Faith Matters - The Good Shepherd

As we come together as a College community at the beginning of a new year there is a strong sense of excitement and hope. After a very disrupted 2020 there is relief in the fact that this year is set to be remote learning free and that we will have forty weeks ‘at school’ to learn together. College staff have begun the year with great enthusiasm and optimism. But as is right we began our year in prayer.

The first day for staff began with a mass. Traditionally the staff from the six secondary colleges come together on the first day at St Mary’s Basilica to share a combined mass. Sadly, the restrictions in place to keep Victorians safe made such a large gathering impossible this year. At Saint Ignatius College were fortunate however as Fr Gerry Healy SJ was able to offer mass for our staff.

So that we were united spiritually the readings and prayers offered were the same for all of the secondary colleges in Geelong. The Gospel reading for the mass was therefore common to all of the Colleges. The particular reading was from Matthew’s Gospel:

The Son of Man said “Come you whom my Father has blessed, take for your heritage the kingdom prepared for you. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you made me welcome, naked and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me.”

Then the virtuous will say in reply :” Lord when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and make you welcome, naked and clothe you, sick or in prison and go to see you?” And the Son of Man will answer: “I tell you solemnly, in so far as you did this to one of my brothers or sisters, you did it to me.”

This well-known reading is an insightful parable that explains the need for us to look to those at the margins if we are to truly serve and see Jesus’ face in the world around us. The reading was selected to focus our attention as staff this year on those we care for and those we might reach out to.

Fr Gerry’s explored this reading with our staff by relating a story of an event he experienced as a young Jesuit. His homily described his account of volunteering to help move sheep on a farm as a bushfire drew near. As they moved the sheep toward safer paddocks sheep he came across on old ewe who was exhausted and was unable to move any further. For some an old sheep among many hundreds may not have been a priority but the manner in which the worn out ewe awaited whatever was to come focussed his attention on the individual. Fr Gerry took a chance and placed the ewe on his horse and walked the rest of the way. Happily the entire flock was saved and the ewe recovered and lived to rear her lamb.

Such moments are transcendent and profound. In making the decision to literally be a ‘good shepherd’ Fr Gerry personally experienced what it means to place the lowest and most vulnerable above others. Regardless of whether we pay particular attention to a vulnerable animal or a person in need when we care for the vulnerable we are doing the Gospel. Experiences like these lead us to wholeness. Nothing can replicate the satisfaction deep within our heart of when we serve the vulnerable without seeking reward or affirmation.

Many of us do not encounter moments like these in our semi-rural lives. In a similar way, in the parable, Jesus teaches by using examples that are either spectacular or difficult to measure. In the modern world we don’t see people going about naked. However, we do see people who go without what we consider basic essentials. It’s difficult to measure who is hungry as they are not prostrate in the street. But we can easily see when someone can only access cheap, low quality food. Those in prison are hidden and impossible to visit unless they know you and name you as their visitor. Visiting those in prison in our modern world is limited to those people you knew before they were imprisoned.

When we interpret the reading and consider Fr Gerry’s experience the central message is discernible and applicable no matter what our situation is. The essence of the message is to seek those who are rejected or forgotten. Encounter them and be present to their needs both spiritually and physically. It is easy to care for those we are close to or are in some way connected to. The challenge in living the Gospel is in making a point each day of looking toward the edges of our society or community and responding to the need we encounter. We may find the broken and vulnerable amongst our ‘brothers and sisters’ and we may equally see this need in creation. Wherever you notice injustice, abandonment, hopelessness or desperation you encounter Jesus and your calling.

As we as staff begin the year we have been reminded of the need to care for each member of our community. To be the good shepherd though we have been reminded of the need to observe carefully, place great value on the individual and be courageous in caring for others. In being a good shepherd we not only mirror the actions of Jesus we meet him spiritually, physically, completely.

I pray that you may see him by seeking out suffering in the world today and that you become the good shepherd by responding to that need.

Yours in Christ,

Brendan Nicholls  Liturgy Coordinator