Homily for the 13th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Dear Parish Family:

Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?" (Romans 6:3)

These words of St. Paul were spoken to Christians who lived constantly with the awareness that their lives might be taken at any moment simply because they were followers of Christ Jesus. Built into the very fabric of our baptismal commitment is the vocation to introduce others to Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We do this in a myriad of ways. I cannot join you for “Happy Hour” because I have made a commitment to spend an hour in Eucharistic adoration. Would you like to join me? I am tired and would rather go home and relax; but my co-worker needs a listening ear and an understanding heart just now. Hospitality comes in many forms and it involves risk because it renders us vulnerable to rejection and ridicule. St. Benedict reminded his monks to welcome guests as if they were welcoming Christ himself. The reward for both is often beyond words to describe! A parishioner said to me last Sunday that the predicament we all share of isolation during the pandemic crisis has brought out unexpected experiences of kindness. Perhaps that long-postponed call to a distant relative or friend has reaped untold joys? Despite the fact that we are beginning to open our Churches and businesses, the spirit engendered by this enduring crisis ought to continue and grow stronger. The baptized Christian in particular is meant to be an ambassador for Christ. Isn’t that the very meaning of the dismissal rite at our Eucharistic celebrations? “Ite missa est!” “Go you are sent!”

Yours in Christ,
Fr. Bill Foley