April 15, 2018

3rd Sunday of Easter (B)

“See the Truth but Don’t Run!”

Msgr. Thomas Gervasio

During our parish mission last week, Fr. Gordon mentioned that people often say in confession, “I don’t know what to confess.” His advice to them—“Ask the people you live with.” Would those we live with have the courage to actually tell us? A Slavic proverb advises: “Tell the truth and run!” Why?—because telling the truth takes courage. Consider St. Peter in today’s first reading. I am sure it amazed people that the very man who only days before denied Christ in the courtyard of the high priest, was now, in Jerusalem’s public square, professing his faith in Jesus. Peter called the people to repent, to be converted. He echoed the words of Jesus who began is ministry with his call to repentance. We are continually called to conversion, to change. The Scripture and the Eucharist are what set us on the path to conversion.
 
Listening to the word of God involves opening our minds and hearts to what what is proclaimed here every day. But this is not enough. Every home should have a Bible, that is to say, a bible that is unwrapped, taken out of the box and read! The bible is primarily a book not of information but of formation, not merely a book to be analyzed...but a sacred book to nurture us...and to serve as a constant source of contemplation. The Lord speaks to us through the Scriptures and we must allow his words to challenge us. They must penetrate into the center of our hearts. This requires honesty as well as a willingness to be led to places where would rather not go. Jesus said to Peter, “When you were younger, you used to go where you wanted; but when you grow old...someone else will...lead you where you do not want to go.” (Jn 21:18). The disciples of Emmaus asked: “Were not our hearts burning within us as he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?”
 
How much do we treasure the Scriptures? Why not make it a practice to read of few passages from the one of Gospels each day? We tend to “pick and choose” the passages we like.
 
We should rather go methodically through the entire Gospel. We should consider the “hard sayings” as well as the comforting, reassuring passages. That can be a struggle when we read passages that prod us to change our thoughts and behavior. St. Augustine struggled! As he read the Lord’s challange to purity of life, he prayed, “Lord, make me chaste...but not yet!”
 
Coming to, celebrating and receiving the Eucharist powerfully moves us to repentance. In this gift we find the strength we need for our everyday existence. What is our experience of Holy Communion. It can, I fear become so dry and routine. We fail to grasp the opportunity for growth and change!
 
St. Benedicta of the Cross, (Edith Stein) wrote that upon receiving the Jesus in the Eucharist “the day’s happenings should be deliberated with Him.” That is to say, we speak to him about all the things going on, and not going on in our day.” Can we do this when after Holy Communion we head for parking lot with the host still in our mouths or fail to pray on returning to our place?
 
This Lent I ran across a short reflection that was entitled: “Do you want to change?” A good question!
 
“The spiritual life is not lived...beyond our everyday existance. No, the spiritual life...is lived in the midst of the pains and joys of the here and now. Therefore, we need take a careful look at the way we think, speak, feel, and act from hour to hour...As long as we have only a vague feeling of discontent with our present way of living, and only an vague desire for ‘things spiritual,’ our lives will continue to stagnate in a generalized melancholy. We often say, ‘I am not happy with the way my life is going. I am not really joyful or peaceful, But I don't know how things can be different, and I guess I have to be realistic and accept my life as it is.’ It is this mood of resignation that prevents us from actively developing our spiritual life.
 
Let the Lord and his word speak the truth to us...but let us have the courage not to run away and truly change!