Homily, May 5, 2024
From The Pastor
The Easter season calls us to an exultant joy in the dying and rising of Jesus as Lord and Christ. What is this joy and how do we find it? Each liturgical season reveals its own truth of God in the coming of Christ. The journey of faith begins with the Advent-Christmas season in anticipation of the birth of Jesus.
The birth of Christ reveals a new light in the world. Jesus proclaims in the gospel of St. John, “I am the Light of the World.” Without Christ, the world, humanity, and all creation would live in the squalor of the darkness of sin, the chaos of evil, and the sadness of death. The birth of Jesus brings the light of God’s truth to the world through the human-Divine Son born of the Virgin Mary. Jesus is the Light that no darkness will overcome.
New life is the truth revealed in the Lent-Easter season. Through the dying and rising of Jesus, new life is realized in his rising from the dead. In the pure love of Jesus, through his freely chosen death on the Cross sin dies, evil is defeated, and all creation is given new life in the power of the Resurrection. Resurrection love is a spiritual truth that must be known in human hearts. Love alone gives new life. We will all die in the flesh. Through faith in Jesus, living in the Holy Spirit, we are given eternal life in the promise of heaven.
Pentecost is the third major liturgical season. The truth revealed at Pentecost is love. We live in the age of the Spirit, the final age until the coming of the Lord. The Spirit of God, the Spirit of Divine love, the Spirit of Jesus are one and the same. Formerly known as the ‘Spirit of God’ in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit is released in a new and more personal way after Jesus rises from the dead. The Holy Spirit is our identity in Christ whose nature we now share as we are called to make Christ present in the world. In the Holy Spirit, we bring Christ to others in love. This is the work and purpose of ‘Ordinary Time.’
It struck me this past week at daily Mass how directly and frequently we are called to the joy of our redemption in the grace of the Easter season. It caused me to wonder, where is the joy of Jesus now risen that gives us redemption and new life with God? Consider these phrases from weekday Mass prayers this past week. ‘…in this time, we laud you yet more gloriously.’ ‘…that we may rejoice in the full measure of your grace.’ ‘…that we may merit to receive the joy of our redemption.’ ‘…that we may find delight in the Paschal Mysteries.’
So where is this joy? Do you feel it? Is it within you in a known and felt way? I am afraid the words are larger than the lived or felt experience. Easter is a day of great celebration and joy in the rising of Jesus, but I am afraid human nature too quickly leads us back to the complaining, stress, and irritations that surround us. How do we become attentively aware of the joyful hope given us in the faith we profess in the Lord Jesus? Resurrection is a way of life, not simply a day or a liturgical season.
To realize this promised joy, faith must be nourished by prayer and deep pondering on the love given us in Christ. It means allowing the words of scripture to become real, personal, and impactful within each believer. The truth of Christ as Light, Life, and Love must be realized as a living identity in us who believe.
The pain of sin, guilt, fear, and any perceived unworthiness, or separation from God reveals the need for redemption. In sin, we are not free, bound up, and hindered in the grace of love. The joy of redemption will not be realized until we experience the freedom of God’s forgiving mercy, full acceptance, and active friendship. Love is personal and must be maturely desired and accepted to feel the grace of joy. “As the Father loves me, so also do I love you.” This is the truth of Jesus given by the Father to set us free. The humanity of Jesus makes him our brother and friend who knows and understands us intimately with love. To know and accept this love awakens the joy of Easter in the risen Christ.
This is more than coming to know you are loved by God. Accepting this love leads to the freedom to love others. Loving self and others becomes the seedbed of joy that offers forgiveness and acceptance to others. The love and friendship of Jesus allows us to become agents of love and freedom for all. This is the fruit and the evidence of redemption that creates joy.
Life is difficult, yet the poorest of the poor in any frame of life cling to the possibility of finding love, acceptance, and the validation of mercy. Often, the poor are joyful in ways you would never expect. Our poverty of whatever kind, alerts us to our need for Christ, leading to surrender and acceptance of the redemption he offers.
When those who are bound or separated for any reason, are set free through love and acceptance of redemption, joy explodes. This is our nature and call in Christ. We all need the same grace, and we can all share love for others. In the joy of Christ, let’s work toward that.
Father John Esper
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