Sermon: Forth Sunday after Pentecost. by Father Fabrice Loschi.

This is the remains of the Temple to Pan the god of shepherds

Sunday 20th June: 2010 Forth Sunday after Pentecost. (Vestments White.)  

Sermon by Father Fabrice Loschi, who kindly drove from Athlone to say Holy Mass for us.

Holy Gospel according to St Luke, V 1-11  “The Church is here represented by Peter’s boat.  In the ship of the Church of Jesus beaten by the waves and tempest of the world, let us put our trust in God.”

Father Loschi encouraged us not to loose hope because of the present crises of the Church.  He supported his entreaty by explaining how God had chosen Saint Peter even before he was born to lead His Church.  Father constantly throughout his sermon relayed this insight back to our own lives asking us to realise that God had also chosen us and placed us in the perfect place for us, to carry out the purpose of our lives in Him.  Father reminded us that papal infallibility would maintain the true teachings of the Church.

Father explained how well chosen was the place that Jesus called Peter to become the leader of His Church on earth. This great event took place at Caesarea Philippi where the great temple to Pan the pagan god of Shepherds was hewn into a massive rock.  The apostles would have been very aware of the significance of this.  “Feed my sheep.” Jesus had told them, for He was the true Shepherd. (Matthew 16 v 13-20 and Mark 8 v27 - 30)   

Father Loschi described Peter the person.  A man born in Bethesda, a town on an important trade route that people of every language, nationality and creed passed through.  Peter would, said Father, have been educated in the school recently discovered during an Archeological dig in the area.  Peter was a man who owned his own boat and had a crew over which he was the boss.  Peter already had leadership skills in his everyday life, and Jesus knowing this organised the miracle of the great draught of fishes on Peter's boat.  After which, Jesus said, “Fear not, from hencefoth thou shalt catch men.” 

It had been near Peter’s birthplace, Bethesda, that Jesus had fed the 5,000.  

Father made an interesting observation.  He explained to the faithful that as they fished in the deep sea that day the fishermen had used nets, as opposed to hooks.  Hooks hurt and maim the fish, while nets gather great numbers of fish without pain.  The Gospel of Christ is one of love and does not use aggression to gather men into the Church.   

Father pointed out how Divine Providence chose and prepared Peter exactly where he was and how he was.  Divine Providence does the same with us.  

Divine Providence placed us where we are to bloom united with Jesus Christ:

Day after day, hour after hour, minute by minute.  

Father encouraged us to accept where God has placed us.  He reminded us of humility in accepting the will of God in our lives.  

Father advised us to ask Saint Peter during this Mass to help us to better understand our own personal mission.

Father Loschi did not forget to remind us of the grave consequences of ignoring this special message in today’s Gospel.  He recalled for us how Jesus had warned:

“Woe to you Bethsaida...."  Jesus spoke of the great graces the townsfolk had received.  He reminded them of the miracles done there - Jesus spoke of doing penance for sin.  He warned Bethesda that woe to thee, Bethsaida: for if in Tyre and Sidon had been wrought the miracles that have been wrought in you, they had long ago done penance in sackcloth and ashes.