Homily, May 4, 2025

Speaker: Fr. John Esper

May 05, 2025

619

From The Pastor

You must know by now that if I had the choice, I would always prefer to speak of the gospel rather than money or administration. However, as a Pastor, I do not have the luxury of choice in this matter. You are quite aware the first Sunday of May is the beginning of the annual CSA appeal.

I am pleased to begin by thanking you for your generous response to last year’s appeal as we sought to reach for an additional $50,000. We did not make the $50,000 but we did exceed our goal by almost forty thousand dollars. Congratulations! Thank you to all who helped to make this possible.

Our theme this year is “Do you love Me? Feed my Sheep.” I am sure this reference relates to the opening homily of our new Archbishop, Edward Weisenburger. The work of the CSA is our commitment to serve the needs of the larger Church beyond our parish for the sake of the gospel to give hope to all believers.

Our goal this year is $37,917. This is a decrease of more than two hundred dollars, indicating an overall decrease in offertory and supplemental income. Our primary need this year is greater support for our operating budget. Our physical plant, church, and grounds are in good shape. The only ongoing active expense is parking lot maintenance. This and other unforeseen physical needs can be paid from our savings account.

My request this year is to ask you to please repeat or increase the gift you made last year. If you have not been able to give in the past to this appeal or offer a weekly gift, anything you can do will be of value to support our daily operations. Like last year, our greatest loss of income is the decrease in the rent money received from the Charter School. This supplemental income is currently $100,000 less than it was prior to the covid pandemic.

Please see my letter sent through the mail regarding this appeal. I will repeat the increase I offered in my CSA gift of last year. I ask for your generosity and prayer for the success of this important work. Questions may be addressed to the parish office. Thank you for your faithful consideration.

What happened to the old Peter lost in fear and occupied with his ego prior to the death of Jesus? After encountering the Risen Christ in the Upper Room, Peter and the other Apostles are transformed in a way no one could ever imagine. After Jesus is arrested, Peter vehemently denied knowing him. Days later, fearful and locked behind closed doors, Peter encounters Jesus in an undeniable way that transformed his life. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, he now boldly gives witness to the same ones of whom they were so afraid.

The story comes full circle some days later at the seashore as the disciples are trying to catch fish. Notice how John, the gospel writer recreates the scene of the call of Peter. They are fishing all night and catch nothing as they see Jesus on the shore, not knowing it was he. Announcing they have caught nothing; Jesus directs another cast. They catch an abundance of fish whereupon they realize the man on the shore is Jesus.

Jesus uses the encounter to elicit the love and commitment of Peter after his denial. Consider the emotions and inner thoughts of Peter. ‘Jesus, you know I love you and I know you love me. I know you understand and accept me because I feel and know your forgiveness. With your love and acceptance, I am learning to know and love myself because I have come to know and love you. I know I do not want to be without you. Where would I go? What more can I say? You confuse me, frustrate me, and challenge me, but I know I don’t want to live without you. In the love you have given me, you know I will follow you.’

This is the transformation of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus. How is that felt and known in your faith, your relationship with Jesus? Think about who it is you love: Jesus, God, Savior? Then, not only who it is you love, but how you love Jesus/God. What motivates or inspires this love? What makes you come back to Jesus after a slip or fall, or a time of being away from the Lord? Like Peter, your words are likely to come hard. Does this give you pause?

This is when you remind yourself that you received the same Holy Spirit that Peter received. Your life and experience are different than Peter’s. Your failures and successes are different, like your personality and life circumstance. Like Peter, the grace of the Spirit given to you is personal, specific, and uniquely made for you. As we approach the feast of Pentecost, spend some time how you would answer Jesus if he asked you, “Do you love Me?

Father John Esper