Looking back at the weekly messages of Father Paul Counce, first published in The Carpenter, our weekly Parish Bulletin
Published: April 25, 2021
We celebrate this weekend, because of its mention in the Gospel (Jn 10:11-18), “Good Shepherd Sunday.” It’s always the annual World Day of Prayer for Vocations. After all, Jesus Himself said, “Pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into His harvest" (Mt 9:38 & Lk 10:2), and so even though we also appreciate the essential vocations to married and secular life, we focus this Sunday on the call to ordained and vowed ways of life.
So it’s especially appropriate to keep the image of the Good Shepherd in mind as we pray for and support vocations. Priests, deacons, brothers and sisters do the work of Jesus, after all, and so try to do their best to model Him in their attitudes and works. All ordained and vowed persons try to be Jesus-like in their patient, caring service of others, and courageous in their proclamation of the Church’s doctrines. Ultimately, they are willing to sacrifice their own self-interests and comforts for God’s truth, and for the welfare of those entrusted to their care.
This is not always easy. In fact, it’s downright difficult to be counter-cultural as the Christian leader must be. God’s representatives speak His truth always with gentle words of invitation and mercy. Many secular voices compete with this, trying to fool us and seduce us, often urging us to speak, dress, behave and live in false ways. Yet the fleeting pleasures which money, materialism, addictions, sex, power, and celebrity can bring are not the same thing as lasting satisfaction and joy in life. In fact, worldly voices are often the “thieves and robbers” (Jn 10:10) that steal from us more lasting happinesses, satisfactions and peace in life.
Thank God then for Christ Jesus. He alone wants what is best for us. Jesus has no ulterior motives or nothing to gain from us. He simply loves us, just as we are. We don’t have to be particularly bright, smart, talented, successful, nice looking, or sinless for Jesus to love us. We don’t have to earn His love, and in fact we can’t. We are simply loved by Him for who we are. And Jesus’ co-workers do their very best to love like He does. We need more of them! And that’s why the Church begs your fervent prayers and support for vocations, especially this weekend.
On a different note: our Cathedral Parish is going to try out something a little new and different next month. On Sunday, May 16, we’ll be hosting a “Cathedral Kids’ Picnic” at Magnolia Mound Pavilion from 11:30 am (or as soon after 10:30 Mass as we can get there!) until 2:00 pm or so. I hope you can bring your children and grandchildren, from toddlers to about 5th grade, I guess!
We’ll have food – probably pizza and cupcakes and ice cream, plus lots of soft drinks! – fun games for the kids, some activities like facepainting and that sort of thing, maybe some candy-filled piñatas, etc. Since we missed out on having things like GRAND Day and Easter Egg hunts in 2020 and so far in 2021, our Development Committee thought that this would be a great thing to try: the sunshine and fresh air of the great outdoors will surely keep the germs away! You may wish to bring your lawn chairs, floppy hats, sunscreen, frisbees and nerf balls, but a number of parents have promised other games and activities for everyone too.
Still with Easter joy,
Father Paul Counce
