Of Shepherds as Prophets & Stewards

Homily on the feast of St. AUgustine of Hippo | August 28, 2019

INTRODUCTION

Sisters and Brothers in Christ, today we honour a great man, who is to us a model of conversion, holiness and deep love for the Church. “Tolle Lege” (Take up and read). The Word of God is instrumental in the conversion of St. Augustine of Hippo, who lived a loose life but was converted to a holy and passionate defender of Catholic faith. In our Gospel, we will hear Jesus presenting himself as the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the flock. St. Augustine lived that image and became actually the shepherd of the Church; leading it through heresies. His great contribution to the faith, -that is the establishment of Christian Philosophy by making the necessary connections to Neoplatonist Philosophy later on solidified our Catholic Theology.

For the many times we faltered in pursuing holiness, let us ask the Lord for His mercy and pardon.

HOMILY

May I invite everybody to smile. Smile is the first characteristic of a good shepherd. When we smile, it is presumed that we care.

The Characteristics of the Good Shepherd read to us are not new to us. I suppose we reflected upon this gospel many times over as it is proclaimed to us every year this day. We are invited to imitate the qualities of a Good Shepherd in our own little ways. To show sincere care for others, taking care of the sick, the old, the poor and the down trodden. To address the need of the needy. To be always available and approachable and smiling to others.

OUR COMMITMENT TO THE TRUTH:

One of the things that made St. Augustine great is his Theological and Aplogetical role in the Christian Faith. He defended the faith against Arian heresy which rejected Jesus, equal divinity with God,. As we honour St. Augustine, let us be inspired by his commitment to the Truth. Paul cautions us, “For the time is coming when people will not listen to sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, 

As religious in the modern era, we are called combat the proliferation of fake news and the institutions that fabricate not just on the media but on the fundamental human issues, by announcing the Good News and denouncing the Bad News. Paul tell us that when we proclaim the message; we must be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching.  Announce the Good News. Denounce the Bad News.

The LGBT community is an example of sheep that does not belong to the fold . Jesus says He must bring them also, so they could listen to his voice. Our prophetic and pastoral duty as religious is to to remind, when a member of LGBT community tells the world he is a woman or she is a lesbian, tell the world that he is a he, and she is a she, and then embrace the person with the love of God.

During the time when the Church is persecuted, Priests and nuns are mocked, let us wear our religious habit wherever we go., and be a sign that will be contradicted. Fight Fake News with the Good News. Fight the Ugly with kindness. Fight individuality with the act of caring and hospitality. Fight wars with the peace of Christ the shepherd. When we do this, we are shepherds and shepherdess of all.

INTEGRAL SHEPHERDING:

Like St. Augustine we are invited to become pastors of the flock. However, the flock has assumed a broadened meaning today. It is no longer about the people close to us, not just people active in the Church, not just catholics, not just christians, not just people but even the LGBT community, prostitutes, but also animals and the environment in its entirety. To be a shepherd is to be a steward. Catholic life is not complete without becoming stewards.

What is happening in the Amazon right now is heartbreaking. The amazon is home to plethora of wildlife, home to enormous biodiversity of both air, land, and water creatures exclusively found in its mantle. Everyday, a new species is discovered in the Amazon, plant and animal alike. It is said that cures to cancer and other fatal diseases are found in the very seedbed of the Amazon rainforest.

It is the major source of the oxygen for the whole world, and the last major fortress that is keeping the planet from overheating due to climate change. The Amazon has been burning for two weeks last week, and just yesterday another set of fire has started. All we can do is watch. But I hope we can do better than watching and praying.

To be a shepherd today is to be a steward. There is no other thing we must be stewards of than creation, and man and beast alike belong to creation, we all belong to the order of things. Our dignity is God-given. We who are dignified must dignify creation by upholding the integrity of creation, yes, by being a shepherd and shepherdess of creation.

The eucharist is the celebration of the sublime truth that is God. In the Eucharist, we enter into intimate relationship with God, the source of Communion and truth. Let us now all stand.