Sunday Gospel Comment
Alberic Jacovone OSB
YEAR C FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER - 2.5.04 Acts 13,14.43-52; Apoc 7,9.14-17; Jn 10,27-30 “Pastor” is from “Pasta” What’s
in a word? Even
10 years ago, it was unheard of that -Australia wide-, every family would
consume at least one pasta-meal a week. I am saying this to highlight the deep
meaning of a word: pastor, which is
related to pasta (from Greek Paste’) or Re-past -
pasture - pasturing - & pastoral.
All these are from Latin verb ‘pascere’,
which -in turn-, is from Greek ‘Pateomai’.
This week, we celebrate ‘Good Shepherd Sunday’ & pray for Vocations,
so it may be useful, to unpack the two words: shepherd and pastor. Whereas
‘shepherd’ conveys the ideas of a person who herds sheep, the word
‘pastor’ does not relate to sheep, it has to do with pasture, which again
should not refer to grass, but to any feeding or nourishing, and certainly it
does not relate to a vague caring or protecting, teaching or leading. In the
word ‘pastor’, the key concept is derived from the mother (animal or human)
who breast-feeds and thus gives ‘pastum’ i.e. nourishment, life & growth to her child. Of
course -by doing this- she cares, protects and cherishes her little one. Her act
of breast-feeding (pasturing) ensures that the baby receives life, growth and
energy through her mother’s milk and only after this, comes the awareness that
any nourishment is offered with exquisite loving care. So, while in Christian
language we use pastor and pastoral to indicate a caring activity, its
core-meaning has to do with nurturing and nourishing. In essence, a pastor is
nurturer before being carer. The inner logic of the word requires that the act
of feeding is pasturing; the nourishment is pasta; the provider is the Pastor,
and Pastoral is the life-giving way with which the milk (Greek ‘galaktos’)
is pastured or offered. Therefore, a pastoral activity is something separate
from being in charge or in administration. In the context of community, pastors
are people who feel enabled and empowered to work for the Christian growth of
others, and run with it. Pastoral activities: Having said this, we see also how the concepts of ‘pastor and pasta’ operate in our Christian life. We see how all ‘pastoral activities’ are life-giving strategies where people nourish and are nourishes, in and with the spirit of Christ, and all grow in a community where Christ is the chief Pastor & Nourisher. Indeed all the sacraments and all Christian life hinges around the Eucharist, where Jesus gives himself as Sacred food to nourish us all and as life-giving blood to quench our thirst, so we all may have life in abundance and grow in a community where God is all in all. From this perspective, there are no devotions, no religious approaches, no cultural or multi- cultural Passion Plays or pilgrimages, nor any other method of union with God (be these: Spirit-oriented, Mercy or Marian, Sacred Heart or Holy Face, ‘martyrdom or Stigmata’ methods...) none can take us away from feeding others and being fed by others, with the very love of Christ which is beyond all understanding. From this perspective, we look at our parish communities and rejoice for the many gifted people, that God rises at every level and in all parishes, for mutual edification and inspiration, for nourishment and life. Fortunate are we, if we recognize these activities among us and feel energized. In every parish, there are literally hundreds of deeply spiritual people -young and over- , through dozens of ministries, from a wide diversity of cultures and walks of life, that get together to give expression to meaningful liturgies and spiritual gatherings, to nourish and be nourished, support each other and make a difference in the wider community. Lesson: ‘Pastors’ are not one above you, but life-givers and nourishers next to you. Who is Pastor to you? Are you one? How? ______________________________________ |
