A Homily (or 2)

[DISCLAIMER: Quoheleth, the author of the Book of Ecclesiastes, declares -- or maybe, bemoans: "There is nothing new under the sun.". Except for some personal anecdotes of friends, family, former parishioners, and myself, I make no claim of originality.  Sad but true: there for a while I thought I was the one who came up with WWJD!  One gift that God has blessed me with is an ability to get to the point quicker and with far fewer words than most preachers.]

[I did preach on the Third and Fifth Sundays of Easter, but I was unhappy with the results and decided not to include my notes here. It is hard to explain what I did not like about them. But I do admit my conclusion this Sunday was weak. It changed every Mass.]

Sixth Sunday of Easter – May 13, 2012

In the first year of my priesthood, a couple was celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary.  When asked whether or not they could remember what it was like not being married, neither of them could.  But the thing that struck me the most was what the wife said.  “The first moment O saw him, I knew he was going to be my husband.  It took me two years to get him to propose to me.  He thought he chose me; but I chose him.”

​In our reading from the Act of the Apostles, St. Luke tells of how God chose to fill the some Gentiles with the Holy Spirit.  God did so to teach St. Peter and other early Christians that Jesus came for every person and not only Jews.  Many, like St. Peter, thought that in order to become a follower of Jesus one must first become a Jew.  Our readings this Sunday remind us that we are chosen.  Today’s gospel spells out for us what we are chosen for.

We are chosen for JOY.  Jesus said, “I have told you this that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.”  Although there are many such, a gloomy Christian is a contradiction in terms.  There is a joy that God wants to give us as committed disciples of Jesus.

We are chosen for LOVE.  Some times it seems as if we are in this world to compete against one another or  to argue with one another.  But Jesus sent us into the world to love one another.  In our second reading St. John echoes that call of Jesus to love one another.

We are chosen for FRIENDSHIP.  Jesus calls us to be his friends and friends of God.  What a  wonderful offer that is.  We are invited to have a relationship with God who created the universe and created us in our mother’s womb.  (see Psalm 139)

We are chosen to SHARE OUR FAITH.    Jesus appointed the early Christians and appoints us to go forth and bear fruit.  We are challenged to share the good news — the joy, love, and friendship we have received — with others in our lives.    We are challenged to live our lives in such a way — to speak and act to show others that God really makes a difference in our lives.  In seeing that in us, others will want us faith, too.

St. John reminds us Jesus came that we might have life through, with, and in him.  Remember, we are chosen for joy, love, friendship and to share our faith. 

Fourth Sunday of Easter – April 29, 2012

Ask a group of kindergartners what animal they wish they could be if only for one day, 
chances are none of them will say with excitement, “I want to be a sheep!” 
I can’t think of any major college or national football league teamed named, “Sheep.”
People don’t think very much of sheep; in fact, sheep have a lousy reputation.  
They are considered stupid, easily frightened and confused,  dirty, helpless, and unimaginative.  We like hearing the words of Saint John that we are God’s  children.  
That makes us kind of special.   

One of the earliest, if not the first images of Jesus in the catacombs is of the Good Shepherd.  When we considered what it means to call ourselves sheep, we are missing the point.  Instead, we need to consider and think about HOW Jesus is LIKE a Good Shepherd.  

A Good Shepherd 
– knows his sheep by name.  It matters not to our Risen Lord how large his flock is, Jesus know each of us by name. He is fully God and fully human.  In fact, Jesus knows us better than we know ourselves.  We can. fool ourselves, but we can’t deceive God.    
– leads his sheep to food and water. The gospels tell us that Jesus asks and expects much of us.  That is why he wants to give us spiritual nourishment and strength.   Praying, reading and reflecting on God’s Word, and helping someone in need are ways to grow stronger spiritually. The sacraments, especially the Eucharist,  are ways we can more fully share in the grace and life of Jesus.  
– protects his sheep.  Sheep need protection from thieves, wild animals, and even themselves.  Perhaps there has never been more ways for Christians to get into trouble than today: access to alcohol, drugs, gambling, pornography, violence, and addictive stimulation has never been easier and more widespread than today.  
But for Jesus to protect us, we have to pray and seek and ask for the help we need. 
– saves his flock by laying down his life for his sheep. Here as elsewhere in the gospels Jesus speaks of freely and willingly suffering and dying so our sins might be forgiven and we might have eternal life.  St. John tells us that on the night before he died, Jesus said, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” St. Paul reminds that Jesus died for us while we were sinners!

Few children would ever day dream of becoming a sheep. Don’t be holding your breath for ’49ers to become the San Francisco Sheep.
But is it truly wonderful to have Jesus as the Good Shepherd.

Listen to him.
Learn from him.
Love him. 
And let him lead us in this life and bring us to eternal life.