Yesterday we remembered and celebrated Pope John XXIII, now St. John XXIII, Pope, a.k.a. Good Pope John.

Here is my Homily Cycle I 10-11-19 based on the Readings: Ezekiel 34:11-16 and John 21:15-17.

In the scriptures Ezekiel tells us that the Lord will lead His people, provide rich pastures for them, seek out the lost and will judge them.  

The Lord Jesus Christ, true God and true man asked Peter 3 xs “Do you love me?”  Jesus didn’t do that to embarrass Peter, but to draw

Peter closer to Him and to continue to prepare Peter for role as leader of the Church.  God’s Kingdom will prevail and Jesus’ Resurrection proves that.

As we celebrate & remember Pope John XXIII, let’s reflect on 5 things about him:

1. He was asked once how many people worked in the Vatican; he replied about half of them.

2. He wrote the encyclical Pacem en Terris, [Peace on Earth], promulgated on April 11, 1963 shortly before the Cuban Missile Crisis. (October 1963)

3. During WW II he helped save 24,000 Jewish people.

4. He most outstanding quality was his “ordinariness”, his humility. 

5. He called the Second Vatican Council. (10/11/65 to 12/08/65)

The Second Vatican Council promulgated Four Constitutions and 12 other important documents.

https://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2012/second-vatican-council-approved-16-documents.cfm

Pope [EMERITUS] Benedict XVI wrote the most important & essential message of that council is "the Paschal Mystery as the center of what it is to be Christian …." [Catholic Encyclopedia]

Pope John XXIII said, “It is not that the Gospel has changed; it is that we have begun to understand it better.” 

He, also, wrote, “We often hear it said that our present difficulties are immense & that, besides encouraging good, we should be busy opposing evil.  There is some truth in this, the essential thing to know is how to respond wholeheartedly to the Lord’s call….  Our souls are still living flames, we can still radiate the truth to spread the Kingdom of Christ and the virtues which belong to it. [The Magnificat, October 11, 2019, p.169-170]

The 2^nd Vatican Council taught that the Eucharist is “the Source & Summit” of our life.  That teaching is in our Catechism (#1324) today & it reflects what the Apostles taught & believed.

The Scripture message is profound yet simple, Love God be nourished by prayer and the Eucharist; Do good and avoid evil and God will take care of the rest.

May God Be Praised!