Homily: July 23, 2024, Tuesday of the sixteenth week in Ordinary time (Shepherd your flock)

(Homily for Holy family school Faculty and Staff) 

“Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your inheritance.”

Today’s first reading started with this verse, which is apt for all of you here.

Typically, people in various occupations would have an instrument specific to and representative of their profession. When I was young, I learnt about occupations from picture books that showed in a simplistic way what that profession is about: a waiter with an apron and serving tray, a fireman with a red safety helmet and fire hydrant, a farmer with a straw hat and a rake, a carpenter with a hammer and nails, and so on.

What we see in reality, may not be exactly the same. For example, in such picture books, a teacher was almost always shown with a book and a chalk board. But when I was in school, all the teachers I saw were always holding a cane! And the school principal had the biggest cane! Caning children was the norm of discipline in those days.

They were always on the lookout and ready to whip out punishment for any student who broke the rules or misbehaved. I was one of their regular recipients. Students were always fearful of teachers. I hated school and the teachers.

But all of you here are so different. You all look happy and always have a smile on your face. And teachers here do not carry a cane. 

I hope you aren’t keeping any canes in the classrooms. During this short summer vacation, the kids at St. Ambrose were all telling me how much they miss school and their teachers. 

Wow, they actually love you! You must be doing something very right, and very good.

The image I have of you, teachers and school members here, is an image described in our first reading, a shepherd with a staff.

Shepherds carry a staff, with a crook at the head to help them hook the neck of the sheep and pull it to safety. A sheep can sometimes wander off too far and land itself in dangerous places which could be out of reach for the shepherd. The staff is a lifesaver.

The bishop too carries a staff, also known as a crosier, because the bishop represents Jesus the Good Shepherd, leading His flock of believers away from spiritual danger, into His eternal care and protection.

And so should you, educators, especially in a Catholic school. You do more than educate children, you lead them to God, you shepherd them to safety from the dangers of this world.

As God the Father patiently formed His people with compassion, mercy, and love, may you also form each child with the same. When you discipline them to teach them obedience and other virtues, may they experience not fear, but love and be built up in confidence knowing right from wrong, good from evil.

As God entrusted the care of His people to the prophets and kings, these children are also entrusted to you to love, guide and protect.

Finally, pray for your students every day. You are a beautiful and important instrument of God. Children look up to you and learn from you. Other than their parents, you are also the significant people in their lives helping to shape their future. 

Pray that they may grow in wisdom and grace, and in the knowledge of and love for God.

I wish you a wonderful academic year. I am looking forward to working closely with you. God bless all of you. Amen.