HOMILY FOR 6TH SUNDAY OF EASTER--5/29/11--UNDERSTANDING AND CONVICTION

SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER–5/29/11

  by Msgr. Eric R. Barr, STL

 

　

READINGS: ACTS 8:5-8, 14-17;1 PETER 3:15-18; JOHN 14:15-21

 

 

 

 I. Two Scripture phrases that hit to the heart of what it means to be Christian and Catholic today.

 

A. Venerate Christ in your hearts, says St. Peter. And should anyone ask you why you believe be ever ready to reply but do so gently and respectfully.

 

B. Jesus says, If you love me and keep my commands, I will send you the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth that the world cannot accept since it neither sees him or recognizes him.

 

II. Our culture is no longer Christian--it is secular. That means that unlike past generations, to be Catholic and Christian you have to make a conscious choice. A person has to understand what it means to believe if that person has a hope of staying close to Christ.

 

A. Practical consequences are these:

 

1. Many of us are going to slip into the secular culture and become fallen away Catholics. Do you know that there are over 20 million Catholics who do not practice at all and another 30 million who only practice somewhat? That's a huge number of people and it leaves about 30 million practicing Catholics. So nearly 60 million of us are only somewhat connected with Catholicism. Maybe instead of trying to make converts, we should reconvert those we already have.

 

2. Many of your sons and your daughters are going to fall away. In fact, they already have. Check out the few number of high school kids here on weekends. How can we lose them so early? It's simple: We live in an experienced drenched culture--if it's not exciting all the time--then its not worth our while. Faith requires commitment and effort--too much work for some folks. Parents get tired of insisting all the time. The fight gets too draining and finally they give up and let their kids sleep in on Sunday. As for the adults who leave, they believe that if they are nice, they will be saved. We have lost the fear of hell and really think that God's going to save us no matter what we do.

 

3. To stay Catholic in this day and age takes an act of will, a conscious choice, a willingness to live the Gospel. And that's pretty hard to do.

 

B. It's not enough just to pray and be pious. I’ve got this parrot and he can say the Hail Mary--with his wings folded in prayer!–It's true! But he doesn't understand a word he’s saying--just like a lot of people in this world. We can't just do the outward signs of religion, just parrot the right language--we have to understand what we are doing.

 

C. So how do we get the people back? How do we, like St. Peter says, venerate Christ and explain to people why we believe what we believe?

 

III. Faith seeking understanding

 

A. Getting us all to understand our faith better is the key, so that when people come up to you and say, So how come you Catholics do this Mary thing, or how come you Catholics have this Pope fixation, or what's it mean when you go up to get that funny round piece of bread?--we can answer them easily and not be embarrassed. Ours is a reasonable faith, it makes sense, and we have to understand why we believe. In the old days, we didn't because the culture just accepted what we believe--now it challenges us. To be Catholic in our society means to choose to not be popular. That's hard. And with understanding comes courage. Would you die for America if you didn't understand democracy? Would you die for your family if you didn't understand what love was? Would you die for your faith if you didn't understand what really happened on the cross? Of course not. With understanding comes courage, and with courage comes the Spirit of Truth that enables us to talk about our faith to others. That’s what we are talking about today–faith with conviction, courage with action.

 

B. Here's some suggestions to have faith with conviction and courage with action::

 

1. Know your own faith--if you have questions, ask those of us who serve you in this parish–it's what we went to school for--it's what you pay us for. Make a pact with yourself to learn something new about Catholicism each month.

 

2. Firmly but positively insist that your kids, even your high school and college ones come to Sunday Mass with you. And when they give you lip, remind them of the 4th commandment "Honor your Father and Mother", which translated today means "Parents, insist on respect." But remember--if you skip Mass or don't practice your faith well--they'll call you a hypocrite and they will be right. Lead by your example, and insist on them trying out an adult faith.

 

3. Spend some time talking about what your faith means--what does it mean to say Jesus is God, we are saved, we will live forever?--talk about it.

 

4. Ask a fallen away friend or family member to come to Church with you. And if they have a problem with the Church, a bad marriage, hurt feelings, whatever, tell them to come talk to a priest--chances are a new beginning can be made.

 

 

 

C. Why should we work this hard? Why should we have faith with conviction and courage with action? Jesus said it well. He has sent his Holy Spirit of Truth into our hearts, and the world will laugh at that Spirit and reject that Spirit--and reject all that our faith stands for, but the Spirit lives, and he speaks truth. Know the Truth and the Truth will set you free.

Comments

[Bernadette Kleissler]

Thank you Monsignor Barr for this clear homily.