Fr. JC Maximilian

[Painting by Fra Angelico, I am not sure of the title, it is something like "Christ the Judge." In case you have not noticed, from the banner on this blog which is part of Fra Angelico's "The Saints," I am a fan of this Florentine, Dominican artist]

First of all, before I forget and get myself into trouble, let me extend my most sincere thankful prayers to all of our mothers here today. As the Blessed Virgin Mary served as the Ark of the Covenant and the Tabernacle of our Lord Jesus during the nine months of her pregnancy, so our mothers are often the first source of our faith, continuing the life of the Church.

I am reminded of a story about a Roman soldier sometime during the first 200 years of Christianity. He had to set off on a long military campaign, leaving behind his wife who was pregnant with their first child. With her husband away, some local women took it upon themselves to help this soon-to-be mother. These women were Christians, and they had an inner joy that was very attractive. The soldier’s wife found herself wanting to know more about the secret of their joy, so they started tell her about Jesus. Soon her child was born – a healthy son. Not long after giving birth she asked her new friends if she and her son could become Christians, and they were baptized into the faith.

Meanwhile the soldier also had met some Christians during his travel. He too was attracted to their inner joy and strength; often enduring great pain and hardship all for the name of Christ Jesus. He listened to the stories about Jesus and explanations about this new Faith. However, he was not able to receive baptism before the campaign ended.

When he returned home, his wife was naturally overjoyed to see him home safe and sound. Yet she was nervous about how he would react to the news that she and their son were baptized into the Christian Faith. She decided to break the news to him gradually. First she showed him their son. As he held his son the soldier expressed his sorrow at not being there to help her during her need, but she said that she had made some new friends who had been a big help, and that they were Christians. Then in an offhanded way she mentioned that their son had in fact been baptized as a Christian. Her husband looked shocked and became very quiet. He looked at his son again very thoughtfully. Then he knelt besides the crib, bowed his head, closed his eyes, and silently began to pray. His wife was puzzled by her husband’s behavior, and knelt next to him and asked what he was doing. He looked at her and said, “I am praying to the one, true God, for if our son has been baptized, he has himself become a holy place. Christ the Lord, his Father the Creator of all, and the living Holy Spirit have made their home in his heart, so we can pray to God there.” [“Homily Packs: Sixth Sunday of Easter (C)” found at www.epriests.com, a service of Regnum Christi, 2007].

Today’s Gospel reading are some of Jesus’ words during the Last Supper, and they are mysterious and glorious. In today’s passage Jesus reveals one of the great secrets of Christian life; that when we are baptized, God himself – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – actually come into our souls and take up residence there. As Jesus says in today’s Gospel, “We will come to him and make our dwelling with him.”

This week we will celebrate the Ascension of the Lord on Thursday; check the bulletin for the Mass times for this Holy Day of Obligation. Have you ever wondered why Jesus ascended back into heaven? Why didn’t he just stick around? By his ascension, Jesus is able to be closer to us; he is able to dwell deep within our hearts, beyond any earthly limits. If Jesus had not “gone to the Father,” he would have remained limited by time and space, as he was during his earthly life. Now that he dwells body and soul in heaven, Jesus can be present to each one of us at all times, through the Holy Spirit.

This is the gift Christ has given us. The prize Jesus won for us by his Passion, Death and Resurrection is the transforming, renewing, life-giving presence of the Holy Spirit within us. How many of you can tell me on what day you were born? What about on what day you were baptized? We all remember and celebrate our birthdays, yet how much more greater is the day we are baptized and made a child of God and given the gift of the Divine life within us!

Unfortunately too often most of us forget about this priceless gift for which Jesus paid such a great price. We often live as if our Christianity is like a membership in a club, like it is something outside of us. This forgetfulness handcuffs God’s power in our lives. The Holy Spirit is polite, and respects our freedom. The Spirit chooses to be a guest within our hearts, not a dictator. The Spirit sits in the living room of our soul, eagerly waiting for us to put our cell phones away, turn off the computer and/or TV, and pay attention to him for a few minutes. The Spirit wants us to ask him for guidance and strength. Whenever we do turn to the Holy Spirit for strength and guidance, the Spirit is able to increase what is good in us, and cleanse us from what is bad.

So why don’t we pay attention to the Holy Spirit dwelling within our hearts more often? The main reason is that we are surrounded by so many other voices, which because of their boastful pride are often louder than the Spirit’s gentle whisper. At other times we get so tangled up in our problems and responsibilities that we are not sure what God wants us to do, or how to do what we think he wants us to do.

God knows this, and he has given us tools to help discern his voice. One of these tools is the sacrament of Reconciliation, often better known as Confession. While the primary function of the sacrament of Reconciliation is to be a clear and undeniable way to receive the grace of forgiveness for our sins, it has a secondary function of helping us to grow in holiness. It gives us the grace of strength and light.

A priest is ordained to be God’s instrument; the advice and direction that he gives within the sacred space of this sacrament is of special value. Regular use of this sacrament quiets down the many other voices that are trying to drown out the Holy Spirit’s voice. The sacrament of Reconciliation makes God’s voice within us clear and stronger, and it gives us the strength to heed that voice.

Today, as Christ renews his commitment to dwell within us, let us renew our commitment to be his worth Temples. And let us thank our mothers who not only gave us the gift of life on earth, but through their faith and by their bringing us to baptism, shared with us the gift of eternal life won for us by Christ Jesus.
[Based on “Homily Packs: Sixth Sunday of Easter (C)” found at www.epriests.com, a service of Regnum Christi, 2007].