Homily: Third Wednesday of Easter
Third Wednesday of Easter (Acts 8:1-8) “Too Smart?”
We have a contrast presented to us in the scriptures today between Jerusalem and Samaria. Jerusalem was the center of the Jewish faith. The Theologians and religious elite lived in Jerusalem. The Samaritans were considered ill-educated in their religion. They were the stepchildren of the Jewish faith. Samaria was in the rural part of the country. Perhaps we would call the Samaritans hicks today.
Jerusalem violently rejected Christianity. We hear in today’s reading how Stephen is stoned to death. We also hear how other Christians are imprisoned in Jerusalem or run out of town.
Sometimes it seems like intellectuals are those who are most hostile to religious faith. People who live out of their head often seem to over think. When we think we are more educated than others it is easy to feel superior. The less educated might be humbler as they approach God.
I remember attending an inner-city parish as a seminarian. The preaching was fiery. The music was soul filled. The people were poor. The service lasted about three hours, but it did not feel that way. The Spirit moved. When we walked out of the church one of my classmates said it well. He said, “I have faith in my head. They have faith in their guts.” What he was saying was that the people we worshipped with that day saw God’s hand in everything.
Christian preachers in the first century had most of their success with the peasants and the working class, with the slaves and the foreigners. The philosophers and intellectuals were slower to accept Christ.
This might be something for us to reflect on. We can talk ourselves out of making a leap of faith. There are all kinds of reasons not to follow Christ. Usually, those reasons revolve around losing something. It may be possessions or position or popularity. If we find it difficult to take a risk for Jesus. We might ask if we are wary because of something we might lose.
Reflection Questions:
- Have I ever had to risk something for my faith? What was it?
- Do I have the freedom to take part in religious pursuits? When I speak of my faith do I worry what people will think?
Dear Parishioners,
I am the bread of life. I was eating with the second graders in the cafeteria the other day. When I want to have an interesting conversation with parishioners I often go over to the school. Many of the students were getting ready for their First Communion. Several of the children came up to me and shared how excited they were to be approaching First Communion. Next Sunday we will be having our second First Communion Mass.
Within a few years that excitement tends to fade as children become teenagers. Wouldn’t it be nice if this zeal about Eucharist remained throughout life? Some people do remain enthusiastic. I remember an older man who I knew growing up named Charlie. Charlie was around 90 and went to Mass every day of his life. When he came out of Mass, he would say to everyone he greeted. “Happy Communion everybody.” That is the person we should all pray to be.
May Our Lady of Peace pray for us.
Fr. Mark