Fr. Dale’s Homily
23rd Sunday of OT (Cycle B)
September 7-8, 2024
Gospel: Mark 7:31-37
Easter only seems like a million years ago. Much has happened since that time. First Eucharist and Confirmation have been celebrated in our families and in our parish community. Graduations, weddings and funerals have occurred. Mother’s Day and Father’s Day have come and gone. Memorial Day unofficially started the summer season, Independence Day, July 4th was festively celebrated (pending where you were for it); family vacations have been enjoyed [by the look at attendance in this Church house, some have lasted all summer and are not over yet!]; and, of course, summer unofficially ended with Labor Day just this past Monday.
While all these events and celebrations have come and gone, one thing remains the same…it is still EASTER. Our new life in the Risen One remains. Even in these black days of mistrust, lies and abuse, we must stay focused: Our new life in Jesus is ever present; it never ends, it always will be.
In our scripture of today, we are reminded of the new life that the Lord gives us and the new life in the Lord that is ours each day of lives…
In the first reading, Isaiah speaks for the Lord God to the people. In a timeless sort of way, He tells people who are weary of life’s challenges, burdens and struggles to be faithful to God: “BE STRONG, FEAR NOT!” He reminds them that God has promised to be with them and that God will come to save them. The prophet goes on to give examples of the new life God gives to God’s people. He gives sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf. He cures the lame. He puts a song on the tongue of the mute.
In the Gospel, Jesus fulfills this vision of Isaiah. Jesus does what the prophet spoke about by giving new life to the one who is deaf and has a speech impediment. Touching the man’s ears and tongue, and saying a prayer to God, Jesus gives this man new life. Now he can hear and speak plainly… much like the man or the woman in those TV commercials who talk about “getting their life back” having had a heart attack or cancer or something else not pleasant.
Today, we need to hear the prophet’s words, and we need to be aware of the new life that Jesus gives us. As a fellow believer, I say to you (AND to myself) the same words that Isaiah said, “BE STRONG, FEAR NOT!” I say to you, “BE STRONG” – be strong as you live your life each day. God is with you…EMMANUEL! While life may be hard and we all have challenges, FEAR NOT… turn it over to…you know who…
What ultimately matters is this: God loves you; God is with you; you have your salvation in Jesus; Christ promises you not only new life, BUT eternal life… and, you know, that is a long, long, long time… even if time exists…
Each year we celebrate Holy Week and Easter, we celebrate the new life that is ours in Jesus’ suffering, dying and rising. Too often, it is easy to let those thoughts go astray as we go about our busy lives. We still believe, but the focus is not as intense. Today, let us be reminded to keep that focus daily. That new life is what gives us hope and new life allows us to be strong and to be fearless…
Nourished by the Body and the Blood of Christ, we become refocused. It is easy to jump from one event to the next, from one holiday to the next, from one holy day to the next. What allows us to make the leap is the nourishment we get at that Table. Anything less and we’ll just not make it…
A Catholic college sponsored a summer experience for undergraduates to Lourdes, France. For three weeks, these generous young people assisted hundreds of lame and ill, helping the sick into the healing pool dug by Saint Bernadette. As they reentered the United States, customs officials detected several jars of liquid and stopped two of the students. The collegians assured the officers that it was simply Lourdes water, but upon examination it became evident that these were jars of BOURBON! In collegiate humor, one young man exclaimed:
“The Lord be praised, another miracle!”😊
A popular book on my shelf is titled, “All I Really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten”. The book is a collection of essays about life, common sense things that are helpful to remember: “Share everything. Play fair. Don’t hit people. Put things back where you found them. Clean up your own mess. Say you’re sorry when you hurt somebody. Flush!” But the most important advice reads, “When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together.” The last comment means the most:
“Hold onto one another – we are all we have.”
Miracles happen every day. Let the first one of this day happen at this Table for you… and for me… for all!