April 28, 2002

Father Owen's Homilies

Homily for the Fifth Sunday after Easter, April 28, 2002

The First Readings we are having in the continuous celebration of Easter are all taken from the Acts of the Apostles. Acts is the story of the spread of the Early Church. The story that the apostles are telling is the story of the Way! What Way? The Way of Jesus. Jesus’ Way is a New Way. This New Way is a way of forgiveness and mercy, a Way of truth and Life, a Way of service, and a Way of special regard for the Poor in Spirit and in material wealth. It is a Way with the focus of life on others.

The Way of Jesus is not one of selfishness, power, domination, exploitation, and violence. The Way of Jesus cuts across so many of the values that so many persons today hold near and dear. Many persons today would exploit rather than conserve the land. Many persons consider the human life of babies, persons living on the fringes of society, the elderly, persons of different beliefs, nationalities as disposable as a diaper. Those who believe and act that way are not on the Way of Jesus.

Philip the apostle asks Jesus, “How shall we know the way?” Jesus answers, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. If you see me you will see my Father.” The next question, it seems to me is, Who makes this Way most visible to you and me? The answer is another question: Who made the Way of Jesus most visible to you? I am sure that your answer would include a whole variety of answers. The common denominator would be a person or persons who incarnated, put into flesh, the teachings of Jesus. Jesus is the mirror of the Father. There was someone in our lives, in or out of our families, parish churches, CCD classes, etc., who mirrored the living color of Jesus. People are relying on you and me to be the Way for them – to mirror what Jesus really is about. We can be that if we allow Jesus to come into our hearts. We can be that if we allow Him with the power of his love and the brightness of the Holy Spirit, to do with us as he made us.

Cracked and broken as we may be, our lives reflect the Jesus who is within us.