HOMILY FOR THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (C) – WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS

Fr Billy Swan

Dear friends. It has been quite a week in the life of the Church with the election of our new Pope Leo XIV. First impressions are important and Pope Leo did not disappoint. His first words to the Church and to the world last Thursday were:

‘Dearest brothers and sisters, this is the first greeting of the Risen Christ, the good shepherd who gave his life for God's flock. I too would like this greeting of peace to enter your heart, to reach your families, to all people, wherever they are, to all peoples, to the whole earth. Peace be with you!'

With these words, the Holy Father connected the care of the Good Shepherd to the gift of peace and his desire to offer that gift of peace to everyone. As he delivered this message, it was clear to all that here was a man – a Christian, priest and bishop and now pope – who cares deeply about people and has a burning heart to offer them the peace for which Christ lived, suffered, died and rose again.

This is the same care for people that Jesus had and that he wants us to have too. For Jesus, his mission was shaped by an awareness that God’s people were entrusted to his care. He had this sense of responsibility and duty of care. He cared for the wounded, the lost and put himself in danger in order to protect others from danger.

Likewise, the Church is called to be a caring community, animated by the caring spirit and heart of Jesus the Good Shepherd. No suffering by anyone ought to leave us indifferent or cold. Our hearts are meant to be moved when someone is in distress, hungry, homeless and sad. This focus on care is at the heart of what it means to be ‘pastoral’ where everyone can say in this parish: ‘No matter what you go through this day or tonight, you will not have to go through it on your own. Not on my watch’.

Part of this ‘World Day of Prayer for Vocations’ is the call to promote a culture of vocations, including those to the priesthood and religious life. Here in Wexford, we strive to be available and one of us is on duty as priests 24 hours a day. This is a sign of our care for you and availability to you.

Yet, the question remains: will there be priests around in the parish of Wexford in the future and if so, where will they come from? It would be a mistake to think that this question is one that others can answer but not me. We are all responsible for creating a culture of vocations in our families, schools and parish communities. In his message for this day, Bishop Ger urges us all to never tire of reminding each other that everyone is loved, needed, chosen and called. Everyone has a vocation. We might not always realise it, but its’s true. That’s why one of the most important tasks of a priest is to remind people that God has a plan for their lives.

But the question remains: ‘who are the priests who will do this in the future?’ In contrast to times past, the possibility of becoming a priest or religious seems to have dropped off the menu as a possibility for many young people discerning their future today.

Together, let’s put it back on the menu and not be afraid to propose it as a possibility to live a beautiful and fulfilled life. Can I ask everyone to do this? It is a matter of urgency and it begins with us believing again in the indispensable value of the witness and ministry of priests and religious for the Church and its future. Yes, we pray for vocations but we must encourage them too.

Finally, Pope Leo XIV once sensed the call of God in his heart to ‘come and follow me’. Look where that journey has taken him. May we sense that same call to and not be afraid to go where it leads us.