Today’s gospel reading may sound familiar. It was read the week after Easter. I did not want to repeat myself too much so I reread my homily for that day. This is not for the faint of heart. There was something wrong with it and it was at first hard to define exactly what that was. The interpretation of the scriptures was fine, the examples were good and phrasing acceptable. But then I remembered a quip by the famous British Catholic wit G K Chesterton. When asked by a newspaper to answer the question what is wrong with the world. He answered, “I am what is wrong with the world.’ What is wrong with that homily? I am what was wrong with that homily.

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We began this week with a senseless killing of a man on a subway many of us use, going to brunch, which many of us do. It continued with the murder of young children and their teachers in a school in Texas. This is after the racially motivated killings in Buffalo the week before and the background violence of the suicides of working-class white men and gay teens of all colors. There is a dispiritingly futile debate on why this is and what can be done. Can we as Christians add something beyond echoing the horror? 

I think we can, and St. John today shows us both what we have to offer and why we may not do it. But before we get to St. John, let us look at St. Paul and then what we mean by love.

Continue reading “7th Sunday of Easter – Homily (Fr. Smith)” →

When I made my first will as a young priest, I was asked if I wanted to add a testament. It took a moment to realize that the lawyer wondered if I had any words of wisdom to impart. I did not and alas still do not, but others have both in American history and in the Bible. We have been reading the most famous biblical example for the several weeks at Mass. It is usually called the Farewell Discourse, but it follows the form of a classic testament.  

These were given by a teacher or patriarch to those whom he is leaving behind. It includes the announcement of departure, final instructions, warnings about the future and advice about potential dangers. The most important section was, then, as now, his legacy to those he left behind.  What would comfort and support his family or followers? That was what the disciples were waiting for, and we hear it today. 

Continue reading “Homily – 6th Sunday of Easter (Fr. Smith)” →

The Sunday Mass readings after Easter challenge us prove that we know that new life is given to us through Jesus’ resurrection. This newness should be seen not only in our personal lives and within the confines of our Church but in the world around us. The recent nationwide discussion on abortion has shown how little effect the resurrection has had, although not perhaps for the reason we might think. 

Jesus has given us the commandment to love one another. This sounds warm and comforting until we read the next sentence;” As I have loved you, you should love one another”. This makes this a new commandment. He is telling his disciples this in the upper room at the last supper. He has just washed his disciples’ feet, a sign of unimaginable humility. As we read last week with the good shepherd, he has told us that putting the needs of others ahead of our own is so important that it may require giving up our lives. This he, God himself, will do after he leaves the room and goes to his death. The new commandment is to love like Jesus, to assume sacrifice and suffering for the good of others. 

Continue reading “5th Sunday of Easter – Homily (Fr. Smith)” →

This year Mother’s Day occurs on the 4^th Sunday of Easter. It is often called Good Shepherd Sunday. Every year we read about the Good Shepherd from the 10th Chapter of St John’s Gospel. This is fitting as the closest example of Good Shepherding is Mother love. To see this, let us examine the text itself and although we will begin in the ancient holy land we will end in contemporary South Asia.

This section of John’s Gospel follows a dispute between Jesus and the Pharisees. He has cured the man born blind on a sabbath. Covering their jealousy with piety they condemned Jesus for breaking the sabbath. Indeed, they not only threaten Jesus but also the cured man and his family. Jesus tells these enlightened leaders that they were blind. He then talks about shepherds.

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This section of John’s gospel is an epilogue. It is clearly added on to the body of the gospel by a disciple of John’s. Let us call him the evangelist. Virtually all scholars think that he got he got the theology right but some think that he lost the tone. It is admittedly anti-climactic. In just the past few weeks we have read the washing of the feat, the Passion, the resurrection, and last week the extremely dramatic appearance to St Thomas. Yet the Gospel will end with a fish fry and a gentle rebuke of Peter. This is intended and perfect.

No matter how dramatic the events of our lives, there comes a time that we must get back to work. This is what Peter, and the others are doing today. It is in the middle of their regular work that Jesus calls to them. He changes this common task into an opportunity for spreading the good news or more simply to evangelize. At his word and instruction, they filled their nets to overflowing but as John mentions the net did not break. Responding to Jesus is always fruitful but never more than what we can handle. He then invites them to join him for a meal. Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish: we are meant to see a connection with the multiplication of the loaves and the fish and overtones of the Eucharist. Continue reading “3rd Sunday of Easter – Homily (Fr. Smith)” →

On June 15^th, 2015, Dylann Roof a white supremist entered Emmaual Baptist church in Charleston, SC and cold bloodily killed nine African American members attending Bible study. At a bond hearing the daughter of one of the victims said to him “I will never talk with her ever again. I will never be able to hold her again. But I forgive you,” This reflected the general feeling of the congregation was controversial. Some people felt that it was too easy. The immediate response of forgiveness may in fact have been psychologically dangerous allowing deeper ressentiments to go “underground” that would emerge later and disturb their peace. It also could seem as if this were a crime without consequence reflecting the deep-seated racism of our nation and culture. 

There is some truth in this especially if we believe that peace is keeping things in their proper place. This is the peace the world can give, and it is the best we can give ourselves. Yet Jesus has told us that there is a peace the world cannot give. This peace is not keeping things in their proper place but by disturbing the peace by creating a new way of being human.  

Today’s Gospel reveals this peace which Jesus had previously told his disciples he alone can give. (John 14:27). Perfect peace for the Jews was Shalom. Harmony between God and humanity, humans ourselves and humanity and nature. They did not expect this until the Messiah brought the Kingdom and began the rule of God. They expected armies of angels to herald this event but although they thought Jesus at very least the Messiah “he showed them his hands and his side” not angelic choirs This was proof that it was the same Jesus who died not his ghost and that his sacrifice of himself was accepted by God. He brought a new covenant and new relationship binding God and all humanity. Their reaction was joy, the emotion that recognizes the presence of God. They were disciples – one who follows – but were to be apostles – one who is sent. This they cannot do unaided, so he breathes on them as he breathed on the water at creation and forms his people, his church, his very presence in the world. There are many gifts and power which come with this, but John strategically emphasizes forgiveness of sins.  

Continue reading “2nd Sunday of Easter – Homily (Fr. Smith)” →