Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Baltimore people

One man came to me after mass and asked me that.

What is the meaning of the Geek or Latin word you spoke at the homily today? I said, wait, I did not speak any Greek or Latin. I asked him when I spoke the word. I told myself when, and I realized that, oh no, it was English, but I mispronounced the word when I got nervous. So please forgive me if I speak any Greek or Latin words in my homilies.

“His heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd.”

Many of you may have encountered the term “shepherd” in the Bible. But who are these shepherds? They are not just the leaders of the church, like priests, bishops, and popes. It's a profound truth that we are all appointed as shepherds through our baptism. We are all called to be shepherds in our families, workplaces, schools, and wherever we find ourselves. As today's first reading proclaims, “I will appoint shepherds for them who will shepherd them.”The Lord has appointed each of us to be his shepherds.

But you may ask, what do shepherds do?

Today, I want to share three essential things that a shepherd does: first, leading; second, feeding;and third, protecting the sheep.

First, the shepherd leads the sheep to the right path and does not mislead and scatter the flock from the pasture of the Lord. Many people are hungry for directions in life. These people are like sheep without shepherds, and Jesus looks to us to shepherd them.

In leading the sheep, the best thing a shepherd can do is to make the sheep strong enough to walk in the “darkness of life.”A good shepherd makesthe sheep become the kind of sheep who can walk through this difficult, dangerous, painful world and not become broken by it. Because life does not become easier, so sheep must become stronger.

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton is one of the best examples of a "strong sheep" facing suffering. Her life embodies resilience in faith despite difficulties. She endured the loss of her husband and two of her daughters, facing financial ruin, hostility, and social isolation from people. But, despite these hardships, Elizabeth's faith remained strong. She dedicated herself to education and charity, opening a school for girls in Baltimore, which became America's first free Catholic school. She also founded the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph's, the first religious community of women in the United States. St. Elizabeth did not only become a “strong sheep” but a “good shepherd.”

Second, the shepherd feeds the sheep. Sometimes, I met some parents who told me, “Father. I will let my children choose the most fitting religion for them when they grow up.”

By the way, these parents are not from our parish. When I heard those words, I asked them, when your children were young, what was the best food you wanted to feed them? As shepherds, we need to feed our sheep the best food. And the best food is faith in Christ. And the best food of faith is the Eucharist. As you may know, today is the last day of the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, which gathered over 50,000 Catholics from all over the United States. One of the reasons why we have this eucharistic revival is because so many people, even Catholics, almost 75% of American Catholics, do not believe that The whole Christ is truly present, body, blood, soul, and divinity, under the appearances of bread and wine. It is so amazing that this nation is staying together for this eucharist revival. People come to Indianapolis to be fed by the Eucharist, Jesus Christ himself, as we gather here today, and to be fed by the Eucharist.

If you love your sheep, you need to feed your sheep your children the best food of faith, the Eucharist.

Lastly, a shepherd protects their sheep. There are many ways a shepherd can protect the sheep. However, the best protection a shepherd can do is to sacrifice their life for the sheep. We have so many good shepherds who sacrificed their lives for their sheep. Today, I would like to speak of a good shepherd who sacrificed his life to protect his sheep.

Last week, we may know that there was a man who was killed after a gunfire at the campaign of former President Donald Trump. I am not here today to talk about politics but about an act of sacrificial love from a man who loves his sheep to the end. His name is Corey Comperatore, 50 years old. He was killed while trying to protect his family. New papers wrote that "When he heard the shots, he just jumped, just dove over his wife and daughters to protect them," "He's a firefighter, and he knows his job is to save lives; he hit the ground and protected his loved ones."

Many people said he died as a hero, but I would say he died as a good shepherd. He sacrificed his life for his loving sheep; his wife, and his children. This is the highest form of love a shepherd can do: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:13.

Corey is one of the closest examples to our Good Shepherd, Jesus. Jesus loves his sheep so much that He willingly laid down His life to save us (John 10:18). As a good shepherd, He chose to jump in front of the enemies, defend us, and rescue us. He chose to die so that his sheep may live.

We are called to be this kind of good shepherd. Jesus is speaking to each of us as he spoke to Peter.

If you love me, lead my sheep.

If you love me, feed my lamb.

If you love me, protect my sheep by your life.

There are many sheep without shepherds out there, so be good shepherds for them.

May God bless us all.