HOMILY FROM FATHER STEPHEN FOR THE 13TH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER
Introduction:
We celebrate the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time. In the First Reading, God rewards the repeated kindnesses of a childless couple towards the prophet Elisha with the gift of a child. The Psalm is full of praise for the Lord, expressing the psalmist’s joy and trust in the Lord’s everlasting love and faithfulness.
In a Q&A session young people asked Pope Benedict “does God perform miracles today, as in the Gospels? If someone is ill, should we pray to God for a miracle, or should we presume God will grant a cure through the usual human agency of doctors and the NHS?” His answer was fascinating. He said: That’s a complex question, too big for now. But what I would say is this: God works in the world by causing love, and love is the most powerful force we know.
Sunday’s Gospel sees Jesus assure us of God’s great generosity to anyone who welcomes the stranger. In doing so, they are welcoming Jesus himself, and even the smallest kindness will be rewarded. All we must do is trust, place our trust in Him, open our hearts to Him, ask His help and strength and do our best to cooperate; “Sanctity is not for a privileged few. The Lord calls all of us. He expects love from all of us—from everyone, wherever they are; from everyone, whatever their state in life, their profession or job. For the daily life we live, apparently so ordinary, can be a path to sanctity: it is not necessary to abandon one’s place in the world in order to search for God…because all the paths of the earth can be the occasion for an encounter with Christ” (St. Josemaria)
Homily:
Life is busy, even in the middle of this Covid-17 Virus! Whether we are in school, college, working or juggling family life with all sorts of other commitments, there is sometimes little time to pause and take stock of things. It can be hard to find time to reflect on how our faith is faring.
When we do get a minute to assess things, do we find ourselves wanting? Many of us have the idea that we would like to live better lives, to be more caring, to help those in need. We would like to live up to what Jesus asks of us, if only we had time to do more. This desire to do better is an important element of our Christian journey. But often we imagine that this will require some sort of grand gesture or dramatic change of direction.
If we are paralysed or overwhelmed by what we can’t do, Jesus has some good news for us today.
A cup of water isn’t much, and offering hospitality to a stranger might not seem like a big deal, but that is where Jesus starts. Instructing his twelve disciples, he tells them that anyone who welcomes them or offers them a cup of cold water will be rewarded. What’s more, he adds that anyone who welcomes them in fact welcomes Jesus, the one who sent them.
Small acts of kindness and hospitality have significance beyond what we might expect. No matter how busy we are, there are opportunities every day to offer a cup of water here, or a helping hand there. All these small things play their part in building up God’s kingdom.
Each year, we traditionally finish our school term with Mass, giving thanks for bringing us safely home to the end of the school year. Today, we call on God’s grace, placing all our sufferings, worries and anxiety in his loving hands. We ask the Lord to cause love, to cause much love, in our hearts, our homes and our families, and not least in our world today. In the silence and solitude of St Ninian’s Oratory on Friday I prayed for the intentions of all of our schools and parish communities.
