St Joseph Homily April 23rd, 2023
Introduction: Sink into the Resurrection. Everything has changed. St Augustine famously wrote, ‘Our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.’ Is there still a little restlessness inside of you that - in this Mass needs to be addressed - with a healing grace? Perhaps we can paraphrase the quote in this way, “Lord, I am restless still, I need your grace, I want to be at peace. Help me.”
I have witnessed something extraordinary in this parish over the last month. Miracle after miracle. Fr Stephen Ellis when he spoke to us during the Lenten Retreat spoke about the Holy Spirit’s healing power. I believe there have been 100’s of stories unfolding before us. People have been coming to St Joseph’s to encounter Jesus in the healing sacrament of Confession. People have been coming here for the first time and finding a home. People have been coming with broken hearts and finding the door open and a friendly smile, ‘come in, you are welcome here.’
I have seen our teenagers happy to spread the message of the Gospel and learn from the wisdom of our seniors. Perhaps one of the highlights of the Mission was ‘witnessing’ the moment of sharing from the missionaries on Holy Saturday. An inter-generational encounter with Jesus. The joy, the smiles, and the laughter. It was something to behold. And I see that same joy after Masses on Sundays, people are happy to see each other or being acquainted with a new friend. This is what I mean when I say let yourself ‘Sink into the Resurrection. Everything has changed’.
And he said to them, “O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! At the beginning of every Mass, we recognize that we are sinners in need of conversion. “I confess to you my brothers and sisters…” There is something all-together wholesome when we recognize - we can’t do it alone. In this phrase of Our Lord, ‘O foolish of heart’ he is addressing all of us. We are all slow of heart to believe what the prophets foretold. In a more modern way of saying it, ‘we are our own worst enemy.’ Don’t be surprised by this, we are all in it together, if you haven’t noticed - I to say, ‘I confess…’. St Therese of the Child Jesus says something so beautiful about this. “The remembrance of my weakness is so constantly present to me that there is no room for vanity.”
So, can you recall a time in your life that you abandoned God, or walked away from him? Was it during your college years? Or perhaps when you were a teenager. Were you born into a non-practicing family? Or even more commonly than all this, a time when you were mad with God because of a tragedy that happened in your family? Whatever the case may be, now you are sitting in this Church. What happened? Am I to correctly guess that just like these two disciples walking away from Jerusalem - Jesus came and walked beside you?
It’s an appropriate moment to pause and remember that time. Somehow God caught up with you and your eyes were opened when this or that person spoke the truth to you for the first time. The scales fell from your eyes, and you could see again.
This is your sacred story. People, events, anniversaries, world changing events (9/11, World Wars, famine-stricken countries, massive migration of peoples). Our story is sacred and as we continue to delve into these two disciples - have your story close at hand.
When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened…
Shortly we will all be focused on the altar and the words of the priest, ‘this is my body…this is my blood…do this in memory of me.’ I would like to invite everyone here to see the Eucharist with eyes like these two disciples. ‘It’s Lord, Jesus, he’s back, he’s risen, he’s here, he is telling me all of this is true.’
We have come to Mass thousands of times during our lives, and the danger for us veteran Catholics is that we grow accustomed to it. It no longer calls us into the deep, the deep mystery of his unique and powerful love.
“Lord Jesus, open my eyes. Lord Jesus, let me see you. Lord Jesus, as we enter the third week of Easter I give you my hands, my feet, and my heart, do with me as you will. I am all yours.”
Your story is a sacred story. You know there have been times you have fallen into foolishness, folly and sin and you have parted ways with the Lord, but today because your heart has burned within you as you heard the scriptures, you are ready to go back to your Jerusalem and tell your brothers and sisters that he is alive.
And my advice to you is, go back together! As a couple, go home and together work on creating the spirit of the resurrection there. If you are a young professional, return to your work on Monday ready to lead people to God. If you are a teenager, don’t turn away from the Lord, rather use all your creativity to make him known. Boys and girls, enjoy your life. Don’t try and grow old too early. Be child-like because the Kingdom of God made up of people like you!
I share with you a true story that happened over Sacred Triduum and Easter about Robert Taylor.
I visited a total of 6 times. The first three I was unable to wake him up. He is close to death after a long life. On the fourth visit we made eye contact. On the fifth visit we made plans to receive the sacrament of confession and the Eucharist. The sixth visit he was Confirmed and chose the name St Michael the Archangel. Two things happened right after the Confirmation which I will never forget. He told me he wanted to forgive the nurse that had treated him poorly that morning! Secondly, he wanted to me to Confirm another patient down the corridor from him. Thirdly and lastly, he asked me to stay and pray the Our Father with him.
To all our students getting to read to receive your Confirmation. May Robert’s sacred story encourage you to be ambassadors of Jesus in this world in which you live. Follow Robert’s example, forgive and bring others to know Jesus!