Feed My Sheep - Weekday Homily Video

We have just gone through the exercise of the election of a new Pope. The days preceding the election of the Pope were fascinating. Media houses spent a lot of newsprint and broadcast time analyzing and the predicting the kind of Pope we would get. They were filled with extensive analysis of who was suitable to become the next Pope. News anchors analyzed left and right who would suit the role. They analyzed the experience one needed to have to suit the job, the level of education they needed to have, the languages he needed to speak, his theological views he needed to espouse, what continent and color they needed to have. All the potential candidates were analyzed like you would analyze politicians running for public office. In the end, the Holy Spirit gave us Pope Leo XIV.

“Simon, Son of John, Feed My Sheep”

Today in our gospel, we see the appointment by Jesus of the very First Pope of the Universal Church. Jesus had founded a faith community, and he needed a leader who would take care of it in his absence. It was going to be a huge responsibility and he was careful about the kind of person who would step into his shoes. He turned to Simon Peter, and asked “Simon, do you love me? Feed my sheep. Tend my sheep.”

The man Jesus chose to be the leader by human standards was so inadequate on many levels. His resume was thin, was too light! He was a simple fisherman from Galilee, and in terms of training he had only spent three years with Jesus. The three years are less than what it takes to earn an undergraduate college degree in the US. The three years are less than the seven years needed for seminary training!

We All Need a Little Bit of Courage

One quality though that Simon possessed was that he had a little bit of courage. He had a bit of courage to abandon or put on hold his fishing trade and follow Jesus as a disciple. He had a little bit of courage to step out and walk on water when the Lord invited him to walk on water. He had a bit of courage to follow Jesus when he was arrested and taken into the law courts for judgment. He had a bit of courage to run to the tomb and find out what had happened to the man who had been crucified and buried. A little bit of courage is all that Simon possessed.

Today we are being reminded that in life, a little bit of courage is all God needs. Where we lack what it takes and feel inadequate, the Holy Spirit provides and fills us to the brim. We simply need to have a little bit of courage to put our feet forward.

We are in this time of waiting for Pentecost, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. May we pray for the gifts of the Holy Spirit especially the gift of Fortitude or Courage. It is the Holy Spirit who transformed men and women who were huddled in the Upper Room, timid, fearful, and doubtful – were transformed into bold and courageous messengers of the Gospel.

As we prepare for Pentecost, we can ask ourselves: What do I need the Holy Spirit to help me with? Saint Pope John Paul the Great’s prayer to the Holy Spirit, from May 30, 1998:

“Come, Holy Spirit, come and renew the face of the earth! Come with your seven gifts! Come, Spirit of Life, Spirit of Communion and Love! The Church and the world need you. Come, Holy Spirit, and make ever more fruitful the charisms you have bestowed on us. Give new strength and missionary zeal to these sons and daughters of yours…. Open their hearts; renew their Christian commitment to the world. Make them courageous messengers of the Gospel, witnesses to the risen Jesus Christ, the Redeemer and Savior. Strengthen their love and their fidelity to the Church.” Amen!

• Today’s Readings

• Father Fred's inspirational homily was recorded live during Mass at the Father Peyton Center this morning. You can view the Mass (and the Rosary at the 30-minute mark) on the Family Rosary YouTube page. 

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