Homily for the Sixth Sunday of Easter (Year C)

The readings for the Sixth Sunday of Easter (Year C) May be found at:
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/052619.cfm

Do you ever get frustrated?  I know I do. I mean, when someone tries to explain a complicated story or provide lengthy instructions on how to do something or describes how to get somewhere - and you just can’t “get it” for whatever reason - that can be frustrating can’t it?  It can be. I see some heads nodding - you know what I’m talking about. This past week, I was trying to explain to my mother, who is amazing and who I love very, very much - how to set up a Facebook account, over the phone with me in Massachusetts and her in Florida so that she could watch the live stream video of the permanent diaconate ordination.  I failed miserably. I was frustrated. She was frustrated. I’m sure it wouldn’t be too hard for you to come up with an example of something that has frustrated you recently. So, as wonderful as it must have been to be one of Jesus’ disciples - it had to be frustrating at times. Like in today’s gospel that takes place on Holy Thursday, Jesus is spending his last moments with his disciples just hours before he is crucified.  During their last night together, as part of what is referred to as Jesus’ Farewell Discourse, Jesus is trying to explain what is going to happen to him and to them. He explains that he is going away and that he will not leave them alone - even though he just told them he was going away. Can you imagine what was going through the disciples’ minds as he spoke those words? You are going away, but you are not leaving us alone? How does that make sense?  It had to be frustrating for them.  Jesus assures them that the Father will be sending someone to help them.  But who? Jesus explains, that while he will be leaving, the Father, God, will send the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ name and that the Holy Spirit, "will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you".  Even with this information, I can imagine that the disciples were still not convinced that Jesus’ leaving could be a good thing. Jesus continues that he is telling them these things now so that when they happen, they will believe. In fact, it is only after the resurrection, with the aid of the Holy Spirit, that the disciples begin to understand and believe the words of Jesus.  This same Holy Spirit, who we refer to everytime we do the Sign of the Cross, or recite the Creed is the same person who helped the disciples and the same Holy Spirit at work in our lives today. In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, it is written that “One cannot believe in Jesus Christ without sharing in his Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who reveals to men who Jesus is. For “no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit - No one comprehends the thoughts of God, except the Spirit of God.”  So often, we do not understand what God is up to. But, seriously - how could we? As hard as we try, we simply can’t understand how certain horrible events in life could have any positive meaning or result in anything good. It is only with time and prayer and the aid of the Holy Spirit that we begin to see how God might be working for good even in the midst of terrible and confusing times in our lives. Jesus tells us as he told his disciples - that we are not alone. He tells us that it is the profound love of God that he made known to his disciples and that the Holy Spirit continues to make known to us today that helps us when things get hard. The Spirit assures us that we are never abandoned, even in the midst of the loss, pain, and sorrow that are part of life in this broken world.   Jesus promises us peace, not as the world gives, but peace that is based on a power that overcomes anything that the world could possibly throw at us. In the coming week, if you find yourself in a frustrating or difficult situation - and you know it could happen - in fact, it probably will happen - remember that you are never abandoned - take a moment, open yourself up to God, open yourself up to the guidance of the Holy Spirit - remember that you don’t know everything, and that this is okay, because the Holy Spirit understands it all. Ask the Holy Spirit, who you received at baptism and confirmation to fill you with his help to understand what is happening in your life and to ask Jesus to fill you with his peace. You might get frustrated, but the Holy Spirit never does. You are not alone.  He is always with you - and he is with you to help.

Homily for the Fifth Sunday of Easter (Year C)

The readings for the Fifth Sunday of Easter (Year C) May be found at: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/051919.cfm

Homily

A couple of weeks ago, a parishioner, who shall remain nameless and who clearly wanted me to keep my homilies short, said to me, there’s a fine line between a long homily and a hostage situation - and I think the writer of this gospel, St. John the Evangelist, may have felt the same way. Legend has it, that every Sunday, as he presided over the Eucharist, he would get up to preach. And every time he would deliver the same homily saying these words: “Little children, love one another”, and then, he would stop talking and sit down.  That’s it? Really? That’s literally a ten second homily. When people would ask him why all he ever preached was “Little children, love one another” - he would respond, “What else is there?” Now, you’re probably thinking that my homily is already much longer than Saint John’s...and you would be right! But I hope you’re also wondering what Saint John was getting at when he said “Little children, love one another”.  Let’s see if we can figure it out together. Now love itself, is not a new concept. All of our theology and preaching, in one way or another comes back to the same basic message of God’s love for us - in fact, love is why we were created in the first place. Love of neighbor was already commanded in the Old Testament. Jesus then took this to another level when he told us to love our enemies as well - which is not easy for any of us to do. Jesus also reinforced the first and most important commandment when he reminded us to “Love God with all your heart and soul and mind”.  But when Jesus says in this gospel, “As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.” He raises the bar for us - big time. Throughout his ministry, Jesus showed his love through his teaching, his compassionate healing and ultimately, given that He died for us on the cross - he set a pretty high bar. Now, does that mean Jesus expects us to literally die for each other? No - of course not. For one thing, that wouldn’t a very attractive selling point to the faith. But, in one way, Jesus does expect us to die ... to our own selfishness and to focus a little bit of what we’ve been given on the needs of those around us, especially those who are in the most need.  The self giving love that Jesus lives is how we’re supposed to pattern our love. He expects us to sacrifice for each other. Now, this is the ultimate form of love, to sacrifice for another person. Now, we see people sacrifice for others, don’t we? We know what it looks like. The parent who works the second or third job or the late shift or all three to take care of their family. The person who looks out for their elderly neighbor and checks in on them from time to time to make sure they are ok. The person who brings their leftovers or cooks whole meals for their less fortunate neighbor who may not have enough to eat. The person who volunteers at the homeless shelter, or visits the nursing home or the hospital even though none of their family or friends is one of the residents there.  I’m sure you can think of examples of this kind of love in your day to day life. But sacrificing for others, out of love is not easy. So, why should we do it? The Blessed Mother Theresa might have said it best. When asked why she spent so much effort helping people who were going to die anyway, especially when most of them were not even Christian...the answer she gave was simple. She answered that she had no choice. She was a Christian, committed to serving Jesus, and Christ, himself, identified with the poorest of the poor. She patterned her love on that of Christ - and in the process showed that she was a disciple of Jesus. We are called to do the same. How will the world know we are disciples of Christ? By the way we love. He calls us to love unselfishly and to sacrifice for others. Now this kind of love has to extend beyond the the four walls of this church.  It has to extend beyond this Holy Mass. Jesus calls us to love in a way that shows the world - through our actions - that we are disciples of Christ. In the week ahead, If you have a quiet moment, and I know those are not easy to come by, I want you to reflect on how you show God’s love to others. Can you be more sensitive to the needs of others? Can you be more willing to patiently listen to those in distress? Can you be brave enough to speak out against injustice when it occurs? And can you do these things in a spirit of love? Loving in this way, as Jesus did, gives glory to God. It is how Jesus loves. It’s like our gospel writer was known to say, “Little children, love one another.” Because as he said so well - what else is there?