Shepherd Sunday

“I have often felt that one of the best ways we follow Jesus’ instruction to love our neighbour is by learning how to listen." ~ Fr. Brian Massie, sj

Context is everything. Ask any good interpreter and they will tell you that if you want to render a faithful rendition of the source language you need to understand the context of the message. Today’s Gospel of the Good Shepherd is a perfect example of that. In the European context, sheep are used as meat for people but in ancient Israel, the commentary explained today, sheep were raised for the long-term for their wool and milk. Therefore their shepherds became attached to them, like we would horses, giving them names of affection and caring gently for them.

Today is a bit of a day of remembering for me. It was on Good Shepherd Sunday in 2009 that my former pastor passed away…fittingly so, I might add. Yesterday at the Happy movie, I met someone who used to come to the 9 p.m. mass with her son. When we got to talking, she mentioned how much she loved to go to the mass and hear that priest who used oxygen but would give the most amazing homilies—so down to earth and so connected to life. He was real and he understood our struggles was how she explained him. When she asked if he was still there (she had stopped coming), I told her he had died.

People intently listened when Brian preached. I have wondered on occasion how people must have listened to the Good Shepherd when he spoke. Brian tried to live out his calling authentically and he often challenged us in his homilies. He could not help but reflect the One who called him. He often acknowledged his humanity when he spoke of his struggles as a recovering alcoholic. He knew that we all mess up and he always encouraged us to stick close to Jesus, even when we felt unworthy of it. He wanted us to know not only who we were, but also whose we were. Like the shepherd who knows his sheep well, Brian knew that we all have our moments of self-doubt, of feeling the weight of our sins, of not feeling lovable. He believed in a Good Shepherd who has a name of affection for us, who cares for us, who would leave an entire flock to ensure that nothing would happen to us.

I am grateful today on Good Shepherd Sunday to remember Brian who loved the people of my church community, who cared deeply about the safety of our souls, and who taught us about the man both human and divine who modeled this for him. Brian’s legacy lives on in so many people and meeting that woman yesterday reminded me that we can all touch lives by listening to the Voice who calls us to love our neighbour.

Peace,

Suzanne