putt on the 17th green right by the road when a funeral procession came by.  He stopped and he took off his hat, and put it over his heart.  And when the hearse came by, he blessed himself.  And his friends were very impressed, and said, “We didn’t know you were that religious.”  And he said, “Well, it’s the least I can do.  I was married to her for thirty-five years!”  So today … what am I talking about!?!  Well, I’ll get to the point here.  There is a point.
 
Today we celebrate the feast of the Good Shepherd; well, the Gospel celebrates it.  Jesus has many images to us, but the Good Shepherd is one of his primary images.  As a matter of fact, the idea of shepherd was used 22 times in the Bible to refer to the Messiah, that he would be our shepherd.  And so, the God who loves us is a shepherd.  And a shepherd is one who protects the flock, who feeds the flock, who nurtures the flock, who safeguards the flock.  And shepherds were very important people in the time of Christ.  Sheep were very important.  Sheep were seldom killed for their meat —they were too valuable for their wool and milk.  And the shepherd knew each sheep by name, and oftentimes they would live a very long life.  And so that’s the image that we receive of Christ. 
 
As a matter of fact, even in the early Church, many of the vessels that are still extant from the first, second and third centuries have on them an inscription of the shepherd.  And on one of the earliest mosaics in the catacombs in Rome, from the second century, you can still see Jesus depicted with his crook as the shepherd.  The point is, we are not hired hands.  We’re not like 7-11 clerks who say, “Well, give them anything they want.  Protect yourself.”  We are family.  We are God’s children now.  What we later will be has not yet come to light, but when it comes to light we shall be like God for we shall see God as he is.  So we are family and this is a family business we are in. 
 
And we are called to be shepherds, as well, to one another.  And good shepherds.  And I have to say this sincerely - you are good shepherds.  One of the great joys of being a parish priest is that we spend so much time with you, often at difficult moments in hospitals, in nursing homes, even at death.  But also at joyous moments, such as weddings and other family gatherings.  And you are good shepherds – you love each other very much, and you care for each other very well indeed, especially for your children.  And I am happy that this Gospel fell on this day, Mother’s Day, because there’s nothing greater than being a mother; there’s no greater honor than being a mother.  And we have wonderful good shepherds that we call mom, who protect their kids and watch their kids and nourish their kids. 
 
So, first I want to read a little reflection on being a mother, written by Joseph Cardinal Misenstry: 

“The most important person on earth is a mother.  She cannot claim the honor of having built great cathedrals, she need not.  She has built something more magnificent than any cathedral – a dwelling for an immortal soul, the tiny perfection of her baby’s body.  The angels have not been blessed with such a grace.  They cannot share in God’s creative miracle to bring new saints into heaven.  Only the human mothers can.  Mothers are closer to God, the Creator, than any other creature.  (If you don’t believe that, ask them!)  God joins forces with mothers in performing this act of creation.  What on God’s good earth is more glorious than this?  To be a mother.”    Amen!

I would like to ask you to stand now as we bless the mothers who are with us and remember the mothers who have gone before us.  I’m going to bless the young mothers with small children, the more mature mothers with teenagers (God Bless them!), and the old mothers who are showing wrinkles and grey hair. 

Loving Father, we ask you to bless these young mothers.  They are so brave, so full of charm.  They carry their firstborn cradled in their arms.  They struggle with formulas and fevers and frets, and crazy two-year-olds, and the countless fears no young mother forgets.  Yet they face the future with undaunted cheer and good hope, growing with their children through every year.  Bless them this day.  And God bless also mothers who are more mature, who have the experience and wisdom of years.  Keep them patient and steadfast through all their toil and work.  Let them cope with the whims and foibles of youth with their infallible weapons – love, faith and truth.  Help them to guide their young ones, their teenagers, showing them the way, for they too will be leaders soon.  And finally Father, bless mothers who are worn with years, who are aged and careworn, and some feeble and slow, who now have to lean on their children.  Though wrinkled, they are still charming to daughters and sons, for all their unselfish ways and for all the good they have done.  To the end of their journey, God, bless them, in these final years of their life on this earth.  God bless all you mothers.  God bless you, always.  In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.   Amen.