Homily Cycle A - 5/21/2023 A Little Good News
Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/052123-Sunday.cfm
In 1983
Anne Murray released a hit record “A Little Good
News”, the song enumerated many of the troubles of that
era: war, economic woes, murders, robberies, fires, etc. But one of the verses begged for some hope, “We sure could use a little good news today.”
Have
you ever felt like that? We face many of
those problems, and a host of others.
We, too,
want A Little Good News Today.
You are
here today for “Good News” and to be fed
with the “Bread of Life”, to be nourished on
God’s Word and God’s Eucharist. Listen to this vignette, “Making Anyone Laugh”. One of America’s great humorist, Will Rogers could
make anyone laugh. President Calvin
Coolidge had the reputation of never laughing.
Rogers
was invited to visit the White House and … the president's assistant brought
Rogers into the Oval Office and said, "President
Coolidge, this is Will Rogers.”
Then turning to Mr. Rogers said, “this is
President Coolidge." The
quick-witted Will Rogers leaned forward & said, "I'm
sorry. I didn't catch the name."
President
Coolidge cracked up and started laughing.
Some
people are quick in sports, some quick intellectually, some with music, with a
verbal comebacks or retorts, others quick with the
right thing to say. [Adopted from Sermons.com]
Jesus
said the right thing in today’s Gospel, [Good News], “Now
this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one
whom you sent, Jesus Christ.” In our Responsorial Psalm we prayed, that
we would dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life and that we
would see the Lord in the land of the living.
One
might say that this Psalm 27,
has Good News that each of us seeks, hope that
in the end we will be with the Lord. In the Gospel, as you know, Jesus
prays that one day we will be with Him in heaven, in the “land of the living.”
In our
reading from the Acts of the Apostles we learned that Mary, the Apostles and
some of the other followers of Jesus devoted themselves to prayer. That is an important lesson for us, to make
prayer the center of our lives.
Listen
to this story about a Toddler who wouldn’t stop sucking his thumb. His Mom and Dad were at the end of their
rope, they tried many different things: a new tricycle, new puzzle, no dessert
and no tv before bed; nothing worked.
Finally,
in desperation Mom said if you don’t stop
sucking your thumb you stomach is going to blow up. It worked, a few days later they were food
shopping and the toddler saw a woman who was 8 & ½ months pregnant. He stared and stared at her, finally the
woman said to him, young man, “Do I know you?” He replied, “No Mam, I don’t know
you, But I know what you been doing.!”
Sometimes
it is difficult to change our habits, the way we usually do things. Today’s Scripture Readings Challenge us to
look at what we do, why we do it and make sure what we do is for God. We are on this earth to Live the Gospel
Message!
Mary
and the Apostles learned for Jesus that prayer was essential and needed to be
central to their lives, it is the same for us.
Maybe this story, called “Last prayers” can
help us get prayer central in our lives.
Late morning is Amelia’s favorite time of the day. The Hospice volunteers have helped her get
washed and dressed, finished her breakfast.
The
volunteers move Amelia to her sun room where she is at peace. She fingers her rosary while looking at the
photographs of her children, and grandchildren covering her table.
These
photographs are her real prayer beads as she prays for each one individually,
for their needs and happiness. “Hold them all, O Lord, in Your hands …. Bless them as
you have blessed my husband and me these many years.” [Adopted for Table Talk, Cycle A,
p.106-107]
Today’s
Gospel is part of what is known as the high priestly prayer, Jesus prays for
the Church, He prays for you and for me.
Amelia prayed for her family, and may we learn for her, that prayer
should be central in our lives. “We sure could use a little good news today.” Fortunately,
no matter how heavy our crosses or how troubling the world around us is, Jesus
promised, “I am always with you until the
end of time.”
For a few minutes, in silence, reflect on the
place of prayer in your life.
May God Be Praised.
