Reverend Larry Silva, Bishop | Diocese of Honolulu

In a recent homily for the Fourth Sunday of Easter, a bishop delivered a thought-provoking message calling for courage and resilience in the face of life's challenges.

The bishop began by shedding light on the true nature of shepherds and their relationship with their sheep, stating, "Let’s get real! While these Biblical stories of sheep and shepherds are somewhat romantic, the reality is that most real shepherds take good care of their sheep because they want to sell their fine wool or to sell their meat at the highest price at the market." Emphasizing the importance of protecting one's assets, he added, "If you are raising sheep so that you can feed your family, you definitely want to defend them against predators, because every sheep consumed by a wolf is a sheep that will bring you nothing at the meat market."

Reflecting on the dynamics between shepherds and wolves, the bishop highlighted the contrasting actions of hired shepherds and true shepherds in the face of danger. He stated, "The hireling will run to preserve himself, and the shepherd will fight off the wolf to preserve himself and the sheep." Drawing parallels to real-life challenges, he urged listeners to confront metaphorical wolves such as depression, sickness, bullying, and deception that threaten to consume them.

The bishop's message resonated with a call to renounce the ultimate wolf, Satan, and to embrace the power of the Good Shepherd in overcoming evil. He emphasized the need for courage and wisdom, stating, "How can we take on a wolf so powerful and so cunning unless we have the power of the Good Shepherd, who breathes out his Holy Spirit upon us, so that we can have the courage and the wisdom to recognize this wolf when we see him in our own lives and the lives of others."

In a symbolic gesture of empowerment, the bishop addressed those to be confirmed, highlighting their role in standing up against darkness and evil. He emphasized the significance of receiving the Holy Spirit to drive away the wolves of life and to become sources of strength and protection for others.

As the homily concluded, the bishop painted a picture of a community empowered by the presence of the Good Shepherd within them. Encouraging a spirit of resilience and selflessness, he proclaimed, "And then there will be rejoicing because you were not someone who ran away from the wolf, but someone who drove him away, not by your own power or cleverness, but because Jesus our Savior and Good Shepherd is living in you!"

The bishop's words serve as a poignant reminder of the need for courage, faith, and compassion in navigating life's challenges and embodying the spirit of the Good Shepherd in our interactions with others.