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Day: April 5, 2008

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Homilies,

Third Sunday of Easter

That very day, the first day of the week,
two of Jesus’ disciples were going
to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus

Christ is risen, alleluia!
He is truly risen, alleluia!

That very day, the first day of the week,
about a hundred of Jesus’ disciples were going
to a town called Latham.

That my brothers and sisters is us. So here we are, on the first day of the week.

Jesus himself drew near and walked with them,
but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.

We have a problem. That problem is our inability to recognize Jesus. When we try to recognize Jesus we often compartmentalize our recognition.

Some of us look to the clergy. They must surely represent Jesus. They have all the training, have Holy Orders, are leaders in our spiritual journey. I can see Jesus there. That works for all of about one second, until the clergy make mistakes. Till their humanity shines forth in all its brokenness. No Jesus there.

Some look to the poor. Surely Jesus is there. They are poor like Jesus, rejected like Jesus, and we are supposed to treat them like we would treat Jesus – the least of my brothers. That works for all of one second, until, in the face of our charity, they remain distraught in poverty and brokenness; till they blunder in not being thankful for our charity. No Jesus there.

Some look to secular leaders. They have power and might like Jesus. They are all for the common good like Jesus. Anyway, Jesus told us to render unto Caesar – He had no problem with government per se. Certainly government leaders talk about Jesus a lot. They have faith. That lasts for all of one second, until we see the corruption, the violence, and the selfishness of human power; till we see their words as a ruse. No Jesus there.

Some look to Jesus. Ok, He’s the One. He has it all down – and anyway He is completely perfect. After-all, He is God. Yep – that’s right, I’m looking to Jesus who is in heaven. When He comes on the clouds in all the glory of God, with trumpet blasts and smoke and fire and sits on the judges bench… Oh yeah, that. Maybe it would be better if I didn’t look there. No, no, that’s not my Jesus.

Brothers and sisters,

How do we recognize Jesus?

Look around you. The rich and poor, the powerful and weak, the employed, retired, and unemployed. Look at the person next to you and look at yourself. Look at this parish – from its priest, to the parish committee, to the organizations, to the pew dwellers. Jesus. There He is in those we agree and disagree with. In the meek and the know-it-alls. There He is. His image. Jesus.

With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him.

We have to live together, work together, and most importantly we have to start right here, this moment, in these pews facing this altar. In a few minutes Fr. Andrew, in the person of Jesus Christ will raise that bread – and Jesus will be here. Just prior to communion Fr. Andrew, in the person of Jesus Christ, will break that bread. We must stop – think – and recognize Christ here, among us, and in us.

My friends,

It starts and ends right here. The in-between stuff is hard. When we are about to slip and think – no Jesus there – stop! He is there and He is here. He is in the clergy, the poor, the powerful. He is there. He is in you. He is in us.

I urge you. Take Jesus out of the compartment. Take Jesus with you and see His image in each-other, in all those that we meet. Do not let doubt, hurt, or anything separate us from a member of this parish or from any other person. Start here, recognize Jesus, and walk out of here knowing that Jesus lives in and with us. Christ is risen, alleluia! He is truly risen, alleluia!

Amen.

Fathers, PNCC

April 5 – St. Ambrose of Milan from On the Belief in the Resurrection

Wherefore we propose, dearest brethren, to console ourselves with the common course of nature, and not to think anything hard which awaits all. And therefore we deem that death is not to be mourned over; firstly, because it is common and due to all; next, because it frees us from the miseries of this lie and, lastly, because when in the likeness of sleep we are at rest from the toils of this world, a more lively vigour is shed upon us. What grief is there which the grace of the Resurrection does not console? What sorrow is not excluded by the belief that nothing perishes in death? nay, indeed, that by the hastening of death it comes to pass that much is preserved from perishing. So it will happen, dearest brethren, that in our general exhortation we shall turn our affections to my brother, and shall not seem to have wandered too far from him, if through hope of the Resurrection and the sweetness of future glory even in our discourse he should live again for us.

Let us then begin at this point, that we show that the departure of our loved ones should not be mourned by us. For what is more absurd than to deplore as though it were a special misfortune, what one knows is appointed unto all? This were to lift up the mind above the condition of men, not to accept the common law, to reject the fellowship of nature, to be puffed up in a fleshly mind, and not to recognize the measure of the flesh itself. What is more absurd than not to recognize what one is, to pretend to be what one is not? Or what can be a sign of less forethought than to be unable to bear, when it has happened, what one knew was going to happen? Nature herself calls us back, and draws us aside froth sorrow of this sort by a kind of consolation of her own. For what so deep mourning is there, or so bitter grief, in which the mind is not at times relieved? For human nature has this peculiarity, that although men may be in sad circumstances, yet if only they be men, they sometimes turn their thoughts a little away from sadness.

It is said, indeed, that there have been certain tribes who mourned at the birth of human beings, and kept festival at their deaths, and this not without reason, for they thought that those who had entered upon this ocean of life should be mourned over, but that they who had escaped from the waves and storms of this world should be accompanied by rejoicing not without good reason. And we too forget the birthdays of the departed, and commemorate with festal solemnity the day on which they died. — Two Books on the Decease of His Brother Saytrus – Book II, para. 3-5.

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