Homily for the Week of May 12, 2013

7 Sunday of Easter, 2013 Acts 7:55-60 Psalm 97:1-2, 6-7, 9 Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20 John 17:20-26 Early in the winter of 1941, soldiers and sailors assigned to posts in Hawaii were enjoying life in that island paradise. They were conducting the usual military exercises, having drills, going on regular patrols. Ships were sailing in and out of Pearl Harbor, routinely searching for submarines but finding none. They then returned to port where most of the crew looked forward to liberty ashore with the usual golf matches, ball games, dating and partying. Suddenly, in the early hours of December 7, Pearl Harbor was attached, and everything changed. I bring this up today, not only because this weekend we remember those who fought and died in our country's wars, but because, like most of us, the military people serving Hawaii were preoccupied with the events of ordinary daily life. They did not give much thought to what was happening elsewhere or to what might lie in the future. War was certainly a possibility in the minds of those on that island, but it took this catastrophic event to make the possibility into a reality. The first followers of Jesus must have had a similar mind set. As they heard him preach throughout Galilee and Judea, they gradually became aware that fundamental changes in their lifestyle were coming if they continued to follow him. He warned of hardship and suffering. His closest friends and disciples heard him say on several occasions that enemies would seek to kill him. It was only when they witnessed his brutal arrest and execution, however, that they fully came to realize the meaning of those warnings. The Apostles undoubtedly listened carefully to the words of Jesus during what was to be their last supper with him. They heard him pray that they would continue to be faithful to him and to the Father whom he had revealed to them. He prayed that they, along with others who would come to believe, would be united in the love which he shared with them and with his Father. But it was not until after his death and resurrection that these remembered words took on their full significance. We are given today the story of Stephen, one of the disciples chosen as a deacon to carry out the charitable works of the early church. Stephen became the first in a long line of Christians who would die for their religion. Stephen became a follower of Jesus when he heard how loving Jesus was. In both word and action he showed his understanding of Christ's teaching. He believed that Jesus was truly a Jewish man but also God. Stephen was killed for believing this just as was Jesus. Paul became a follower of Jesus because of Stephen. In the gospel Jesus prays that all may be one, as you Father are in me and I in you. There is a story about a group of shipwrecked people who were adrift at sea in a long narrow lifeboat. The boat was so long that the people in the front thought of themselves as the front people and those in the back as the back people. Suddenly, the front of the boat developed an uncontrollable leak. A man in the back of the boat whispered to the woman next to him: Thank God that the leak is in the front. It it were in the back, we'd be doomed. All of us are obviously in the same boat. A threat to any of us is a threat to all of us. Jesus prayed for oneness among his disciples and with all those who would come to believe in him. Then there is the gift of God's presence in all that surrounds us. It is the Spirit who enables us to see God reflected in creation, just as it is the same Spirit who helps us see God's guiding hand in the stories of our lives. Such a vision can always be obstructed. Jealousy and envy, possessiveness and greed darken our view and twist our perception so that we always see what is wrong and assume it is irreparable. Again it is the Holy Spirit who helps us overcome such a destructive vision and leads us to celebrate God in ourselves, our world, and all whom we meet. Our world may fail to see God but desperately needs to see God. I often hear parents grieve that one of their children has gotten away from the practice of their religion. Sometimes they will ask: What can I do to get them back to church again? The easiest and best response is simply: Let them see the joy your faith gives you. Giving witness to the joy of your religion does more than any other thing to make people curious about church. We can only be joyful if we experience the unity of love Jesus prays for today. How could Jesus endure what he did? How could Stephen endure what he did? It could only happen because they knew God and had a relationship with him. Jesus knew the Father. Stephen knew Jesus. Likewise, many will come to know God and Jesus because of you. That means, of course, that you don't compromise yourself -- that you don't sell yourself short. Our faith and our religion must be consistent. We can't behave spiritually one way at home and another way at work or school. Yes, some may think you are different. But you will be different where you believe it counts. Pray this week for gift to let your faith guide you. And if you need help, ask the Holy Spirit to guide you.