Homilía – Quinto Domingo de Pascua - Adiós

Hechos de los Apóstoles 14, 21b-27

Apocalipsis 21, 1-5a

Juan 13, 31-33a. 34-35

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(English translation can be found below)

En el evangelio de hoy, Jesús nos da su mandamiento.

Primero, nos manda a los apóstoles y a nosotros "Les doy un mandamiento nuevo: que se amen los unos a los otros, como yo los he amado". Luego nos recuerda a todos: "y por este amor reconocerán todos que ustedes son mis discípulos".

               Jesús nos está dando su mandamiento sobre cómo los demás sabrán que somos sus seguidores o no.

               Entonces, ¿cómo amar a los demás como Jesús ama?

               Como sabemos, no es fácil. Los apóstoles tuvieron dificultades para hacer esto y son nuestros modelos de fe.

               Para amar como Jesús ama, solo necesitamos ver los ejemplos que nos mostró en su ministerio a través de la Sagrada Escritura:

- Mostrar compasión por los enfermos.

- Cuidando a los pobres.

- Alimentando a los hambrientos.

- Siendo apacible y amable con los pecadores.

- Confortando a los afligidos.

- Perdonar a quienes le son crueles.

               Estos son solo algunos ejemplos de cómo Jesús ama a los demás.

Tal vez no podamos amar perfectamente como lo hace Jesús. Pero se nos ordena que hagamos lo mejor y tratemos todos los días de ser Cristo para los demás.

Para amar como Jesús ama, debemos poner a los demás por encima de nosotros mismos. Debemos vaciarnos todos los días y pensar en las necesidades de los demás más de lo que pensamos en nuestras propias necesidades.

Aunque tratemos de ser como Jesús, fallaremos a menudo.

La Buena Nueva es que Jesús nos ama lo suficiente como para permitirnos arrepentirnos por nuestros pecados y volver a intentarlo.

En toda la Biblia escuchamos a Jesús decirle a los apóstoles que sigan su ejemplo y hagan lo que él hace por los demás. Pero como sabemos, fallaron a menudo y en sus fallas podemos ver las nuestras:

Como Pedro, a veces carecemos de fe. Como Andrés, todos tenemos mucho que aprender. Como Santiago y Juan podemos ser egoístas a veces. Como Mateo, hemos hecho cosas de las que no estamos orgullosos. Como Tomas podemos dudar a veces. Como Judas a veces podemos traicionar a otros.

               Ver los fracasos de los apóstoles, pero también ver todas las cosas buenas que hicieron por la Iglesia deberían darnos esperanza. Si Jesús puede usarlos para construir el Reino, ciertamente también nos puede usar a nosotros.

               Ser Jesús para los demás es lo que nos diferencia de los no creyentes.

Así es como nos preparamos para la ciudad celestial que nos espera. Escuchamos sobre esa ciudad en la lectura del Libro de la Apocalipsis. El autor Juan describe la Ciudad Santa que nos espera a todos. Es un lugar donde se limpiará cada lágrima, donde no habrá más luto, ni más sufrimiento, ni más dolor. Qué hermoso lugar que será.

               Hoy escuchamos en Los Hechos de los Apóstoles que Pedro y Bernabé están en movimiento, yendo de ciudad en ciudad para compartir la Buena Nueva de Jesús.

               Y entonces, también, estoy yo.

               Después de siete años al servicio de la Inmaculada Concepción, esta será mi última homilía como su diácono.

               El Arzobispo me asignó para servir como líder pastoral de dos comunidades parroquiales en el centro de Seattle.

               Estoy muy triste de irme. Extrañaré mucho la práctica de mi español malo con una comunidad tan maravillosamente paciente.

               Me han recibido y me han ayudado a sentirme como en casa en esta Misa. Me han mostrado el amor del que habla Jesús hoy.

               Por esto, digo "muchas gracias". Todos ustedes han sido una bendición en mi vida y los llevaré en mi corazón a medida que me mueva hacia estas nuevas comunidades.

               Por favor, sepa que oraré por ustedes y les pregunto si pueden orar por mí en esta nueva tarea.

               Que Dios los bendiga y los guarde siempre.

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In today's gospel Jesus gives us His commandment.

First, he commands the Apostles and us "to love one another as He loves us." Then he reminds us all: “This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." 

Jesus is giving us His commandment for how others will know we are His followers or not.

So how do we love others as Jesus loves? 

As we know, it’s not easy. The Apostles had difficulties doing this and they are our models of faith.

To love as Jesus loves, we only need to look the examples He showed us in his ministry throughout Sacred Scripture: 

-          Showing compassion for the sick

-          Caring for the poor

-          Feeding the hungry

-          Being gentle and kind to sinners

-          Comforting the afflicted

-          Forgiving those who are cruel to him

These are only a few examples of how Jesus loves others.

We may not be able to love perfectly as Jesus does. But we are commanded to do our best and to try every day to be Christ to others.

To love like Jesus loves, we must place others above ourselves. We must empty ourselves daily and think about the needs of others more than we think about our own needs.

Even though we try to be like Jesus, we will fail often.

The Good News is Jesus loves us enough to let us repent for our sins and try again.

All throughout the bible we hear Jesus telling the Apostles to follow his example and do as he does for others.  But as we know they failed often and in their failures we can see our own:

Like Peter we sometimes lack faith. Like Andrew we all have much to learn. Like James and John we can be selfish at times. Like Matthew we have done things we are not proud of. Like Thomas we can doubt sometimes. Like Judas we can sometimes betray others.

Seeing the failures of the Apostles, but also seeing all good things they did for the Church should give us hope. If Jesus can use them to build up the Kingdom he can certainly use us, too.

Being Jesus to others is what sets us apart from non-believers.

It’s how we prepare for the heavenly city that awaits us. We heard about that city in the reading from the Book of Revelation. The author John describes the Holy City that awaits us all.  It’s a place where every tear will be wiped away, where there will be no more mourning, no more suffering, no more pain. What a beautiful place that will be.

Today we hear in The Acts of the Apostles that Peter and Barnabas are on the move, moving from town to town to share the Good News of Jesus.

And so, too, am I.

After seven years serving Immaculate Conception, this will be my final homily as your deacon.

The Archbishop has assigned me to serve as pastoral leader of two parish communities in downtown Seattle.

I am very sad to go. I will most miss practicing my bad Spanish with such a wonderfully patient community.

You’ve welcomed me and helped me to feel at home at this Mass. You have shown me the love Jesus is talking about today.

For this, I say “thank you very much.” You all have been a blessing in my life and I will carry you in my heart as I move on to these new communities.

Please know I will pray for you and ask if you would pray for me in this new assignment.

May God bless you and keep you always.

Homily – Fourth Sunday of Easter – Goodbye

Acts 13:14, 43-52

Revelation 7:9, 14B-17

John 10:27-30

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As we heard in our first reading from The Acts of the Apostles, Peter and Barnabas are on the move -- leaving one community for another.  

And so, too, am I.

After seven years serving Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Perpetual Help, this will be my final homily as your deacon.

As many of you heard last week, the Archbishop has assigned me to serve as pastoral leader of two parish communities in downtown Seattle.

To say I am nervous would be an understatement. This request came as a total shock and required much time in prayer, and discernment, in order to hear God’s voice and follow Him to places outside my comfort zone.

Today’s Gospel provides a beautiful image for discerning God’s voice in the difficult decisions we all make in our lives. The first thing we need to do is listen, listen closely for His voice. 

Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice; I know them and they follow me.”

Let’s use the Archbishop’s request as an example of how to better hear God’s voice when discerning His will and follow His call in our lives.

For me, this was a most difficult discernment. The past year has been a blessing balancing parish ministry, Maryknoll ministry and MercyWatch ministry. I told the Archbishop this was the most painful decision of my lifetime.       

When discerning God’s voice, we must listen closely to the voices of those around us, pray continuously, and ask that God’s will to be done.

            Catholic author Joe Paprocki has the following prescription for discerning God’s voice when making big decisions in our lives: 

Talk to Someone You Respect

God often speaks to us through the wisdom of others. Seek out the wisdom of at least one and perhaps several people who YOU feel have the gift of wisdom and ask for their advice.

Find Some Solitude

It's good to talk to other people when making important decisions, but at some point, it is crucial to make some time to be alone with your thoughts and with God. Invite God into your decision-making process.

Start with What You Know

Lay out all of the facts in front of yourself so that you can deal with the known before you delve into the unknown!

Tell God What It Is That You Desire and What You Fear

Be honest and tell God what your deepest desires and fears are in this situation. Before you can say the words, “thy will be done,” be sure you are truly in touch with your own will; otherwise it will come back to bite you!

Let God Speak to You

Most of us don't actually hear a voice when God speaks to us. However, pay attention closely to the ways that God is speaking to you. What kinds of thoughts, feelings (especially love, joy, and peace, or a lack thereof), and memories might God be stirring within you to help you make your decision?

Know That God Has a Plan for You

Remind yourself that you are not on your own and that you don't have to yell and scream to get God's attention to help you in this matter. On the contrary, remind yourself that God has a plan for you and that His plan is driven purely by love.

Pray to Do God's Will

As difficult as it may be, pray the words, “Thy will be done,” asking God to give you the strength you need to continue to discern His will and to follow it.

Wait

If circumstances allow, wait before making your decision. Continue to pay attention to your feelings to see which direction you are being drawn to.

Prayerfully Commit

At some point, you need to act. Knowing that you have sought God's will, set forth to do the loving thing.  (PAUSE)

Now back to the Archbishop’s request…

It all started a year ago when I got a phone call from Vicar of Clergy’s office and told my name had been put forward to become pastoral leader for Christ Our Hope in downtown Seattle. Would I be open to consider it and meeting with the Bishop? I told them I’d pray on it and get back to them. A few days later I called back to say I’d be open to talking to the Bishop.

Hours before our meeting, I got a call from the Vicar of Clergy’s office with word that a priest would be taking the assignment instead.

"Good!," I thought.  I was already in conversations with Maryknoll and would eventually take a wonderful part-time job with the Mission Society. God was clearly in charge here.

Fast forward to a few months ago and there’s another phone call from the Vicar of Clergy’s office with an official request by the Archbishop to consider taking over the same parish. But there was a twist.

Christ Our Hope is being paired with St. Patrick Parish. The priest personnel board had recommended one pastoral leader for both parishes.  

That’s when discernment went into overdrive.

You see, St. Patrick is where my wife and I were married 33 years ago.

Christ Our Hope is my mother’s parish where she serves as volunteer keeper of sacramental records. But it’s also the parish where I served as celebrant for her sacramental marriage with my stepfather in 2013 (after 35 years of civil marriage).  Her Catholic faith came alive again during my formation to become a deacon.

God’s voice was sounding louder and clearer.

Christ Our Hope is located one block from the Pike Place Market and St. Patrick is on the North end of Capitol Hill. Both have strong commitments to those experiencing homelessness in downtown Seattle (an issue near and dear to my heart).

Christ Our Hope was built a decade ago on the first floor of a Catholic Housing Service low income housing complex and is a unique blend of affluent and those living on the margins (a reflection of early Christian communities). Outside the parish on the streets of Seattle is a beautiful statue of a homeless Jesus asleep on a bench. 

St. Patrick does a monthly feed at a woman’s homeless shelter where I spent several years doing the annual homeless count in downtown Seattle with its director and staff a decade ago.

In addition, the parish priest I’ll be working with is someone I know well and have worked with closely over the years.

Also providing solace in this discernment is the fact our parish community has two deacon candidates who will likely be ordained one year from this December. I am grateful knowing you will be in their capable hands moving forward.

In talking to the Archbishop last week, I told him I saw God’s fingerprints all over this decision and gave him an enthusiastic “yes.”

            In stepping into this new assignment, I want to take this chance to personally say, “thank you” to each and every one of you. These past seven years have been a blessing.          
            We will miss this community and all the deep friendships forged here over many years of service together.

I love you all. My life has been forever transformed by your presence in it.  Please know I will hold you in my prayers for the rest of my life and ask for your prayers as well. 

I will continue my ministry of service with MercyWatch in Everett.  And look forward to being invited back for weddings and baptisms in the parish.  So, we’ll probably see each other from time to time. 

I leave you with this quote from a favorite TV show on PBS: Call The Midwife.

“Landscapes shift in sunshine and in shade. There is light. Look for it. Look for it shining over your shoulder on the path. There was light where you went once. It is light where you are now. It will be light where you go again.”  

          May God bless you and keep you always.