- A wise, discerning Barnabas in our first reading,
- a teaching Jesus in our gospel,
- 3 humble children of Fatima whose feast we celebrate today,
- and a new Pope we’re stilling rejoicing about…
What do they all have in common? The clue is in our gospel today when Jesus tells the Jews: “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”
As a follower of Jesus, Barnabas went to Antioch soon after the resurrection as an official representative of this new church of Christ. He discerned there that it was indeed God’s intention to preach the gospel to the gentiles as well as the Jews. This was a monumental decision for this Christian community; history was being made.
The children of Fatima followed Jesus through Mary’s wish to spread the gospel of peace to a persecuted church in war torn Portugal. Who would believe children, however? But the children persisted and today a beautiful sacred shrine visited by millions yearly exists, millions who pray for world peace. Again, history was made by 3 humble, prayerful children who followed Christ like the sheep they themselves shepherded.
And whoever would have imagined that an American Cardinal who was born and raised in Chicago, spent over 20+ years of his life in Peru serving the poor of his diocese, served in Augustinian leadership roles, and finally was helping Pope Francis in Rome choose future bishops, would be chosen as our next Pope? Yes, history is still being made in the church because Pope Leo XIV followed Jesus as his Shepherd.
These sheep of Christ’s flock became great witnesses in our church and world. As a result, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are a church whose mission is to be a community of the faithful, a sacrament to the world, a servant to the poor, and a herald of good news. For over 2,000 years this Church has been faithful in bringing Christ to the world…through the sacraments, by establishing schools and hospitals, literacy centers, and emergency shelters to care for immigrants throughout the world, etc. Our church has a long history now of promoting social justice and charity, working for the common good, the care of creation, and respecting the dignity of all people. With the help of the Holy Spirit, under the leadership of Pope Leo, and with our faithful service, this history will continue to grow.
We are now witnesses and followers who stand on the shoulders of these great forerunners. May we, too, be faithful to our call to follow the Shepherd and live out the gospel message wherever we are and to whomever we encounter.
