Location: San Fernando Cathedral
As collaborators of your Ordinaries, you participate in the responsibility and care inherent in shepherding a local Church. Any leadership role within the Christian community is illuminated by the mission of Jesus as Good Shepherd. The image of the Good Shepherd emphasizes the importance of vigilance, love, and unity in the face of challenges and uncertainties.
In today’s readings, the narratives delve into the farewell messages of both Jesus and Paul, urging their followers to remain steadfast in faith and to guard against the dangers of straying from the teachings of love and truth. Paul’s departure to Jerusalem symbolizes a relinquishing of control to divine guidance, emphasizing trust in God’s grace and word to sustain the community in his absence.
He advises the elders of Ephesus to be vigilant and compassionate shepherds, caring for the flock entrusted to them with selflessness and integrity. Similarly, Jesus, in his farewell priestly prayer, seeks the Father’s protection and the gift of unity for his disciples, recognizing the challenges they will face in the world.
Both texts underscore the significance of community and mutual support among believers, urging them to overcome divisions and selfish inclinations in favor of selfless service and unity. They reflect on the essence of the Lord’s teachings and the need for the disciples to embody love and truth in their interactions with others. The departure narratives of Paul and Jesus serve as reminders of the transient nature of human existence and the importance of leaving behind a legacy of faithfulness and devotion to God’s will.
Ultimately, both readings prompt introspection on one’s role within the Church and the commitment to serving others with love and humility. They encourage believers to emulate the example of the Lord and Paul in their dedication to spreading the message of love and truth, despite the challenges and opposition they may face. The themes of unity, vigilance, and selflessness resonate throughout, emphasizing the profound responsibility and privilege of shepherding a community rooted in faith and compassion.
The Lord’s prayer to the Father is efficacious. Therefore, his plea is an unyielding promise for whoever remains in Christ. Hearing that all who heard Paul were “weeping loudly,” I imagine you must also weep frequently, with some of the situations you must deal with. Nonetheless, the promises of Jesus are especially for those who share closely with Him the wound inflicted to his Body.
Your duty of vigilance, love, and unity begin with your own relationship with the Lord. As Pope Francis has said: “We need to stay vigilant, keep watch over the heart.” This opportunity to participate in the Lord’s sacrifice around the altar must build up our sense of community as receivers of hope, as the Holy Spirit strengthens our bonds of fraternal love and unity.
May Our Lady of Guadalupe renew in you the hope that begets joy and peace.
