Christ: The Mystery Of Easter

Homily 05 11 2014
4th Sunday of Easter - A

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A children's story: "The Carrot Seed" is the tale of a little boy who planted a carrot seed. His mother gently suggested that it might not grow. His father warned him to not be disappointed.

His big brother taunted him, repeating that nothing at all would come of it. Still the little boy watered, weeded and watched, day in and day out. Finally nature, water, the soil and his efforts brought forth the biggest carrot any of them had ever seen.

I hear that story as an Easter parable. The seed must die before it births life. The buried seed grows. In dark silence God is working among us in hidden and powerful ways. That is the Christ mystery, the mystery of Easter.

Easter's empty tomb is a call to conversion.

By this tomb, we should know for certain that God has made Jesus both Lord and Messiah, as Peter preaches in today's First Reading.

He is the "Lord," the divine Son that David foresaw at God's right hand (see Psalms 110:1,3; 132:10-11; Acts 2:34). And He is the Messiah that God had promised to shepherd the scattered flock of the house of Israel (see Ezekiel 34:11-14, 23; 37:24).

As we hear in today's Gospel, Jesus is that Good Shepherd, sent to a people who were like sheep without a shepherd (see Mark 6:34; Numbers 27:16-17). He calls not only to the children of Israel, but to all those far off from Him - to whomever the Lord wishes to hear His voice.

The call of the Good Shepherd leads to the restful waters of Baptism, to the anointing oil of Confirmation, and to the table and overflowing cup of the Eucharist.

Again on this Sunday in Easter, we hear His voice calling us His own. He should awaken in us the response of those who heard Peter's preaching. "What are we to do?" they cried.

We have been baptized. But each of us goes astray like sheep, as we hear in today's Epistle. His Cross has become the narrow gate through which we must pass to reach His empty tomb - the verdant pastures of life abundant.

Often we like to dwell on numbers. How many games did the championship team win? How many days until our summer vacation? What are the odds of winning the lottery? The first reading today opens with this fact: "Peter stood up with the Eleven." The reading ends with "three thousand persons were added that day" (Acts 2:41)-those who accepted his message and were baptized.

Recently I came upon the observations of two highly regarded individuals. Abraham Joshua Heschel was a Jewish rabbi. Charles Darwin is known as the father of evolutionary biology.

Heschel wrote this, "Our goal should be to live life in radical amazement...get up in the morning and look at the world in a way that takes nothing for granted. Everything is phenomenal. To be spiritual is to be amazed."

Darwin wrote of seeing "a genetic relative in a blade of grass, a future civilization in the atoms of a dying star, and empathy, passion and imagination in the biochemical reaction of a network of neurons."

The Risen Christ said, I came so you might have life and have it abundantly!" It is because of my experience of the Risen One that I am so deeply aware that everything is gift.

Every day I am filled with "radical amazement" and gratitude as I discover more of this cosmos in which we live. Every day I become increasingly aware of the amazing goodness buried deep within every person I meet. I take nothing for granted!

I am convinced "Christ is risen!" (Truly he is risen!) So here I leave you with the question. Does the resurrection make any difference in the way you perceive and understand reality? Are you living a radical Catholic life. Have you yet pledged to the Annual Catholic Appeal?

I would like to ask for 100% participation this year. It is recommended in Stewardship that one give 5% of one's annual income back to God by giving to the parish. And if possible I'd like to ask you to consider giving at least 1% of your income to the Annual Appeal. If that is not possible please consider giving a dollar a day for this year's appeal. Please help us make the project possible.

Your donations help the Archdiocese so very much, but even more the money that returns to the parish helps us to do things that would be impossible, so please help us make the interior of the Church happen. Thank you again for your generosity.

The Annual Catholic Appeal is a reminder that we are the Body of Christ.

It is worthwhile to reflect on how we can help make the gate wider through a pledge to the Annual Catholic Appeal. We are called to respond to Jesus call-Your gift will, with God's grace, add to our numbers!

Happy Mother's Day to all mothers, physical, spiritual, or intellectual.

jjl

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