The Gift of a Shepherd

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Merry Christmas!! 

These days of both preparing for and celebrating the birth of our Savior in Bethlehem always fill my heart with great joy and hope.  On that holy night, the Light of the World came into the darkness of our world to show us the human face of God.  The mystery of the Incarnation reminds us just how close God desires to be with each one of us.As I celebrate my first Christmas as a bishop and shepherd of this diocese, I am naturally drawn to reflect on the shepherds in the Christmas story and the importance of the mission of the shepherd.   The shepherds were the first to receive the news of the birth of the Savior.  St. Luke recounts their experience when “an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear” (Luke 2:9).  Sensing their fear, the angel brought what must have been startling words to them: "Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger" (Luke 2:10-12).  To these lowly shepherds God chose to bring the Good News that a Savior had come at long last!

As I reflect on the shepherds and upon my role as a shepherd, I am inspired by their example and their trust.  A shepherd must remain close to the flock entrusted to him.  He cannot let them wander off but must guard, protect, and guide them.  He gets to know them so that he can better understand where they need to go and how he can best shepherd them.  The shepherds in the Gospel kept watch over their flock through the night, never relenting in this important duty.  As I now serve as a shepherd to you, I am striving to imitate that example.  Just as the shepherds remained close to their flock, even by night, and just as Jesus comes close to us in the mystery of the Incarnation, so I desire to be a shepherd who remains close to those entrusted to me.  

Much more than eloquent words or creative ideas, I am drawn to the importance of the ministry of presence and of closeness.   As we move forward into this new season of our diocese, I find great hope in this gift God has given me.  As I have now begun to visit parishes, school, and other ministries across our diocese, I am overwhelmed and humbled by the love and support I have been receiving from so many people.  There is a real excitement at this new chapter that is palpable.  God is doing many good things across our diocese, and I am privileged to have the opportunity to see it all unfolding.  It is this gift and ministry of presence through which God will continue to draw us together as a diocesan family and move us forward as we follow His call as one body.

I am also struck by the trust of the shepherds and their willingness to walk towards an unknown road without fully grasping the whole story.  St. Luke tells us that “the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."  And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger” (Luke 2:15-16, emphasis added).  The shepherds did not hesitate but rather went with haste to follow where God was pointing them.  To live in such a way requires great trust, courage, and faith in the providence of God.

As much as we try to predict what God will do, the reality is none of us have any idea what God has in store for us, whether as individuals, parishes, or as a diocese.  But what we do know is that God has great things in store for us.  If we are willing to walk into the unknown and unfamiliar with Him, He will not let us down.  Through the mystery we celebrate in Christmas, He promises to each of us that He will stay close, fully uniting Himself to each of us as He takes on a human nature.

This is especially true as we begin this season of liturgical renewal in our diocese.  While I do not know what the future will hold, I am certain that as we draw closer to the Lord as we worship him in the liturgy, all things will be renewed by Him as a result.  I invite each of us to commit to deepening our love for the liturgy and our experience of entering into each liturgical celebration we participate in.  I am confident in the renewal God will bring to our diocese as a result of following Him and faith and trust.

My prayer is that, as we move forward together, remaining close to the Good Shepherd and longing to follow Him in all things, we will continue to see the good things God has in store.  Then, like the shepherds, our response will be “glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen” (Luke 2:20). Know of my prayers for each of you and your families, especially during this Christmas season. 

May the Christ child be born anew in your hearts, filling you with unshakeable hope.

 +Most Reverend Simon ​Peter Engurait
Bishop of ​the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux