SOLEMNITY OF SAINT PIUS X
22 AUGUST 2021
The
Prophet Ezekiel writes to his people who have been scattered into exile. Their leaders put their energies into caring
for themselves instead of caring for the needs of those entrusted to their
care. Unlike shepherds who tended to the
needs of their flocks, these leaders tended to their own needs. Ezekiel comforts his scattered people,
assuring them that God has not abandoned them.
He promises that God himself will pasture his sheep.
This
promise has been fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, whose image is
on our triumphal arch. The Good Shepherd
draws sheep to himself, with one of his flock seated securely on his lap. The Good Shepherd laid down his life for us,
his sheep. We see that total gift on the
crucifix hanging above the Altar.
Our Good
Shepherd has entrusted to human beings the care of his flock, his Church. None of these shepherds are perfect, and none
are without sin. Saint Peter is a good
example. Even though Peter vowed that he
would die with Christ, he denied knowing him three times in the courtyard of
the high priest out of fear (pictured on the triumphal arch with a charcoal
fire and black smoke and the cock crowing).
In today’s Gospel, the risen Christ prepares breakfast for his disciples
on the shore of the Sea of Galilee (pictured on the triumphal arch with the Sea
of Galilee and a charcoal fire with white smoke). Knowing that Peter has truly repented from
his sin, he asks if he loves him. He
asks this question three times, not to rub Peter’s sin into his nose, but to
indicate that he has truly forgiven him.
In response, Jesus tells Peter to feed his lambs, tend his sheep, and
feed his sheep (with those words above Peter’s image on the left of the
triumphal arch). Jesus could have easily
told Peter that he blew it, and that he would choose someone more
dependable. Instead, he knows that Peter
will be a better shepherd. He gives to
Peter his mercy and assurance that he will never abandon him.
Pope Saint
Pius X is the 257th Bishop of Rome.
Like all of Peter’s successors, Giuseppe Sarto was not sinless. He had his share of weakness and faults, as
we all do. However, he was known for his
extraordinary holiness and his efforts to lay down his life for his flock. His motto was “To renew all things in Christ”
(with those words inscribed above his image on the right side of the triumphal
arch). Our parish is the only parish in
this diocese under the patronage of Saint Pius X, who was canonized in the
early 1950’s. In celebrating his
Solemnity today, we commit ourselves to do all we can to renew all things in
Christ.
We ask for
his intercession today as we continue this important work. We are calling this third year of our five
year strategic plan the “Year of Renewal.”
Each month, there will be a specific way in which we are invited to join
together in the work of renewal. During
this month of August, we are beginning the process of renewing our parish from
the limitations we have suffered in these past sixteen months of the ongoing
pandemic. Celebrating our feast day and
our annual picnic in a new way, we are committing ourselves to rebuilding so
much of what we lost. Please pay
attention to the monthly themes, which will be announced on our website and in
our bulletin. Next month, for example,
we are committing ourselves to renewing our families, our community, and our
participation on both of these. Working
together in each of these upcoming specific areas, we can imitate what Saint
Pius X was doing in the early years of the 20th century. In these early years of this 21st
century, we join together in the work of renewing, trusting the Lord’s presence
in our efforts and seeking the intercession of our Patron Saint. Saint Pius X, pray for us!
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