Today, the Gospel describes an attitude of Jesus which every Christian must emulate. It says: “his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd” (Mk 6:34). Jesus was always compassionate to the people, which makes him the best example of a shepherd who cares for his sheep.
When the disciples come back after completing their ministry entrusted by Jesus, he takes them to a deserted place. Jesus carefully listens to what they have to say and then prays with them. It is a lesson for all those who are engaged in various ministries in the Church. We can be so busy with work that we forget to spend time with the Lord. If we are doing God’s work, it is important to consult him in prayer. So, an authentic Christian ministry is rooted in prayer, and in spending time with Jesus. How can we be renewed every day in the Lord and then effectively do his ministry? How can we become good shepherds like Jesus? Let me give an example:
The terrorist attack on the Twin Towers in New York on 11 September 2001 was a sad day in American history. Now, the names of nearly 3,000 people who were killed in the attack are inscribed in the memorial. The first officially recorded death was of a 68-year-old Franciscan Catholic priest, Mychal Judge, who served as the chaplain of the New York Fire Department. When the first plane hit the tower, Fr. Judge rushed to the area and was helping the victims. There, he was hit in the head by the fallen debris when he was praying and assisting some of the people who were affected. He died there, uttering the name “Jesus”.
Fr. Judge has been serving as a chaplain of the Fire Department since 1992. He passionately loved what he was doing, especially comforting people who were affected by disasters and visiting the patients at the hospitals. He also counseled firemen and their families, and was well-known in the city for ministering to the abandoned. Fr. Judge was another Francis Assisi to the homeless, the hungry, recovering alcoholics, people with AIDS, the sick, gays and lesbians, and all those who were abandoned by society. His life story, written after the tragedy, is recorded that Fr. Judge once gave his winter coat to a homeless woman in the street, saying that she needed it more than him. When he anointed a man, who was dying of AIDS, the man asked him: “Do you think God hates me?” Fr. Judge without saying a word picked him up, kissed him, and silently rocked him in his arms. His actions spoke louder than his words. He was a good shepherd to everyone, and especially to the lost ones.
My dear sisters and brothers in Christ: Fr. Judge shaped his ministry after the model of Jesus, the Good Shepherded. It is always a joy and a challenge to emulate great models such as Fr. Judge. However, spiritual leaders must be willing to give everything they have to revive the Christian community entrusted to them. They should earnestly work to rekindle the faith life wherever it is going down. All of us must work together to alleviate the suffering of the people around us. Today, our Lord is inviting us to become people with compassionate hearts, especially in caring for the forgotten, the abandoned, and the neglected in our society. Let us rededicate our lives for the revival of the Christian faith in our community by following the footsteps of Jesus. Let us pray to the Lord to give us also a compassionate heart like that of Jesus.
Rev. Dr. Mathew Charthakuzhiyil