Homily: Fourth Wednesday of Easter
Fourth Wednesday of Easter (Acts: 12:24-13:5) “Yawl Come”
We can’t help but notice how free the early church was to move in new directions. What did they have to guide them? I often think about the fact that Jesus did not give the Apostles a blueprint to follow to build a church. He certainly did not describe the church as we have it today. He did not talk about bishops and cardinals and parishes, etc.
What did Jesus give the disciples to guide them? He gave them the Holy Spirit. How ministers were selected and where they were sent seems free flowing. We read in Acts today how hands were laid on Paul and Barnabas (a sign of ordination perhaps) and they were sent out. They were not sent to a specific place, but the way the story reads they walked out the door and decided when they started down the road. They were led by the spirit.
We find that after they are successful in their preaching and gentiles started to populate the church then the questions began. It was said once that it does not take long after a club or organization starts for the main issue to become who is in and who is out. This question was not the initial question that the early church asked.
What was goal of the early church? It was to bring as many people to the faith as possible in as short a time as possible. The earliest disciples of Jesus felt like he would return at any moment. The task they had was to convert as many people as they could.
After time passed and Jesus did not return the issues the church was concerned with changed. People needed a moral code to follow as they lived their Christian lives out over years rather than days. Being more selective about converts became more of a concern.
Maybe we have poured water on apostolic zeal because of this. We usually must ask today about things like marital status and whether people have a good reputation along with other parts of personal history. Jesus says, “I did not come to condemn, but to save.” We must remind ourselves of that, if we are going to follow the Holy Spirit in the present moment.
Reflection Questions:
- Should the church be more inclusive? In what way?
- Am I comfortable with moving with the Holy Spirit? When have I done this?
Dear Parishioners,
Yesterday was the Feast of St. Damian the Leper. Damian de Vuester was born in Belgium in 1840. He grew up in a poor family. It looked like he would be a tradesman or a farmer, but he felt called to the priesthood. He joined the Sacred Heart Missionaries. His brother did as well. Damian’s brother was to be sent to Hawaii, but plans changed at the last minute and Damian went in his place.
Hawaii was not a paradise. It was halfway across the world from Belgium. The native peoples who lived there struggled with all kinds of diseases. One of the diseases was leprosy. There was a leper colony on what was called Devils Island. The bishop asked for a priest to go there, and Damian volunteered. He lived the rest of his life with the lepers until he himself died of the disease. Damian became famous because of his courage and his Gospel simplicity.
I have asked St. Damian to pray for the success of our building program. I thought he could be an example of generosity and perseverance.
May Our Lady of Peace pray for us.
Fr. Mark