A Good Shepherd Walks Upfront

“A good shepherd walks upfront, and the sheep follow him.” (Jn 10:4)

A Good Shepherd Walks Upfront
May 15, 2011, Fourth Sunday of Easter

Acts 2:14a, 36-411 Peter 2:20b-25 John 10:1-10
Alleluia, alleluia.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John
Glory to you, Lord.

Jesus said: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs in some other way is a thief and a robber. The man who goes in by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought them out, he walks upfront, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.” Although Jesus used this figure of speech, the Pharisees did not realize what he was trying to tell them.

So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep.All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”

The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
_______
Introduction
Upfront shepherding

The fourth Sunday is always Good Shepherd Sunday. The gospel for the fourth Sunday in all three liturgical cycles of A, B and C is from the 10th chapter of St. John, which is a long disquisition on the qualities of a good shepherd. The gospel for today’s cycle A says “a good shepherd walks upfront, and his sheep follow him.” (Jn 10:4) Upfront shepherding leads the sheep not by directives, commands or threats. Rather, it leads the sheep by being so attractive that the sheep are happily drawn to follow the shepherd. An upfront shepherd does not drive the sheep from behind but draws them as he walks upfront.

Bishop Untener – a shepherd who walked upfront

Bishop Kenneth Edward Untener (1937- 2004) was shepherd of the Diocese of Saginaw from 1980 until his death in 2004. He was a good shepherd who walked upfront, and the sheep happily followed him. His first words as bishop to the people of Saginaw were: "My name is Ken, and I will be your waiter for a long, long time.” Then he sold the bishop's mansion, and proceeded to live in 69 rectories over the next 24 years. His office was the trunk of his car.
When the twenty-fifth anniversary of Pope Paul VI's encyclical letter Humanae Vitae (which reaffirmed the Church's stand against artificial birth control) dawned in 1993, Bishop Untener used the occasion to keep his promise to be a “waiter” serving his people. He invited his Church to reopen the discussion on birth control, and to do it honestly and openly. The invitation was not well received by the Vatican. There were other issues in which Untener kept his promised to be a “waiter” serving his people. On the issue of divorce, he said, “I am not here to condemn divorced people, nor am I here to condone them. I am here to help them. Jesus did not come to condemn or condone the woman caught in adultery; He came to help her.”

Bishop Untener was a good shepherd who walked upfront, and the sheep, indeed, followed him with great joy. His funeral Mass was attended by 1,800 grateful sheep, and the service evoked tears and laughter, audible "amens" and a standing ovation.

Bishop Gumbleton -- a shepherd who walked up front

Bishop Thomas John Gumbleton (b. Jan. 26, 1930), retired auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit, is also a good shepherd who walked upfront, and the sheep joyfully ran after him. He was a leading voice for peace, justice, and civil rights. He was a co-author of the 1983 U.S. Catholic Bishops' Conference Pastoral Letter: The Challenge of Peace. He was a founding member and past president of an American Catholic peace movement called Pax Christi USA. He was also a founder and former president of Bread for the World. Gumbleton was awarded a number of honorary degrees from educational institutions, and was presented with various awards, among them was the 1995 Bridge Building Award.

Gumbleton courageously walked upfront, as he openly stated that many bishops don’t believe that every contraceptive act is intrinsically evil, but they aren’t willing to say it publicly.[1] Again Gumbleton walked upfront, as he courageously predicted that “Priestesses will inevitably come.” He pointed out that “Already, female parochial administrators are proving their competency and laying the groundwork for the ordination of women.” In the arena of gay/lesbian issues, the bishop again walked upfront. In 1992 he wrote:

When I recall my first years as a priest, I wonder how I could have spoken as I did many times in the confessional to gay people. Not very long ago my own brother, Dan, wrote a letter to our family in which he declared that he is gay. He and his partner have a very good relationship. It is humbling for me to acknowledge that I would not even deal with this letter for several months. I simply refused to respond.

One of Gumbleton’s devoted sheep writes,

I have observed the American Catholic Church closely the past 40 years, and the
upfront shepherding of Bishop Tom Gumbleton strikes me as light in the darkness. His thinking on virtually all the issues of consequence these 40 years is way ahead of the times. His is a monumental legacy, but the fate of many prophetic leaders is to be ostracized by the institutional powers.[2] I think he's viewed as out of touch, too radical, a confirmed pacifist, not compatible with the thinking of the moderate majority. For many of us Tom Gumbleton is a "Giant" in the American church; his legacy will endure. Compassion is the life-line he brings to the people.

Archbp. Hunthausen - a shepherd who walked up front

Raymond Hunthausen (b.1921) was Archbishop of Seattle from 1975 to 1991. He was, indeed, a good shepherd who walked upfront, and the sheep followed him with warm devotion.)He was a great advocate for the poor and the marginalized. He spoke out courageously about controversial issues like artificial contraception, divorce and remarriage, the role of women in the Church and homosexuality. In a letter on July 1, 1977, he publicly defended the rights of gays and lesbians. That was, indeed, courageous in 1977. One of his very controversial acts was to permit a homosexual group called Dignity to hold its own Mass in his cathedral. “They're Catholics too,” he explained. "They need a place to pray.” Some unhappy people in Seattle managed to have Rome strip him of some of his episcopal authority, because “his lack of clarity about homosexuality had confused the faithful.”

One of Hunthausen’s devoted sheep writes,

I lived in Seattle from 1971 through 1999. I witnessed him in action. He was incredible. I was very involved at the time with Dignity, the Gay and Lesbian
Catholic group. We didn't ask for anything. We didn't want to get married. We didn't ask the Church to change its rules. All we wanted was to be left alone, to retain some human dignity, and to pray in our Church, with our Church. And because of Archbishop Hunthausen, I was so proud, so very proud to be a Catholic, in Seattle, at that time.

I love my Church. I love it deeply. I even have established the habit here in Tucson of going to the Mariachi Mass on Sunday morning at the Cathedral. The biggest blessing, by the way, aside from the deep devotion of the parishioners, and the incredible beauty of the music, is the fact that since the Mass is in Spanish, I cannot understand one word of the sermon! What a blessing!

Pope John XXIII: supreme shepherd who walked upfront

Good Pope John XXIII (b. 25 Nov. 1881 – d. 3 June 1963) was indeed a supreme shepherd who walked upfront, and the whole Church followed him with wonderful joy and enthusiasm. On the day of his `coronation,’ Nov. 4, 1958, he rose to give the homily. He remarked that everyone has his own idea of what the new pope should be. “For my part,” he said, “I have in mind the example of the Good Shepherd who came not to be served but to serve.” Then he went forth and shepherded us for five years – for five terribly short years! He died much too soon! And when he lay dying on June 3, 1963, the whole world was there kneeling at his bedside.

In that worldwide throng kneeling at John’s deathbed was Australian writer Morris L. West (1916-1999).[3] Though West was and always remained a Catholic, his various writings were often critical of the Church, and the Church wasn’t always pleased with him. However, he saw in good Pope John a shepherd who walked upfront, and that attracted sheep Morris West in a very special way. In a little volume entitled A View from the Ridge, written in his eightieth year, he writes,

I believe I can say with certainty that I remained in communion with the Church even when the Church itself excluded me, and I remain there still, principally because of the presence of John XXIII, the Good Shepherd, whom I never met, though I did meet his predecessor and his successor. Goodness went out from this man to me. I acknowledged it then. I acknowledge it again.

The Romans named him un Papa simpatico. And everyone wished he were younger, so that the imprint of his personality might be deeper on the corporate life of the Church and the common life of the world. We had had a surfeit of princes and politicians and theologians – even of conventional saints. We needed a man who spoke the language of the heart, who understood that the dialogue of God with man is carried on in terms far different from the semantics of professional philosophers. We had John too briefly.

Conclusion
Drawn by good shepherds

We are straying sheep who at times need directives, commands and admonitions from our Church’s shepherds. We are straying sheep who at times need to be driven. But we are also good sheep who are drawn by good shepherds like Untener, Gumbleton, Hunthausen, and good Pope John. They all walked upfront, and we the sheep ran enthusiastically after them.

[1] America magazine (Nov. 20, 1963)
[2] When Bishop Gumbleton petitioned Rome for permission to stay on as bishop beyond his 75th year, the canonical age for retirement (but which is often waived for a good reason) his petition was refused with e-mail speed.
[3] Among the many books he authored are The Devil’s Advocate and The Shoes of the Fisherman.

The Good News of Disillusionment

By Caravaggio 1606

“And they recognized him in the breaking of the bread.” Lk 24: 31

The Good News of Disillusionment

May 8, 2011 Third Sunday of Easter

Acts 2:14, 22-33 1 Pt 1:17-21 Lk 24:13-35

Alleluia, alleluia.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

Glory to you, Lord.

That very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus’ disciples were goingto a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him.He asked them, “What are you discussing as you walk along?” Disappointment and sadness were written all over their faces.

One of them, named Cleopas, said to Him in reply, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?” And He replied, “What sort of things?” They said to Him, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, how our chief priests and rulers both handed Him over to a sentence of death and crucified Him. But we were hoping He would be the glorious Messiah who was going to set Israel free from the Romans. Besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find His body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that He was alive. Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but Him they did not see.”

And He said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, He interpreted to them what referred to Him in all the Scriptures. As they approached the village to which they were going, He gave the impression that He was going on farther. But they urged Him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.”

So He went in to stay with them. And it happened that, while He was with them at table, He took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized Him in the breaking of the bread, but He vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?” So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the eleven and those with them who were saying, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way, and how they recognized the Lord in the breaking of bread.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Introduction

Mother’s Day 2011

The original intent and inspiration of Mother’s Day was not to honor mothers themselves but to honor their wishes that the killing of war be stopped. The killing of Osama bin Laden on May 1, 2011 is not an occasion for rejoicing but an occasion for resurrecting the original intent and inspiration of Mother’s Day as a day dedicated to finding the path to peace.

The Road to Emmaus

The road from Jerusalem to Bethlehem leads you to an Infant lying in a manger and adored by Magi. (Mt 2:9) The road from Jerusalem to Jericho leads you to a poor man waylaid by robbers and to a Good Samaritan who stopped to pour the oil of compassion on him. (Lk 10:25-37) The road from Jerusalem to a “far-off country” leads you to a Prodigal Son who has squandered his inheritance, and who repentantly made his way back to the house of his father. (Lk 15:1-32) Today the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus, seven miles down the road, leads you to two very downcast and disillusioned disciples who recognize the Lord in the breaking of the bread. (Lk 24:13-35)

Illusions

On the road to Emmaus that first Easter morning the disciples weren’t singing Easter alleluias. “Disappointment and sadness were written all over their faces.” They had illusions that Jesus would be the glorious Messiah who would set Israel free from the Romans. When He died ingloriously on the cross, all their illusions were shattered. The road to Emmaus is the road of shattered illusions. Life, in fact, is a journey of disillusionments. That’s not as negative as it sounds; in fact, it’s very positive. In a fine little volume entitled Contemplation, James Carroll writes, “To be disillusioned is to begin to live.”

A weird Old Testament symbolism

Years ago the first Mass of a newly ordained priest was a super-big event. No matter how poor your family was, you always hired a professional photographer who took shots of the important moments and gestures of your first Mass. The best shots were encased in an expensive photo album.

Many years after my first Mass, and some years after the remarkable church revolution of Vatican II (1962-1965), I came upon my first Mass album, and was taken by surprise. There suddenly the album stood uncomfortably before me, confronting me with pretenses now long faded away, with a worn-out ecclesiology now replaced by a new one, and with a youthful enthusiasm now moderated by a bit of arthritis and hard experience. Psychologists would call my experience a “middle age crisis.”

The `uncomfortable’ first Mass album stared at me and confronted me with shattered illusions about priesthood. Then with a bit of guilt, and when no one was looking, I performed a kind of weird Old Testament symbolism. In the Old Testament the Lord God commanded Jeremiah to take his loincloth and bury it in a hole in a rock. (Jer 13: 1-11) I took the costly first Mass album, wrapped it in a shroud and secretly buried it! Someone less given to symbolism would simply have kept the album as a good old book of past memories and youthful illusions.

Even God has shattered hopes and expectations, and even God becomes disillusioned. Jeremiah’s weird but bold bit of symbolism ends with Yahweh saying, “Just as a loincloth clings to a man’s waist, so I was hoping that the whole House of Judah would cling to me to be my people, my glory, my honor and my boast, but it did not.” (Jer 13:11) Yahweh sounds disappointed and sad like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, who were hoping that Jesus would be the one who would free Israel from the Romans, but He did not.”

Disillusionment – everyone’s story

Disillusionment is everyone’s story and everyone’s journey. Irish writer and poet Oscar Wilde writes,”At least once in our lifetime, we all walk with Christ to Emmaus.” Not only first Mass albums but also wedding albums, viewed many years later, jump out with shattered illusions. In one of his poems Russian Yevgeny Yevtushenko is watching a wedding procession with the Madonna in a little Italian village. He describes the procession. Up front walk the unmarried maidens, attired in white and with candles in their hands. They’re staring into their flickering flames, “imagining all sorts of secret trysts with some young man of the village.” They’re filled with hope and expectation, “because the hour of their disillusionment had not yet arrived. “ Then behind the maidens come the married women. They’re attired in black, their feet shuffle heavily, and their countenance is “grave and disillusioned.”

Conclusion

Disillusionments – rungs of growth

Illusions are detours or wrong turns in the journey of life. On the other hand, disillusionments are, in fact, rungs in the ladder of growth. There are shortcuts to almost everything these days. There are, however, no shortcuts to growth. At the end of the day, our disillusionments are really good news; they’re stepping stones to growth. At least once in our lifetime, “we all walk with Christ on the road to Emmaus” -- the road of shattered illusions. And we happily remind ourselves that “to be disillusioned is to begin to live.”