There is religious confrontation everywhere. Today, over 2000 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus, people are still be martyred for their belief in the Son of God. If you search the Internet for Catholic news and information you now find more and more conflict among those of the same faith. Comments and rebuttals are mean spirited and confrontational.
Just over a week ago we hear and read of the decision by the Supreme Court to redefine the definition of marriage. As a parent and grandparent, I cannot help but wonder that the rights and freedoms I now enjoy will be the same for my children and grandchildren. Will they be able to practice their faith as we do today or will their faith be governed by secular law.
The good things even remind us of how much change will be needed by the inhabitants of our world. Pope Francis recently released his encyclical on the environment. It is a very thought provoking document and is presented in words that are meant to inspire us not condemn us. I, as a parent and grandparent, cannot help but be anxious. I wonder what type of world we are leaving our children and grandchildren. Will the environment be one that is representative of the world God created for Adam and Eve or will it be one of heat and decay.
There is a silver lining to all these things that seem to threaten our faith. It is the joy that comes from serving God and being true to his teachings.
I just finished watching a TV series called A.D. The Bible Continues. It is a fictionalized account of the Acts of the Apostles. Though the series is based on writings from the Acts of the Apostles, it adds conversations and conflicts that can only be speculated upon. We see and hear of the things that we read in the Bible, the Apostles frightened, scared and in hiding. The Holy Spirit descends upon them on what we now call Pentecost Sunday. The Apostles have more confidence but they still do not know what to do. They are unsure of how to spread the teachings of Jesus. They form alliances with each other, militant groups and the temple priest. The Apostles are not spiritually lost but they wander aimless from one idea to another never acting on any one idea.
I said the show speculated on many things. This speculation does not bother me though. We are all human, the Apostles are ordinary men, not born Saints and the show tried to portray this. The Apostles probably had some of the same concerns and doubts we have today. The Apostles were in disarray. I can imagine them talking among themselves, trying to figure out what Jesus had commissioned them to do when he said,
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations.”
Jesus told them what to do but not how to do it. We do know that over time the Apostle begin to understand what their commission meant. The Apostles first continued to recall the teachings of Jesus.
Through pray, discernment among themselves and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide them, the Apostles learned how to spread the good news of Jesus. They allowed the Holy Spirit to work in them and play a greater part in their lives. As their own expectations and goals became secondary to God's, the Apostles came out of hiding and began to preach the words of Jesus. We do know what the television series did not speculate on; 12 ordinary men, chosen by Jesus, guided by the Holy Spirit, really did change the whole world.
In our readings today, we hear the Israelites are rebelling against God. They and their ancestors have revolted against his prophets and teachings. The same things the world seems to be doing today. In the Gospel we hear from those who have known Jesus all his life or know his family and thus cannot accept him as a prophet much less as the Son of God. Today we have those who deny the deity of Christ or that God even exist.
If we look past all these negative events, we find the joy that can come from the hardships placed upon our faith. We can use the example of the Apostles to chart a course through our changing world. First we must let go of our expectations and desires just as the Apostles did. We must allow the Holy Spirit guide us to the desires that God has for us.
There is another thing to consider. Jesus knows that not all will have the faith. He sees this in his own native town but he continues to teach. The conflicts we face today are not new, they have been around since the time of the Old Testament. Jesus made sure we would have the tools to persevere when our faith is tested.
Jesus established his Church. He sent the Holy Spirit to guide his Church and people. We have the joy that comes from the knowledge and faith of a Church that has been guided by the Holy Spirit for over 2000 years.
We have been given the Sacrament to help through all stages of our life. The sacrament of Baptism makes us Priest, Prophet and King. We receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit from the Sacrament of Confirmation. By these sacraments we are called to joyfully go out and evangelize to a World, A world that may not want to hear our message.
Faith in the risen Lord has been, is being and will always be our test. We know the Apostles were tested even unto death. Listen to Paul as he writes to the Corinthians:
Through pray, discernment among themselves and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide them, the Apostles learned how to spread the good news of Jesus. They allowed the Holy Spirit to work in them and play a greater part in their lives. As their own expectations and goals became secondary to God's, the Apostles came out of hiding and began to preach the words of Jesus. We do know what the television series did not speculate on; 12 ordinary men, chosen by Jesus, guided by the Holy Spirit, really did change the whole world.
In our readings today, we hear the Israelites are rebelling against God. They and their ancestors have revolted against his prophets and teachings. The same things the world seems to be doing today. In the Gospel we hear from those who have known Jesus all his life or know his family and thus cannot accept him as a prophet much less as the Son of God. Today we have those who deny the deity of Christ or that God even exist.
If we look past all these negative events, we find the joy that can come from the hardships placed upon our faith. We can use the example of the Apostles to chart a course through our changing world. First we must let go of our expectations and desires just as the Apostles did. We must allow the Holy Spirit guide us to the desires that God has for us.
There is another thing to consider. Jesus knows that not all will have the faith. He sees this in his own native town but he continues to teach. The conflicts we face today are not new, they have been around since the time of the Old Testament. Jesus made sure we would have the tools to persevere when our faith is tested.
Jesus established his Church. He sent the Holy Spirit to guide his Church and people. We have the joy that comes from the knowledge and faith of a Church that has been guided by the Holy Spirit for over 2000 years.
We have been given the Sacrament to help through all stages of our life. The sacrament of Baptism makes us Priest, Prophet and King. We receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit from the Sacrament of Confirmation. By these sacraments we are called to joyfully go out and evangelize to a World, A world that may not want to hear our message.
Faith in the risen Lord has been, is being and will always be our test. We know the Apostles were tested even unto death. Listen to Paul as he writes to the Corinthians:
"…a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan,
to beat me, to keep me from being too elated.
Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me,
but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you,
for power is made perfect in weakness.”
Today many of us feel a thorn has been placed in our side. This is when God expects us to glorify his name. His power and his love should shine through each of us in our times of weakness.
Paul continues to write:
"Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults,
hardships, persecutions, and constraints,
for the sake of Christ;
for when I am weak, then I am strong."
Paul is telling us that now is time to be most joyful and strong. We must allow Christ to sustain us and uplift our faith for the entire world to see. It is our opportunity to show our love for God and we do this with and in joy, a joy that radiates from our hearts for the entire world to see. This joy comes from our faith in Jesus.
Our faith is more than just a creed we recite. The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes faith as a free response of the human person to the initiative of God who reveals himself. This response is an interaction between God and man. Our faith is a living interaction that radiates trust.
Consider the people of Jesus’ own town. They did not trust him or have faith in him. There was no interaction thus no “mighty deed” could be performed. It is only when we put our trust in God will good prevail. Though we may not see it, the thorn we feel in our side can be a time of joy.
We have been given a wonderful opportunity to truly show our faith in Christ by the way we carry the cross the world seems so intent on placing upon us. Pope Francis has spoken of this very joy:
Our faith is more than just a creed we recite. The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes faith as a free response of the human person to the initiative of God who reveals himself. This response is an interaction between God and man. Our faith is a living interaction that radiates trust.
Consider the people of Jesus’ own town. They did not trust him or have faith in him. There was no interaction thus no “mighty deed” could be performed. It is only when we put our trust in God will good prevail. Though we may not see it, the thorn we feel in our side can be a time of joy.
We have been given a wonderful opportunity to truly show our faith in Christ by the way we carry the cross the world seems so intent on placing upon us. Pope Francis has spoken of this very joy:
“Christians are joyful; they are never gloomy. God is at our side.
Jesus has shown us that the fate of God is that of a loving Father.
Sin and death have been defeated. Christians cannot be pessimists!
They do not look like someone in constant mourning.
If we are truly in love with Christ and if we sense how much he loves us,
Our hearts will ‘light up’ with a joy that spreads to everyone around us.”
So when we leave Mass today do so with peace and Joy. Know the peace that comes from the knowledge that God loves and cares for each of us. Feel the joy the comes from the opportunity we have to return that love.
I close with the words from the Collect we heard at the beginning of the Mass as it speaks of this very thing:
I close with the words from the Collect we heard at the beginning of the Mass as it speaks of this very thing:
O God, who in the abasement of your Son
have raised up a fallen world,
fill your faithful with holy joy,
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