The Homily of Your Life

“The ultimate purpose of mission is to enable people to share in the communion which exists between the Father and the Son. The disciples are to live in unity with one another, remaining in the Father and the Son, so that the world may know and believe.” – from 1990 document Redemptoris Missio by Pope St. John Paul II.

Last weekend we all had the privilege of gathering and being sent forth in the power of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. I pray that in this celebration you were given the reassurance of the Holy Spirit’s mission in your life and His mission for our parish, country, and world.

As the flock of homing pigeons returned home together following the 10:30 Mass, I too grabbed a quick lunch-to-go before heading home to the Cathedral of Christ the King in Superior. There Bishop Powers celebrated a 4:00 p.m. Mass which included the ordination to the diaconate of Carl Oman and Scott Pederson. It was a tremendous grace to join brother priests from around the state of Wisconsin, brother deacons from our Diocese, consecrated religious, and several hundred of the lay faithful for this celebration. It was a special moment for my two classmates – Fr. Julian Druffner and Fr. Isaiah Schick – and I as well because it was three years ago on Pentecost that we were ordained to the priesthood.

I have always found Bishop Powers’ homilies at ordinations to be truly excellent and his homily on Sunday was among my favorites. There was one section of the homily that particularly moved me as someone who participates in the life of the Church as a deacon and priest. Bishop Powers said:

“You (Carl and Scott) will preach the Gospel but the people will listen to and remember the homily of your life more than any words you ever speak. They will watch to see if you are a man of prayer, if you love the poor, if you are gentle with the suffering. They will observe your reverence for the Eucharist and if you serve without seeking recognition.”

I enjoy taking the time to prepare and deliver homilies in the context of the Holy Mass, but this was a tremendous reminder to me that it is not only in those 12 minutes on a Sunday that I share the Gospel but it is in every encounter of my life as a disciple of Jesus that I can cooperate with God to bring about His life and love in the world.

A common theme during my time in seminary, and which continues for Deacons Carl and Scott, is that men who prepare for ordination truly become men of communion. Men, firstly, that live in deep communion with the three persons of the Blessed Trinity and then men who are sent to bring about communion among the people of God and those on the margins of society.

Let us pray that the homilies of each one of our own lives will be written and proclaimed to the glory and praise of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Gracias a Dios.

‍

‍