We Are All Pastors

Homily for the Memorial of Sts. Timothy and Titus

Today we celebrate what is known as a privileged memorial. This simply means that one of the readings, either the first reading or the Gospel reading, is proper to the feast day. Today we celebrate the feast of Saints Timothy and Titus, and we read from one of the pastoral letters of St. Paul. The word “pastoral,” whether we use it to speak of the Symphony by Beethoven or of letters in the New Testament or to characterize a good minister of the Gospel, refers to shepherding or a life lived out in the open, most likely caring for sheep or goats. So these letters are written to Timothy or Titus as men charged with the care of the Christian flock in some particular area in order to encourage them to be faithful and, we might say, pastoral.

However, while the letters were written to specific individuals, we have come to understand that all of the Scriptures were written for the entire Christian community. Consequently, the letters ask us to look at our own pastoral responsibilities. It doesn’t take much thought to realize that each of us is asked to treat the other sheep in our flock pastorally. In order to understand how we should act in this role, we simply need to look at Jesus, the Good Shepherd. We see in him someone who is gentle, forgiving, prayerful, generous, patient, and someone who sacrifices time and energy for others. They are people of deep faith, hope, and charity. While we may not think of ourselves as pastors, it is clear that these attributes are things that all of us can use as we deal with the various situations of our lives.

Lest we think that this kind of thinking is not quite accurate, the Gospel passage that we hear today reminds us that a lamp is to be placed on a lampstand so that it’s light is available to all. This particular story or parable actually appears in all three of the synoptic Gospels. Mark places it right after the parable of the sower and the seed, which Jesus had interpreted for his disciples. They didn’t always understand the nuances in Jesus’s teachings. So it is a logical transition to go from the parable in which Jesus enlightens his disciples to a parable about light – or in this case, a lamp.

Just as Jesus tells us that a lamp should not be hidden under a bushel basket, we must understand that our light, given to us at our baptism, was meant to be shared with others. In that respect, even the Gospel calls us all to be pastors, people who share their light with others, who help others on the path to holiness, who are generous with their time and caring in their attitude. As we celebrate the Eucharist today, it is fitting that we stop and remember that the very word we use to describe what we are doing – namely, communion – means with unity. We receive the body and blood of Christ as individuals who are part of the community and who will take the graces we have received to help others.