Homily, April 25, 2010
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Authors
Jizba, Richard
Issue Date
2010-04-24
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Presentation
Sermon
Sermon
Language
en_US
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Abstract
Acts 13:14,43-52 Revelation 7:9,14b-7 John 10:27-30|----------------|I was taking a break last Thursday and on one of the tables by the snack shop was a section of newspaper. I sat down with my coffee, and picked it up. It was the Midlands section and there was one of Mike Kelly’s columns. Whenever I read his column I always chuckle to myself and say, “I wonder what’s wrong with Church today?” So I read his column and I found out.|“Well,” I thought as I finished, “if that’s all that’s wrong …”|There are many issues in the Church that people struggle with. Some are kind of trivial, but others are quite serious. Some Catholics don’t like the bishops’ teaching on immigration, others don’t agree with the teaching on birth control. Some don’t agree with the teaching on the death penalty, or premarital sex, or homosexuality, or divorce, or with tithing and the preferential option for the poor, or … well the list could go on.|What does it mean, when we say the Church? What is the Church?|* the people of God?|* a community of disciples?|* a sacramental sign of Christ presence in the world?|The Church is all of those things, and more.|----------------|Jesus said “My sheep hear my voice and they follow me.”|This is the second week in a row that Jesus used that word: “sheep.”|Last week he said to Peter, “tend my sheep.”|He turned the fisherman into a shepherd.|In today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we learned that the people of Antioch gathered to hear Paul and Barnabas proclaim the word of the Lord. Through them, the people heard Jesus’ voice.| All those men, Peter, Paul and Barnabas, they were apostles.|The Church is apostolic. That’s also a very important way to describe it. Without the successors of the apostles, the bishops and the pope, we would not be the Catholic Church: we need our teachers, we need our shepherds. When we gather around our bishop, we are the Church.|----------------|So what about those times when we disagree with the institutional Church – with the magisterium, – about a serious issue? When we have tried to understand what the Church teaches – when we have read, and prayed, and listened and talked – and we still disagree, what do we do?|The teachers in the Church, particularly the bishops and the pope, they also think and pray and study the truths that are passed on to them -- and which they have an obligation to pass on to us. They have to follow their consciences too.|Although the Church acknowledges the dignity of someone who follows the certain judgment of his conscience – even when it’s mistaken or in error – she must also say at those times “you are wrong, you have made a mistake”.|What do you do when that happens?|Some people get fed-up or angry and walk away. |Some build a wall between them and the Church on that issue. |But that’s not the way forward. |----------------| “My sheep hear my voice,” said Jesus. |I think that means that you have to keep listening. And listening means you have to be open to the idea that you may indeed be wrong.|You know, the Church understands that everyone struggles. When the Church corrects someone don’t take that to mean that she has given up on him. It’s not a condemnation, but a call.|Find someone in the Church who can help you. Maybe you need to talk to someone who has shared your struggle and has worked through it.|Are you having trouble with the teaching on birth control? There are couples who’ve struggled with the issue but decided, in the end, to follow the teachings. Go talk to them. Listen to their story.|Are you having trouble with the teachings on immigration? Talk with someone in who works with immigrants, or become a volunteer and work along side them for a time.|Sometimes you do have to search a while before you find a spiritual director or a good guide. Don’t let that be a barrier. While you search, keep praying. Read about the teaching you are struggling with. |Talk with Father, or another priest, or one of us deacons, you might even ask to speak with the bishop. We have our struggles too.|Through it all, spend time with God. Listen for his voice.|Pray about why you are struggling. Ask yourself some questions:|Do you really disagree with the teaching, or is it simply too challenging?|* Are you afraid?|How would you feel if you followed the teaching? |* Imagine that you could follow it … and think about how that would that make you feel.|God knows us better than we know ourselves. Listen for his voice in your heart, or listen to it in the people he calls to help you.|----------------|We are a pilgrim people. That’s another definition of the Church.|We do have good shepherds to guide us -- and lots of good companions along the way: people who will stop, hold out a hand and help you as you struggle on your journey.|Jesus said that no one can take us from his hand. |Just don’t let go of it and turn away.