Contemplate What God Has Done for Us - Homily 5th Sunday of Lent

(Readings)

Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote this from an Alabama jail cell, “There comes a time when the cup of endurance runs over, and men are no longer willing to be plunged into the abyss of despair.”

We know despair. Despair from injustice heaped upon people by failure to respect human life. Despair from fear of war, terrorism, and civil violence. Despair is thrown at us by television, radio, and the internet. Every day, abysses of despair are experienced in work, family, and personal crises.

Despite all this despair in the world, people still love -families, friends, and communities. Yet, they wonder - Why?

“There comes a time when men are no longer willing to be plunged into the abyss of despair.” The opposite of despair is hope and as God’s servant, Dr. King knew the importance of hope.

No one can live without hope.

People look for hope in their communities, support groups, or something that promises peace and refuge from a chaotic world. They look for hope in worldly techniques and secular personalities. They don’t think they need God, or Christ, or his Church. People turn to Oprah Winfrey for hope instead of God.

Catholics and Christians know hope is found in Jesus Christ.  Pope Francis said “Jesus made Himself like the grain of wheat that falls to the ground and dies to give life. Our hope springs from that love-filled life.”

Some Greeks came to Philip and asked him, "Sir, we would like to see Jesus." Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.

I don’t think these Greeks were looking for the savior of Israel; they were looking for the savior of all the world, the messiah of hope.

Today, we are Christ disciples in the world. We are to bring people to Jesus. We are the Church. For those searching for hope, we bring a fountain of hope, the source of eternal life, Jesus Christ.

So this Easter as we welcome new believers and converts to our family, the Church will offer the world a message not its own.  It is the message of God's self-revelation in Jesus Christ.

A message written on hearts…... A message forever new and renewing; a message received, celebrated, and lived today.

It is the message that from despair can come hope in an encounter with the living God - “When I am lifted up, I will draw everyone to myself."

God speaks to the world through the Church’s message that is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the true message of hope. We proclaimed by Holy Spirit that Jesus Christ is the source of eternal salvation.

God brings us together by the Holy Spirit as his Church. God is present in his Church that lives the example and teaching of Jesus. God is present in his Church as “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.”

During RCIA, the priest asked my son-in-law what coming into the Church meant to him. He said the Church is like a hospital. We all have times that we are sick and need healing, so we go to the best doctors.

That young man recognizes that the Church is the healing messenger of hope in Jesus Christ. The Church is where we find our great physician, Jesus Christ and come for his healing.

“Whoever serves me must follow me….” So, contemplate what God has done for us. He gives us hope.

My brothers and sisters, hope heals.

Hope heals the despair of personal crises the substance and wisdom of the Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ. Hope heals the despair of violence as we find the face of Christ in every life.

In the abyss of despair of war, injustice and disrespect for the dignity of human life, the healing of hope is the promise of Jesus Christ who makes all peoples one with him.

Jesus said - for this purpose I came …. the salvation of the world, truly a source of hope.  

Be good, be holy and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ that brings hope to the world by the way you live and love. Amen.