Loving Father and Wise Teacher

April 18, 2021

Following is the prepared text from Bishop Olmsted’s homily for the Third Sunday of Easter:

It is an honor and joy to install the new rector of the Cathedral of Saints Simon and Jude. A Cathedral rector, like every good priest, is called to be a loving father, gentle shepherd and wise teacher. How blessed is the parish with such a servant of Jesus who desires not to be served but to serve.

Es un honor, y me da mucho gusto instalar el nuevo rector de la Catedral. Un buen rector es llamado a ser un padre amoroso, un pastor gentil, y un maestro sabio. Que bendición es un sacerdote que desea non sea servido sino a servir.

Today’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles illustrates what tragedies happen due to ignorance, when people have not been taught wisdom, and do not know what is true and good. Ignorance of the truth can lead to terrible consequences.  St. Peter told the residents of Jerusalem, “The author of life you put to death, but …I know, brothers, that you acted out of ignorance” (Acts 3:15ff). Acting out of ignorance is dangerous. Not to know that Jesus suffered death to save you, not to know that He died on a Cross so that you can die to sin and be freed of its burden – such ignorance leaves an emptiness in the soul and troubling questions in the heart. What you do not know can hurt you and others. A good priest is a wise teacher for those he serves in Jesus’ Name. He spends Himself in handing on the Truth of the Gospel so that his people do not repeat the mistake of the crowd that called for Jesus’ execution.  Do you remember, during the Passion of Christ, how the crowd was invited by Pontius Pilate to choose which prisoner to release? Either Jesus or Barabbas, either the Prince of Peace or a violent revolutionary. And they chose Barabbas – because of ignorance. If they had known who Jesus is, never would they have begged for the release of Barabbas.

Terrible tragedies arise from not knowing Christ. Even as Jesus was dying on the Cross, He prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing” (Lk 23:34).

In the Gospel today, we find the disciples of Jesus engaged in a great struggle to recognize the Risen Lord. When He came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you,” “they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost.” To help them overcome their ignorance and recognize and believe in Him, He told them: “Look at my hands and my feet, …it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have… He took a piece of baked fish and ate it in front of them… Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures…” (Lk 24:35-48). Even with all these concrete efforts on Jesus’ part, it was not easy for them to overcome their lack of faith. And it can also be difficult for us living in AD 2021.

For faith to endure in times of hardship, it must go beyond passive believing to dynamic reliance on the Lord. That is what St. John is aiming at in our second reading today when he says, “The way we may be sure that we know Him is to keep His commandments. Those who say, ‘I know Him,’ but do not keep His commandments are liars, and the truth is not in them” (1 Jn 2:1-5).

Faith is vital for a relationship with God. When times get tough, our trust in Him can stumble. In times of comfort and ease, our faith can grow weak. At all times, a faithful priest can offer the clear teaching needed to remain steadfast in faith. Jesus tells us, “If you remain in my words, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free?” (Jn 8:32).

Teaching the truth of the Gospel in all its integrity and calling people to the obedience of faith is a great blessing for a parish community, especially those truths which are not popular but true, not convenient but necessary to free people from the lies and ambiguities sown in our times by the father of lies.

A faithful priest is a Loving Father, who helps those he serves to discover the merciful Fatherhood of God and thus their own identity as His beloved sons and daughters.  In the Old Testament book of Ecclesiasticus, Ben Sirach told his son, as he was leaving home, “My son, if you aspire to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for an ordeal. Be sincere of heart, be steadfast, and do not be alarmed when disaster comes. Cling to Him and do not leave Him, …since gold is tested in the fire, and chosen ones in the furnace of humiliation.”

A loving father prepares his children for an ordeal. He readies them for the inevitable struggle with temptation and the sorrows that break our hearts. God created us for happiness with Him for all eternity in heaven, not for temporary success on earth. Children don’t need their father to be popular; they need him to remain steadfast when disaster comes, to cling to Christ during hardships and humiliation. They need to see his fidelity to Christ, and his daily reliance on the sacraments of the Church, especially Confession and the Eucharist.

Father Camou, in a few minutes, as part of the rite of installation, you will renew your oath of fidelity and lead your new flock in the Profession of the Catholic faith. This will bear witness to your desire to serve them as a loving father, wise teacher, and faithful shepherd. As you carry out this mission in Jesus’ Name, be assured of my gratitude to God for you and of my prayers and fatherly love for all whom you serve.