FATHERS ARE CALLED TO BE GOOD SHEPHERDS - 06/18/23 (Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time)

Matthew 9:36-38

At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”

For the full readings, click here: 

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/061823.cfm

Blessed Sunday and Happy Father's Day to all of the fathers! In our gospel reading, our Lord Jesus was compassionate for the people because they were like sheep without a shepherd. The truth is that all of us are His sheep, and we need the Good Shepherd, our Lord Jesus, in our lives. At the same time, Jesus uses many instruments to be His shepherds and to bring souls to His love. When we think of His instruments, we may remember the priests, our spiritual fathers. But, there are times that we forget that our own fathers in the families should be good shepherds to us as well. Let's ponder on these two question about fathers that I will raise in this reflection. 

First, why do we need our fathers to be good shepherds? Well, it's because this is the vocation where God calls them. All parents, especially the fathers, have the duty to take care of the needs of their children. But, these needs are not just about temporal needs such as finance, food, education, etc. In fact, the most important needs that should be addressed by the fathers are our spiritual needs. It's because salvation and union with God are the most important in this life. The fathers are the reflections of God's love for their family. Unfortunately, it is a reality that many people who no longer practice the Catholic faith, who become rebellious and who disregard the commandments of God do so because of the emotional wounds they received from their own fathers. When the fathers do not lead a good example in going to Mass, teaching the Catholic faith, and in practicing prayers, the children will not see the essence of having a deep relationship with God. As we see in the gospel reading, Jesus was moved with pity when He saw the crowd as troubled and abandoned, like sheep without shepherd. This is why the parents, especially the fathers, have the responsibility of learning the Catholic faith and being good role models for their family because this is the specific mission that God entrusts to them. 

Second, what should we do if the fathers do not act as good shepherds in the family? It's an unfortunate reality that some fathers do not live the role that they have in raising their family. This may result to having more broken families and more children who stay away from our Lord. But, when this happens, we should not fall to discouragement or despair even though it's difficult. It's because our Lord Jesus is reminding us that He is still our Good Shepherd. Deep within our hearts, we have the desire to be loved. And, if this need is not addressed by our parents, let's remember that God is still with us, and He is more than enough to heal our hearts from wounds with His merciful love and compassion. When Jesus sees our weakness, He doesn't neglect us. On the contrary, He desires us to make Him the object of our love so that we will find true happiness in this world, the happiness that is found solely in God. As we remember the painful experiences that some may have with their fathers, let's reflect on how we were hurt, and let's forgive them from the bottom of our hearts. And, may we place our worth in God by recognizing that our purpose in life is to love Him. Also, we should not forget to pray for our fathers that they may be faithful to God's will. When our Lord told His disciples that they should ask the Master of the harvest to send our laborers, this prayer was not just limited to priests. We should also pray that there may be more fathers who are good models in the life of holiness. Let's honor the fathers in our lives by loving them and by praying for them always. May God's love and kindness be present in the homes and hearts of every family. 

Amen +

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, be with us always until the hour of our death. Amen. +

May the Lord + bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen. +  

Reflection by: Dominic

For Filipinos, this is a podcast (spoken in the native language) by a Filipino named Jay Aruga on how to guide the children in the Catholic faith:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2Uvd63hI8Yv9C0cPHw2Tjy?si=7-plO1oSR1yToWJTJR1-Vg&nd=1

Examination of Conscience and Guide to Sacrament of Confession:

https://mycatholic.life/catholic-prayers/examination-of-conscience/

Ultimate Catholic Parents Guide:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Ls6IcexZAls

Summary and Defense of Catholic Teachings:

https://www.catholic.com/tract/pillar-of-fire-pillar-of-truth