Homily for the 3^rd Sunday in Eastertime: April 21, 2007

Given by the Most Reverend Stephen E. Blaire at the Catholic Professional and Business Club National Conference.

To emphasize the singular importance of pastoral care, three times Jesus said to Peter: Feed my lambs or feed my sheep. This pastoral responsibility to nourish the flock belongs to all the pastors of the Church. The shepherds of the Church in the name of the Good Shepherd carry out this duty first of all by preaching the word of God and interpreting the Scriptures for application to daily life. It is the Word of God which gives life. Secondly, they celebrate the sacraments which convey the grace flowing from Jesus’ passion, death, resurrection and ascension into glory. The sacraments give life. Thirdly they serve the people entrusted to their care by bringing the healing and reconciliation of God into the people’s lives. Pastoral charity gives life and is the charism of the pastor.

While the pastors have been charged by the Risen Lord to feed the flock, He has entrusted His mission to the whole Church of preaching the gospel to every one.

In a particular way the lay faithful are sent forth to bring the gospel message into every aspect of human living: the world of business, government, professions, careers, leisure,
family, athletics etc. Each member of the church receives specific gifts from the Holy Spirit to witness to Christ in their particular areas. Pope Benedict XVI in “Deus Caritas Est” wrote: “The direct duty to work for a just ordering of society…is proper to the lay faithful.” Further he says: “The mission of the lay faithful is therefore to configure social life correctly, respecting its legitimate autonomy and cooperating with other citizens according to their respective competencies and fulfilling their own responsibility.”

I think it is important to stress that we do not witness to Christ by trying to exert power over anyone, nor do we seek to impose our ways of thinking on anyone. We preach the gospel by example and by gentle persuasion. Our conduct reflects what we believe. When we speak from the perspective of faith we do so to contribute to the formation of conscience but not to make our teaching prevail over anyone. Rather we are contributing as Christians to the common good of society. We are a legitimate voice for justice which needs to be heard in our world. Pope Benedict speaks about the deep concern of the Church for the demands of the common good.

I thank the Catholic Professional and Business Club for the commitment of its members as Catholics to the highest of ethics in the business and professional world. Ethics does not make you Catholic. Faith and baptism does. Ethics validates the sincerity of your faith and contributes to the right ordering of society – the mission of the lay faithful.

Last Update April 23, 2007