Daily Homily 4-2-2020
5th Tuesday of Lent 2020 (Genesis 17:3-9) “The Last Laugh”
Sometimes things are too good to be true. The impossible becomes possible. In the Bible, we often see that, when it comes to improbable birth stories. We can think of the birth of Samson and the birth of Samuel. Both men were born of couples who were beyond the age when people normally have children.
The first story of a miraculous birth in the Bible was the story of Isaac’s birth in the Book of Genesis. We have several predictions about Isaac’s birth in the stories we read about Abraham and Sarah.
We read about the beginning of one of those predictions in our first reading for Mass today. God changes Abram’s name to Abraham in the narrative. Whenever someone’s named is changed in the Bible it usually means that that person is going to have a new vocation in life. Abraham was to be the father of the chosen people.
As Abraham listens to God speak, he prostrates himself on the ground (he lays face down) in prayer. He listens to all God tells him. Abraham is ninety-nine years old so it must have been quite a feat to lay face down. Abraham is told that he and Sarah, who is only a few years younger, are going to have a son.
Abraham listens to what God is saying and he laughs out loud. The whole idea of having a baby sounds absurd to him. If we heard such a thing today, we would probably laugh to. But the baby was born. The baby that God predicted, was named “Isaac” which means to laugh. Who says God does not have a sense of humor?
We might find it hard to smile today. There is much hardship going on around us. The list of woes that we have is long. We can all put our difficulties on the list.
But what we see repeatedly in the scriptures is how God takes unfortunate circumstances and transforms those events into graced events. What seems like a tough break is used for a good purpose. We can trust God. We can never predict what he has in store.
Dear Parishioners,
I would like to remind you that we will be livestreaming Mass on Facebook Saturday at 4 p.m. This will be the Palm Sunday liturgy. You are invited to pick up blessed Palms the next few days outside the back door of the rectory. There will be a box there with the Palms. We blessed the Palms this morning. You may take what you need. You can then hold the palms while we are having Mass on Saturday. Hopefully, this will bring comfort to you. The Palm Sunday Mass will be posted, after it is over, on our WEB site so you may watch it any time this weekend.
Please remember that Ben Rogers is still in the hospital in intensive care with the COVID 19 virus. He has been in the hospital for the last two weeks. His wife Joan asks for everyone’s prayers.
I have been asked how I am doing. I get down because I don’t feel like I am making much of a difference right now. Priests usually like to be problem solvers and consolers. The epidemic we are in is not something I can solve, and I miss seeing you in person so I might put an arm around your shoulders to console you. I am reminded that God is in charge. My vocation as a Christian is to trust and to be faithful in the face of adversity. Presently, I am like Abraham. I can’t understand what is happening, but my thoughts are not God’s thoughts nor are his ways my ways (Isaiah 55:8).
May Our Lady Intercede for Us in this Time of Trial,
Fr. Mark