Homily for Oct 4th

Dear Parish Family:

The most consistent message of the Bible is that God never tires of inviting us into a deeper and life-changing relationship. The frustration of God’s messengers, the prophets, is that people frequently refuse that invitation and fall into bitter rivalries over power, property, and prestige. This is harvest season, and God is seeking the fruit of an awesome investment of love. One grape is not sufficient for wine. One really needs the whole vineyard.

Not too long ago, a friend shared with me his confusion and great anxiety with regard to differing political and theological attitudes among respected Catholic leaders. As I reflect on the Churches to whom Paul wrote in the earliest days of Christianity, I am reminded that they too were made up of people from very different racial and ethnic backgrounds whose priorities were often opposed to one another. To them Paul wrote: “Have no anxiety!” (Philippians 4:6) Last week we heard from that same letter wherein Paul urged the people to “complete my joy by being of the same mind” (Philippians 2:2). What did he mean?

In the sad days between the two World Wars of the last century, philosophers were reflecting on the human condition from varying perspectives. A German by the name of Martin Heidegger stated that the most genuine way of “being-in-the world” was “being-for-others,” in other words “Care.” Another German, a priest and theologian, Karl Rahner, reflecting on the awesome love of God, recognized that the most concrete expression of this love is the person who is Jesus Christ. He prayed to God: “Make my heart like that of your Son. Make it as great and rich in love as His, so that my brothers – or at least one of them, sometime in life – can enter through this door and there learn that You love him. God of Our Lord Jesus Christ, let me find You in His heart.” (Rahner, Encounters With Silence, p. 17)

We have always been a diverse community of faith; but, I believe, that we have often been “of the same mind.” When we fail in that mission, I believe that we allow the Evil One to do what is truly diabolic – to divide us by pride and self-righteousness. I was once asked by a reporter about the political persuasion of this parish. I responded: “I don’t know; all I know is that they want Jesus!”

A vineyard will often have different kinds of grapes and produce varieties of wine; but all must be crushed, fermented, and processed to become good wine. The follower of Jesus, the “stone rejected,” has to participate in that process. Thus, “have no anxiety…keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:9).

Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. Bill Foley