Excerpts from my Homily of 8-19-18
If someone asks you, “Why do you stay in the Catholic Church?” after the previous week, you might look at what the Apostles experienced in the life, betrayal, trial and passion, death and resurrection of Christ, to find an answer.
The Apostles saw Jesus do miracles that we could only ever hope to see: curing the sick, raising people from the dead, walking on water, calming the storm, healing lepers and feeding the multitude (let’s not forget turning water into wine). The Scriptures tell us that Jesus did, “many other things … but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written.”
Then they saw him betrayed by a kiss from Judas, one their own, sold out for 30 pieces of silver and given a sham trial by the religious leaders of the day. The religious leaders turned him over to the Romans who saw “no case against him”, but yielded to the mob who wanted him crucified. Amongst themselves, Peter denied he knew him three times. Most ran away, one so fast he left his tunic behind. The only ones who stood by his cross were his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, Mary of Magdala and John.
After his death the Apostles were in hiding. What did Jesus do? He appeared to them and showed them his wounds. He sent the Holy Spirit upon them like fire. The Fire of the Holy Spirit is purifying. They went forth and took the Gospel to the world. All of them (except for the Apostle John) gave their lives in witness to the Lord.
I received a bit of inspiration from Deacon Ming this past week. I had asked him to preach the Feast of the Assumption since it was his last day here before he went back to school. In light of the Grand Jury Report, I offered to preach. He said no and that he would not ignore this issue. In his Homily he essentially said you could leave or stay and build anew. He was staying and going back to school to finish his studies for the Priesthood.
We should ask the Lord once again to send the Holy Spirit upon us and purify us, renew us and send us forth once again to be faithful witnesses.