Homily: Memorial of St. Vincent de Paul

Readings:  1 Cor 1:26-31; Psalm 112; Mt 9:35-38

A wonderful day today, the memorial of our parish’s patron saint, St. Vincent de Paul, who devoted his life and ministry to serving the poor and the forgotten, and had a lasting impact throughout the world. How blessed we are that he intercedes for the good of our parish and the needs of our community.

Back in May of 1985, on a business trip to Europe, I spent a weekend in Paris. It wasn’t planned as a pilgrimage, but it kind of turned into one. I visited Notre Dame Cathedral and Sacre-Coeur, but I also went to the Lazarists Mission where the remains of St. Vincent de Paul are interred. His remains are inside a waxy effigy that’s not easy to find, but I’d been tipped off in advance and so managed to find the saint.

As I spent a few minutes in prayer, I noticed the small crucifix in his hands. Later I was told by a friend that Vincent was called to the bedside of King Louis XIII in May 1643 and held that crucifix before the eyes of the dying king. That this man, so devoted to the poor and dispossessed, should have been called to the bedside of the king tells us much of the effect Vincent had on every element of French society. St. Vincent’s deep love for the poor was not so exclusive that he couldn’t assist a king in his dying hour. As St. Paul reminded us in today's reading:

“God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong, and God chose the lowly and despised of the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something…” [1 Cor 1:27-28]

You can be sure Vincent reminded the dying king that he would leave this world powerless and in poverty, and yet would still be showered by the Father’s love. After all, at the very heart of the Gospel are those words from John, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son…” [Jn 3:16] -- precious words that reveal to us the cost to the Father’s heart: ‘He gave…”

This shouldn’t surprise us, here in a parish dedicated to this remarkable saint, who mirrored God’s loving care for those forgotten by the world. We, then, are called to be a community of love, a work in progress, with a heart that strives to emulate Vincent and serve all who come to us in need.

The love in St. Vincent’s heart, and I hope in ours as well, is the same love of God Paul told the Romans “has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us” [Rom 5:5]. Yes, indeed, it’s the Holy Spirit who works through us to do God’s work in the world. And that’s what we must always remember…

As the Psalmist reminds us: Non nobis, Domine, non nobis…Not to us, Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory. It’s God’s work, not ours. It’s for God’s glory, not ours. You and I must draw our inspiration and strength, just as St. Vincent did, from Jesus Christ crucified, from Jesus whose Good News broke down the barriers that separate us, making peace by the Blood of His Cross.

I have a feeling that St. Vincent, were he here with us today, would just say one word to us: “More!” Not more for ourselves, but more for the poor, the forgotten of the world…more justice for them, more time for them, food for the hungry, healing for the suffering, more love. Because St. Vincent recognized Jesus’ presence in the poor, he would ask us not only to do more, but also to do all with the gentleness and love of Jesus.

He was motivated, not by politics or sociology or any human cause, but by the love he had for the person of Jesus Christ. As St. Vincent often said, “Nothing pleases me but in Jesus Christ.”

And like Jesus in today’s Gospel passage from Matthew, St. Vincent was always on the move, always sharing God’s love with those who most needed to experience it, always sharing God’s Word with those who most needed to hear it.

Jesus’ plea in the Gospel echoes through the centuries. The harvest today is even more abundant and there are certainly not enough laborers. Far too many Christians seem to believe only the clergy and religious are called to do God’s work in the world. But in truth we’re all called to serve, to serve others, and to witness to Jesus, every single one of us. As the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council instructed the laity:

“They are consecrated for the royal priesthood and the holy people, not only that they may offer spiritual sacrifice in everything they do, but also that they may witness to Christ throughout the world.”

Here the Fathers simply followed the command of Jesus who, right before His Ascension, told the disciples:

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" [Acts 1:8].

Yes, indeed, Jesus calls each of us, so that through the Holy Spirit we can make disciples, and serve, and witness wherever we are, in Wildwood, in The Villages, and to the ends of the earth.

  

Homily: Saturday, 3rd Week of Easter

Reading: Acts 9:31-42; Ps 116; Jn 6:60-69
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 "Do you also want to leave?" Simon Peter answered Him: "Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life" [Jn 6:67-68].

Yes, the Apostles stayed with Jesus, but on that day in Capernaum, after hearing these words, many of Jesus' disciples walked away, unable to accept this hard teaching on the Eucharist. And what a teaching it was...

"Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day" [Jn 6:53-54].

Jesus' words created a rift, one that today, 2,000 years later, hasn't narrowed. How sad for those who do not believe, who are unable to accept Jesus' teaching on His Real Presence. It's sad because they are unable to experience the power of the Eucharist in their lives. 

How did the fathers of the Second Vatican Council describe the Eucharist?

''...the source and summit of the Christian life" [Lumen Gentium, 11].

"The source and summit" -- that covers it all, doesn't it? Can anything be more powerful?

A deacon friend of mine, who's a chaplain at a Catholic hospital, told me about a time he was asked to give a hospital tour to a wealthy woman who had donated a substantial amount of money.

She wasn't a Catholic so when they entered the chapel, he explained the significance of the red sanctuary light and the presence of the Blessed Sacrament in the Tabernacle. She asked him if he really believed that Jesus Christ was present there under the appearance of bread.

Of course, he said, "Yes."

She just shook her head and said, "If I believed that, I'd never be able to tear myself away from this room."

Oh, yes, how we take for granted so many of the graces and blessings we receive daily from God.

It wasn't too long ago - the time of my grandparents - when it was customary for people to receive the Eucharist only on Sundays and feast days. It was St. Pius X who flung open the tabernacles of the world.

During the days of our patron, St. Vincent de Paul, there was a movement to do just the opposite: to permanently close all the tabernacles. The Jansenists of France had persuaded large numbers of people that few, if any, were worthy to receive the Eucharist. They believed, too, that Christ did not die for all, but for just a favored few.

Fortunately, St. Vincent succeeded in convincing  Rome of the dangers of this heretical doctrine. Vincent saw the value of frequent Holy Communion, even if the Church at the time did not encourage people to receive Christ's Body and Blood with the frequency it does today.

The challenge to us, who have the joy and privilege of receiving the Eucharist frequently, is to keep our souls in a sense of wonder that the Bread of Life we eat here today is the same as that given to the Apostles at the Last Supper.

How did Jesus put it?

"I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst" [Jn 6:35].

Jesus says this to each of us as we receive Him during Holy Communion. As Pope Benedict once wrote: 

"It is the Lord who receives us and assumes us into Himself."

In other words, Christ doesn't become conformed to us; we become conformed to Christ.

But there's more. Because Eucharist is a sacrament, we also receive the Holy Spirit, the soul of Christ. If we are in a state of grace, then, the Trinity dwells within. Everything's there for us. 

What a marvelous gift! And what wonders it can work in our lives! With the Author of Life within us, we have absolutely nothing to fear. Death has no power over us.

After Communion Fr. Cromwell likes to lead us in that beautiful prayer -- Anima Christi or The Soul  of Christ -- a prayer attributed to St. Ignatius Loyola, 

Soul of Christ, sanctify me.

Body of Christ, save me.

Blood of Christ, inebriate me.

Water from the side of Christ, wash me...

Yes, indeed, brothers and sisters, the Last Supper is ongoing, still sanctifying, still saving. But we must pray for open hearts, that the world will come to recognize Jesus in this wondrous gift of the Eucharist.

We should pray, too, for ourselves, that we use this gift well, and bring Christ's Eucharistic presence to others. 

Homily: Wednesday. 25th Week in Ordinary Time

Readings: Proverbs 30:5-9; Psalm 119; Luke 9:1-6
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When Diane and I travel we always overpack. Hotel bellman cry out with prayers of thanksgiving for the expected tips. Yes, despite our best intentions we carry all sorts of baggage on our journey. It's certainly not very apostolic of us. 

For Jesus tells the apostles to take next to nothing! And do you know something? He tells us to do the same. You see, Jesus knew that the more we take on this journey of ours, the more we'll rely on those things and the less we'll rely on God. The less we rely on God, the harder it will be to see God in others, especially those who lack the material blessings we've been given. And I suspect the more we're encumbered with stuff, the harder it is for others to see God in us.

A few months ago, in a conversation with one of my fellow volunteers at the Wildwood Soup Kitchen, I remarked that the meal we were serving that day looked particularly appetizing. She just shrugged her shoulders and said, "I suppose so, but I really don't think much about food." Just then one of our guests, who had overheard her comment, said, "You would if you didn't have any."

What do you think? Did he see God in us that day? It's easy to overlook another's empty plate when our own is overflowing. Perhaps having too much to eat is worse than having too little. It tends to make us insensitive to those who hunger, and ungrateful to God for all His gifts.

Jesus invites us to rely on Him for everything we need, so we're not tempted to take credit for the good in our lives.

When He sent out the Apostles, He gave them something far more valuable than things. He gave them a companion and a message; he also gave them power and authority. He took away their transportation, their luggage, food, money, and extra clothes. He didn't make reservations for them at the Ritz Carlton, or the Holiday Inn, or even Motel 6. Instead he told them, "Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there" [Lk 9:4]

Too often we do exactly the opposite of what Jesus tells us, with predictable results. Why? Because we just don't trust God enough to do it His way.

This is a particularly fitting theme for our parish because tomorrow we celebrate the memorial of our patron, St. Vincent de Paul. Vincent was the epitome of trust. Like Mother Teresa, 300 years later, he placed total trust in God and achieved great things. Listen to what Vincent once said about trust:

"Free your mind from all that troubles you; God will take care of things. You will be unable to make haste in this (choice) without, so to speak, grieving the heart of God, because he sees that you do not honor him sufficiently with holy trust. Trust in him, I beg you, and you will have the fulfillment of what your heart desires."

St. Vincent knew poverty because he lived a life of poverty, and devoted himself and the orders he founded to helping the poor.

His life was an echo of today's reading from Proverbs: 

Put falsehood and lying far from me, give me neither poverty nor riches; provide me only with the food I need; lest being full, I deny you, saying, "Who is the Lord?" Or, being in want, I steal and profane the name of my God [Prv 30:8-9].

Yes, St. Vincent knew that "poverty of spirit" frees us from greed and preoccupation with possessions and gives God room to act in our lives.

The Lord wants us, His disciples, to be dependent on Him and not on ourselves - for then He will work through and in each of us for his glory. So, the question for us today is: Are we ready to handle the power and authority God wants us to exercise on His behalf? 

He entrusts us with His gifts and talents.  Are we eager to place ourselves at his service, to do whatever He asks, and to witness His truth and saving power to all He sends to us?