-Last Easter Sunday's homily is available by email
-The scriptures for this Sunday are at usccb.org>
-I am preaching at the 5:30 and the 11:00 Masses
Re-creation of Reconciliation
This scene in John's Gospel is the first "communal celebration of the Sacrament of reconciliation". Jesus finds the apostles dead in guilt, fear, and sadness. He breaks into the bomb shelter of their "death in sin".
He extends to them the peace of God - "everything is 'good' between them and God" - shalom.
Then he does something (the word is the same as the creation story) that only God is known for doing: breathing into dead clay and creating a "new life". That is the effect of the healing mercy of God - new life, God-like life, where there was the emptiness and dead of sin. And then he "sends them" to do it again and again.
The identity, means or the mode, and mission of the Church is revealed as breathing the Spirit of Jesus into those who are isolated, separated, and dead in their sins, guilt, and sadness and re-creating them into instruments of mercy, life, and love - the Body of the Resurrected Jesus.
Wow.. Is that what you think you're doing in your Christian life? Or...not so much. Let's get it going.
2 comments:
In this homily preparation, I am led to realize that despite the apostles' severe brokenness, not only were they healed, but in fact they were made stronger. Even with the pain in their hearts and the errors they made - once reconciled - they came out of it 'more whole' than they were before it all happened. That is truly grace at work - and a reminder that it's meant to be that way for us, too. Let us all say, "His mercy endures forever."
Keep preaching, Father, we really need to "get it" and slowly, slowly we will realize our identity. What strikes me is "again and again". This work is from here until our eternity, but I give into myself as far as tiredness, lack of trust, self-centeredness, etc. I know my identity is in Christ, but my identity is still too tied into myself.
Example: My son was not talking to me, he was angry, silent and sullen. I awoke and it was day three of this. Sigh. I texted my husband to say "Good morning. I love you." My son comes down the steps and he says, "Thanks for that." What??? Sure enough, I checked the text message, I had "accidentally" sent it to him. Those few words in a text breathed life back into us, and I realized in that instant I had not put forth enough mercy, life and love . . .blessed be God!
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