Homily Cycle B 5/16/2021

 

Homily Cycle B 5/16/2021 - 7th Sunday of Easter

Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/051621-Sunday.cfm

We are going to focus on two themes: prayer and departure.  Today’s Gospel is often referred to as Jesus Farewell Discourse.  Jesus gives the Apostles His final instructions while He was with them here on earth, then He prays “Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one.”

Jesus asks the Father to protect the disciples and prays that they [and we] would be one.  Jesus wants us to be in the world, but not of the world.  We are called us to bring The Gospel Message to the world, “… today’s Gospel is a reminder to be confident in faith, knowing that God is present in the world.”  [America Magazine, 4/22/2021, Jaime Waters]

As disciples we are to remain in Faith despite the tumultuous world we live in.  In our 1^st reading the Apostles chose Matthias to replace Judas.  Have you ever been chosen?  Have you ever been passed over?  Can you can identify with both Matthias and Justus, one chosen, one not chosen.

 

You have been chosen by God to follow Jesus in this life and be with Him in the next.  In our Responsorial Psalm we were reminded that, “The Lord has set His throne in heaven.”  The Lord - is Lord of heaven and earth, our Savior has conquered the world.  Jesus offers us the way to eternal life; this world is temporary; His world is eternal.

Jesus prepared the Apostles for His DEPARTURE, telling them He will not leave them alone; the Holy Spirit will descend upon them to guide and help them [& us].  Departing from a family visit, a funeral or a wonderful family vacation is difficult.

What is the best way to deal with DEPARTURES?

1.    Be grateful for the gift of the visit, the person who died, or the family members who were on vacation with you.

2.    Be prayerful, acknowledge God the Creator is also, God of our journey.

Prayer is an essential element of our earthly journey, it offers us: peace, joy and love.  When we pray, we need to listen to what the psalmist teaches us, “If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.”

St. Francis de Sales said, “Go to Prayer in Faith.  Remain there in Hope.

Go out only by love.”  Most people want peace, to find peace you must give our heart, soul and will to God, to be molded and lead by God.

 

Pope Francis commented, “Prayer is what keeps the faith; without it, faith wavers.”  Seeking Holiness is the reason we were created and put on earth.

Prayer is the road to Holiness.  However, seeking Holiness causes us to be in TENSION with our culture.  Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and as our faith forms us, and we should inform our culture.

Jesus prayed for the apostles and for us to continue His work of peace and mercy.  By living Christ’s compassion, we can help those who are hurting, those struggling with loss or injustice.  Each act of kindness we do, proclaims the Gospel of the Risen Lord.

We are called to inform the culture we live in, while not allowing the culture to take us away from the Lord.  Each one of us will depart this world some day and hopefully our prayer will lead us home, to our eternal home.

How do your departures and your prayer life inform and form your life as a disciple of Jesus?

 

St. Joseph, pray for us.

Saint Andre Bessette intercede for us.

May God Be Praised!