April 15, 2018

Third Sunday of Easter B Acts 3: 13-15, 17-19; 1 John 2: 1-5; Luke 24: 35-48 Today is tax day. It has been engrained into our minds. Some view it with fear…some with what can I do to get away with paying what I don’t want to…Is Uncle Sam after me? My mom was born 4/15/03…I would kid her in later years saying, ‘Mom, you’re the reason we have taxes.’ She never responded to this, just smiled. The theme of the readings today could put us in an uncomfortable position by asking how we view ourselves in God’s sight. Do we consider ourselves sinners or saints? Franciscan Media’s Sunday Homily Helps for today starts out with an Attention-Getter which does exactly that…it made me think in writing todays thoughts. “Are you a sinner or a saint? Perhaps both because each of us is probably a sinner and a saint. Scripture says ‘All sin and fall short of the glory of God.’ All means everyone—you and me. The holiest saints see their own imperfections.” Then it asks, “What image does our parish project? Are we a hotel for saints, a hospital for sinners, or a service station where we get filled up to spread the gospel? These are fantastic questions…When I go to Church: What am I in need of? What is being offered? What is God saying to me? How do I realize His love and live the life of love as His follower? I found that the readings drew me into very serious questions: do I take my need for repentance for granted? Do I presume just a little too much on the mercy of God? Peter in the Acts of the Apostles sets the scene. Jesus has risen and ascended. The Spirit has been promised and has come. On Pentecost, Peter explained what has happened. The people asked Peter and the other apostles, “What are we to do, my brothers? Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is made to you and to your children and to all those far off, whomever the Lord our God will call..” (Acts 2: 37-39) After this Peter went to the temple area and healed a man crippled from birth. Then Peter spoke the words that we heard in the first reading. How poignant they are: God loved Jesus whom “you handed over and denied in Pilate’s presence when he had decided to release Him.” What does this do to me? Often I picture myself as going along with the crowd…the crowd shouted out for Barabbas’ release and Jesus’ death. Would I have shouted this…ran away or what? “You denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you…Now I know that you acted out of ignorance…Repent, therefore and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away.” Do I feel that this was their sin and not mine? Peter offered this explanation not to condemn his audience but to offer them the forgiveness of sins. This is why Jesus died…to show us God’s immense love and the redemption of the human race, me among them. What am I doing with this? In the second reading, John tells me that God wants to have a relationship with each person. We are asked to believe the truth about Jesus and live according to that truth. John gets specific, “The way we may be sure that we know Him is to keep His commandments. Those who say, ‘I know Him,’ but do not keep His commandment are liars, and the truth is not in them. But whoever keeps His word, the love of God is truly perfected in them.” Reflecting on these two readings could make us uncomfortable. That is good. Each person is a person God created in love. God wants each person to know that they are loved. Now this is more than ‘nice’ words. They demand action…these are words that are to be lived. Am I a person of love as Jesus taught? Today’s Gospel from Luke makes reference to the disciples' previous experience with the risen Lord on the way to Emmaus. Today’s passage echoes what happened at Emmaus: 1) The risen Jesus appears miraculously bestowing the gift of peace. The disciples are terrified and unbelieving. 2) Jesus explains the Scriptures, how this all fits in and has always been God’s plan. 3) Jesus eats in front of His disciples confirming that He is alive and not a ghost. 4) The entire Christ event including His life, suffering, teachings, death and resurrection is part of the grand plan of God. Now God has commissioned the apostles, His followers, you and me to extend this work to all nations beginning from Jerusalem. We are to spread the Good News of God’s love. Am I living my role as apostle of Jesus? The image from Homily Helps made me stop and think. Asking what my parish is all about: is it a hotel for saints, a hospital for sinners, or a service station? I go to a hotel for rest and relaxation. I expect everything to be nice and clean. I expect service to be friendly and accommodating. I do not do any work…I am waited on…I don’t expect to be active…I’m a guest…I do not have a relationship with the people…I am better than that. Is this how I view my Church? Is this how I view the people who come to worship? Is this how I view my role as a priest celebrant? When I view the church as a hospital for sinners I come because I need forgiveness. All three readings talk of the mercy and forgiveness that God wants to give. All that is necessary is that I recognize my sins which are continual and ask for God’s forgiveness. How do I expect to be forgiven if I don’t ask? Is my church open to all who ask for forgiveness regardless of wealth, race or sexual orientation? Do I come for a spiritual ‘fill-up’? Do I come to church as a priest, or you as a participant in need? Do we come to worship? Do we come to get cleaned up in the penitential rite? Do we come to be filled with the Spirit? Do we come to share Christ with fellow believers? Do we then go out and bring Christ to others, to be Christ to others? So very often I take so much for granted. Today’s readings made me stop…reflect…and then make a plan for what I will do next. So I reflect on: • How do I see myself: sinner, forgiven a bit, or both, or…? • How can I participate in Mass with a greater awareness of God’s saving love? • Whenever Resurrection is experienced, true love is present IF I see myself as I really am and confront my failings. Also am I compassionate and forgive with hope and understanding? • One definition of a sinner is one who keeps on trying. DO I? • Homily Helps concludes, “The Eucharist is the best medicine. Jesus says that those who eat His flesh and drink His blood will have eternal life. There is no greater healing than this, and it is ours right here in this Mass—where saints and sinners are one.” Sacred Space 2018 shares: “‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you.’ Jesus has already spoken many words to me. But do I remember? Do I take them to heart? Jesus wants repentance and forgiveness of sins to be proclaimed—this is the astounding, world-changing news. Today I will ponder how to communicate to others the transformative power of repentance and forgiveness.