HOMILY 4TH SUNDAY OF EASTER 2025
JESUS AGAIN THE GOOD SHEPHERD – UNITED WITH THE FATHER
MOTHERS’ DAY TOO
Jn 10.27-30 AA 13.14,43-52 Rev/Apoc 7.9,14-17
Last week, I concluded: “It’s up to you and me to continue the mission at the grass roots level, as we do our best to live the Gospel as good news in our lives and lead by example, shepherding others along the way, inspired by the way Pope Francis faithfully lived the Gospel throughout his life in his ministry, particularly as chief shepherd, Pope number 266! Now we await number 267!” And here he is, Bob from Chicago, now to be known as Leo XIV. Can’t a lot happen in a week in Church, as well as in politics?!
I like the fact that he did a science degree, and taught secondary school physics and maths early in his career, and then, after ordination in 1983, did a doctorate in canon law, so I can match him in both, but certainly not on many other things! And let’s remember Pope Francis studied chemistry before joining the Jesuits! It strikes me that Leo is the first pope younger than me, and ordained after me, but I guess that happens if you stick around long enough!!
After hearing of Pope Leo’s election, I texted congratulations to two of my Augustinian priest friends, Brian Buckley in South Yarra, and Tony Banks in Manly Vale, whom I got to know from my time as PP in Manly and Freshwater. As you might imagine, they were delighted, Tony responding: “Hi John. We are over the moon. A great choice to continue the work of Francis.”
He has been to Australia a number of times, even saying Mass at Collaroy Beach during World Youth Day in 2008. As a matter of personal interest, he loves Tim Tams but hates Vegemite! (No accounting for bad taste!) Augustinian provincial leader Peter Jones, another Augustinian friend, states: “He was always a person consistent in terms of his human warmth, his kindness, his concerns for the rights and dignity of all.” Our Columban friend Bernie Lane knows Leo too, from his missionary days in Peru, so I’m sure he’ll tell us more about him in time.
To get a sense of Leo’s priorities it’s worth a look at his first appearance on the balcony as pope, fitting right in with today’s Gospel: “Peace be with all of you! Dearest brothers and sisters, this is the first greeting of the Risen Christ, the good shepherd who gave his life for God’s flock. I, too, would like this greeting of peace to enter your heart, to reach your families, to all people, wherever they are, to all peoples, to the whole earth. Peace be with you! This is the peace of the Risen Christ, an unarmed and disarming peace, humble and persevering. It comes from God, God who loves us all unconditionally… Allow me to follow up on that same blessing (of Pope Francis on Easter Sunday) God cares for us, God loves all of us, and evil will not prevail. Therefore, without fear, united hand in hand with God and among ourselves, let us move forward. We are disciples of Christ. Christ goes before us. The world needs his light. Humanity needs him as the bridge to reach God and his love. Help us too, then help each other to build bridges – with dialogue, with encounter, uniting all of us to be one people always in peace. Thank you, Pope Francis!… We must seek together how to be a missionary church… that builds bridges and dialogue, always open to receive people, like this square, with open arms – everyone, all those who need our charity, our presence, dialogue and love… To all of you, brothers and sisters, of Rome, of Italy, of the whole world, we want to be a synodal church, a church that walks, a church that always seeks peace, that always seeks charity, that always seeks to be close, especially to those who suffer.”
Then, in his first Mass as pope, he warned of “a ‘desperate’ crisis of faith, saying the Catholic Church must renew its missionary outreach and confront what he described as a cultural shift away from God and towards ‘technology, money, success, power, or pleasure’. A lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family, and so many other wounds that afflict our society.”
When a certain vice-president recently tried to use the theology of 13th century Thomas Aquinas, arguing there was an ‘ordo amoris’, or priority of Christian love, starting with family, to try and justify cutting foreign aid, among other things such as assistance to the needy, refugees and migrants, Bishop Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo, tweeted that this was just plain wrong, and at odds with the Gospel, citing the Good Samaritan as at the heart of Jesus’ teaching of love of all equally. His simple comment was: “Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others”.
Today’s Gospel fits the theme too, as we leap backwards from a post-Resurrection scene last weekend, where Peter is commissioned by Jesus to shepherd his people. Now here’s a very short succinct Gospel, Jesus reiterating his role of Good Shepherd, and emphasizing his unity with God as Father, such that the nasties are again thwarted, in their attempts to arrest and stone him, at a time when he has more to do on the path of proclaiming the Kingdom, calling for faith in him and his message. (And he’s about to move on and raise his friend Lazarus en route, as his mission continues, until his time comes. Jesus is in control all the way.)
And now a word for our mothers, as we celebrate Mothers’ Day in our families. It’s all very well to be critical of the commercialism surrounding it, but, at the heart of it all, we are reminded of their love and care and the lifelong sacrifices they make for us. Giving birth for a start, then responding to the 24/7/365-366 demands we make as babies, toddlers, teenagers, young adults, eventually turning them into doting grandparents, which perhaps tends to become the easiest and simplest role. As that’s where they can stir the grandchildren up, give them a good time and hand them back, so there’s time to relax, and for a quiet evening, enjoying a wine with dinner, with granddad!!
A mother’s love fits well with the shepherd’s role, as outlined by Jesus, always present to his sheep and ever ready to welcome back, with forgiveness and compassion, when times are tough and the sheep have wandered off and got lost along the way. So it’s a happy Mothers’ Day to all mothers, and those who fulfil that role as carers and minders, shepherding us along our paths of life with unconditional love.
And so here’s a Mothers’ Day story to conclude: “Little Baa” (by Kim Lewis)
john hannon 11th May 2025