19th Sunday Homily--Working for a better world!
The story of the Irish immigration is filled with sorrow and faith. A people, held in poverty and servitude by the English and subjected to a form of de-population especially during the potato famine.
Hoping for a better life for themselves and their future generations, many fled to come to the USA.Here they faced anti-Catholic bigotry and prejudice, NINA…
Yet the impact of our Church and society remains to this day.
The Italians can repeat a similar story...does anyone know what “WOP” means?
My own great grandparents, fleeing the then Austro-Hungarian Empire in which their own language was forbidden, their rights revoked, came to this country They too hoped for a better life; and encountered anti-Catholic bigotry, the KKK. They persevered, they hoped for a better world and worked hard to provide for it.
So many people dream of a better world.
So many people hope for security for them and their children.
It is ingrained within us as human persons.
It is ingrained because we long for heaven here on earth, because we are God’s children.
We long for a world to be free as Children of God.
We are created and it is ingrained within us to work for a better world.
Our Church, despite the many critiques and often justified, has worked for this better world for all. Not always perfectly, but our mission has remained.
The early sciences done by the men and women of the monasteries, who were seeking out God’s wisdom in the created things of this world.
The church set up the schools, hospitals and orphanages to support people in need.
Saints speaking up against the oppression, even to this day, and killed by those threatened by it: Saint Oscar Romero!
And maybe we will not fulfill it in our lifetime, but we plant the seeds that will bear fruit for the future. Just as our own ancestors have done.
Seems to me a sin is to think too small and only of ourselves; worried about the “me, myself and I.”
I recently reheard an old tale that brings attention to this: A ship was sailing across the ocean filled with people. A man goes to his cabin, which is at the water line, and begins to cut a hole in the wall. People hear this and rush to the room to stop him. He says that he has the right, after all, he paid for the room.
It can be easy to be discouraged by what we hear and see in our world and country these days. Too many people chopping holes in their walls, not considering the community.
We see creation groaning, as too many pollute, waste and abuse it.
Too many denying that things are even wrong.
People wantonly destroying other human persons.
It can be easy to give up.
It can be difficult in seeing how being a faithful Catholic makes a difference.
Christ calls us to action!
Maybe my actions alone will not change the entire world or stop all the ice melting in Greenland, but it can help another person find some measure of security, help another person know they have value, worth and dignity.
I can remove one more piece of trash on the river.
My actions along with many others, as community, as church we can make a real change.
Being attentive, being AWAKE, this is our call.
Being grateful for what has changed in our world and lives for the better, this is our call.
Being aware of our history as a person, as a community, this is our call.
Eucharist calls us to this hope, this faith that God works in our world, that God is present in our world; that we are involved in this work.
This simple bread and wine become the real presence of the Son of God, the fullness of divinity; quietly, subtly, but oh so powerfully.
To be received with reverence, with openness, with willingness.
For those whose faith may be wavering, it reminds us that God is with us.
For those who faith is strong, communion reminds us to GO and make a difference for all.
For those who look for inspiration...look around at who believes and join together.
We see creation groaning, as too many pollute, waste and abuse it.
Too many denying that things are even wrong.
People wantonly destroying other human persons.
It can be easy to give up.
It can be difficult in seeing how being a faithful Catholic makes a difference.
Christ calls us to action!
Maybe my actions alone will not change the entire world or stop all the ice melting in Greenland, but it can help another person find some measure of security, help another person know they have value, worth and dignity.
I can remove one more piece of trash on the river.
My actions along with many others, as community, as church we can make a real change.
Being attentive, being AWAKE, this is our call.
Being grateful for what has changed in our world and lives for the better, this is our call.
Being aware of our history as a person, as a community, this is our call.
Eucharist calls us to this hope, this faith that God works in our world, that God is present in our world; that we are involved in this work.
This simple bread and wine become the real presence of the Son of God, the fullness of divinity; quietly, subtly, but oh so powerfully.
To be received with reverence, with openness, with willingness.
For those whose faith may be wavering, it reminds us that God is with us.
For those who faith is strong, communion reminds us to GO and make a difference for all.
For those who look for inspiration...look around at who believes and join together.
God the Father believes in us so much that he sent to us his beloved Son to Save the world.
The Father and Son send to us the Holy Spirit, transforming us to the fullness of God’s children so that we can work with our brother Christ, and continue this saving work…
To take the risk to love, to show compassion, mercy, to speak up for the dignity of all.
The Father and Son send to us the Holy Spirit, transforming us to the fullness of God’s children so that we can work with our brother Christ, and continue this saving work…
To take the risk to love, to show compassion, mercy, to speak up for the dignity of all.
To have faith. To Hope.
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