God wants me to personally know Jesus as my Good Shepherd - 4th Sunday of Easter - MQP Church in JLW Parish - April 25th, 2021

     Homily MP3 version                                 Homily PDF version      

Christ is risen, alleluia! Good Day dear sisters and brothers in Christ. We rejoice today because it is the Lord’s Day, the Day of the Resurrection of Jesus. It is that special day every week God gives us so that we might rest and enjoy our family. We are also glad because we see signs in nature that Spring is here. We don’t mind the rain too much because it washes away the dirt of winter and it refreshes all green growing plants and the wild animals and birds. We rejoice in God, our Creator and our Refuge, even though the pandemic still causes us to suffer inconvenience, hardship, and in some cases illness and even death. We are glad not because of the suffering, but we rejoice because Jesus is Lord of Creation and He and the Father permit this pandemic for good reasons which we do not yet understand.

We have the testimony of Peter and Paul and the other Apostles, and we also have all the testimonies of the saints that God loves us and that Jesus is our Good Shepherd. Our parents, our bishops, our religious, and our priests have also told us these things. All these witnesses make it reasonable for us to believe that God is good and that He loves us. Still, there comes a time when testimonies from others are no longer enough. That is because God our Creator has put deep in our soul an intense desire for us to know God personally. We want to know from our own experience that God is God, that He loves us, and that our lives are safely in his hands.

Sometimes God makes Himself known to us in dramatic ways, with power and glory, but most of the time, God makes Himself known to us quietly, discretely, gently, deep in our soul. In fact, we can be blessed by God’s presence and action but take it simply as something natural, and then we let it slip away into forgetfulness. If we never stop to ponder our experiences in life and never sit quietly in God’s presence, we never learn to notice the Holy Spirit whispering in our soul. That is why it is so important to take small steps, to come visit the Lord in the church when it is quiet during the week, to come early before Sunday Mass, and to sit quietly at home.

We can sit quietly in God’s presence in church or at home in a prayer corner, in front of a holy image, statue or icon and pay attention to the Lord. In the silence, we can open the Bible and let God speak to us using the words of the Book of Psalms, or Proverbs, or the Gospels and the letters of the Apostles. At times, as we sit silently in God’s presence, the Holy Spirit may open our memory and remind us of the many moments throughout our life when we felt God’s presence, his love, or his healing grace at work within us or in our family.

The Bible is God’s sacred history of salvation which He has in every generation offered to his people from the beginning of time. God also has a sacred history of salvation with each and every one of us. We may not be aware of God’s sacred history with us if until now we have never stopped to ponder our life from our conception until today. As we decide to take the time to sit quietly in God’s presence, in church or at home, and visit with God, pondering his visits to us in our lifetime – as Mary pondered these things in her heart – then the Holy Spirit can wake us up to the sacred history God has been building up with us until today.

It is primarily in silent contemplation and prayer that the Holy Spirit can teach us to remember and to recognize the saving presence and action of God in our lives. Then we can acquire our very own conviction that God is alive, that He is good, and that He loves us, that He loves me. From that moment on, once I personally recognize that God has been with me all my life, and that I have a life-giving connection with God through Jesus; from that moment on, I can know Jesus as my Good Shepherd and be convinced that He is with me at all times.

In this way I become truly connected with God the Most Holy Trinity. There is no trouble on Earth – no pandemic, illness, pain or suffering, no loss of job or income, fire or destruction, no prospect of dying that can frighten me. God is greater than all these threats, and I can know inside myself that in his own time God will save me from all such dangers and troubles.

Our Baptism and Confirmation in the Most Holy Trinity are God’s power at work in us through life as God fills us with divine life and love, making us truly daughters and sons of God with Jesus as our older brother. It is this realization that we belong to God and that He is our treasure that motivates women and men to marry and have children, raising them up to know and love God. This is also how men hear Jesus calling them to follow Him and to serve his people as deacon or priest. This is how women and men hear Jesus calling them to join a religious community and dedicate their lives to serving Jesus in his people the Church.

Two weeks ago, I turned 72. I have been privileged and blessed to serve Jesus as one of his priests for almost 38 years now. I look forward to serving Him for the rest of my life, and I will be glad to do so until I am in my 90’s. However, I no longer serve like Fr. Francis in the Parish all week long. I stopped being in parishes full time 7 years ago in 2013. Who will take my place? Jesus is still calling men to follow Him, but are they being quiet enough to hear his voice? Perhaps they are afraid to hear Jesus calling them or to answer his call.

From a human point of view, it could be terrifying to think about becoming a priest. But that is because being a priest is not a job. It is not only a human activity. Before he ordained me a priest, Archbishop Grégoire said I would be “welded to Christ. Jesus would join his mind, heart, and soul to my mind, heart, and soul.” He spoke the truth. It is a wonderful adventure to become a priest and to live my life joined to Jesus, loving and serving Him in his Church.

Please pray for the men Jesus is calling that they may not be afraid to listen to his voice and to answer Him. We even have a priest who was married, has a daughter, was divorced, and his marriage was annulled. Jesus then called him to be a priest. Christ is risen, alleluia!

Let us put all our trust in God the Father, + the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Let us take a few moments in reflect on Jesus’ tender loving care for us.

 

https://frgilleshomilies.blogspot.com   © 2006-2021 All rights reserved Fr. Gilles Surprenant, Poustinik

Afraid of God or angry with God? Jesus reveals the Father's love to us in the Holy Spirit. Aug 23, 2020

Homily MP3 File 

            Good day dear brothers and sisters! Are you and your family well? I hope that you are indeed all well in the Lord. These continue to be very strange times, and they are challenging times for everyone. Once again today our God assures us that He is very close to us and that He carries in his heart all of our needs and preoccupations. In fact, with his Son Jesus in the Holy Spirit our God and Father cares for us and our families even more than we care for ourselves.

So, what do you carry with you today as you have come into the Sunday Assembly of the living God? As you were preparing to come to church today, what preoccupations were you carrying in your mind and heart? This past week, or during the whole time since you were last here, where were you applying your efforts and energies? What are your responsibilities? What are your burdens? What things of yours are you bringing to the Lord today as your offering to put on his altar so you can make a whole hearted offering of yourself with Jesus to the Father?

Last Sunday the Lord declared that He intends for all people to be welcome in his house because He wants to show his mercy to every human being. The Lord knows that we are locked in battle with our own human weakness and with the troubles of this world, and He sympathizes with us, caring profoundly for us. God intends for every human being to experience his mercy, his great love which we could never deserve. Jesus even teased the foreign woman who begged Him to heal her daughter by using the derogatory term of “dogs” with her, but not in the way that Jews at that time did. People had contempt for foreigners, but Jesus showed her kindness and tenderness with the tone of his voice and the warmth of his eyes. He encouraged her to say what she wanted and she did; and then He granted her heart’s desire.

This is very good news, that God is kind and merciful to everyone, and that He wants all people to come to Him with trust in his divine mercy. But there’s a problem. Too many people don’t know that God is kind and merciful; so they keep their distance. People stay away from God and from his Sunday Assembly. Many people don’t pray because they are either afraid of God or they are angry with Him because their troubles in life are not being resolved. God says words of kindness to people but they have closed their ears, closed their minds, and closed their hearts. That is why our God needs messengers to declare the good news that He offers kindness and mercy to everyone. Now, who will be messengers of good news for our God?

We Catholics are known to be “allergic” to talking about God to others. We might feel close to God ourselves, but we feel too shy or reserved to talk about God to others, even to our own family members. The problem with this is that no one can get to heaven on our own, all by ourselves. This is because we are all in this life together, we are all connected to one another; we are all part of the living body into which we were initiated at Baptism. We cannot be indifferent to anyone else. All together we are the body of Christ continuing to live in this world, and Jesus is our Head. Jesus needs us to be his body living, speaking, and loving in this world. He has already done his part, his mission as a human being, and now, as the Son of God He continues his mission in us and through us.

So, Jesus is putting his questions to us today. “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” Think about it. Who is Jesus for your family members, for those who don’t often come to the Sunday Assembly? Who is Jesus for your neighbours and friends, for your co-workers or fellow students?

Then, once Jesus has asked us about all the other people in our lives; then He becomes very personal and asks us the really tough question: “But who do you say that I am?” In English we don’t get it, but in their language of Aramaic, as in the more formal language of Hebrew, it was forbidden to say the expression “I am” – no one was allowed to say “I am” anything, I am tired, I am hungry, no, never “I am”, because these are the words God used when the voice of God spoke to Moses from the burning bush on the holy mountain. Moses asked what name he should use to tell the people when they would ask him who it was that spoke to him. God’s answer to the question “Who are you?” was simply: “I am. I am who I am.”

As a human being, Jesus needed those close to Him to know, to understand, and to believe who He really is, the Son of the living God. Otherwise, there’s no way that the apostles would have been willing to become Jesus’ messengers in the world, whether people wanted to listen to them or not. The same is true for us. People may or may not want to listen to us when we speak to them about God, about his kindness and mercy, about his desire to become more involved in their lives. There’s no way we will be willing to endure people’s reactions when we speak to them about God; not unless we become convinced ourselves of who Jesus really is.

God has to become more real to us than simply a mysterious being who grants wishes. God is not a “genie” in a bottle who grants 3 wishes. The living God is a Holy Trinity of divine persons in an eternal community of love which gives life: the Eternal Father, the only-begotten Son who became incarnate of the Virgin Mary, Jesus the risen Lord and the Christ, and the Holy Spirit – together from all eternity they have been the most Holy Trinity. When we see Jesus we see the Father, because as a human being, Jesus is the perfect image of who the Father really is. The Father and the Son continually pour the living water of the Holy Spirit into us, giving us inspiration, strength, vitality, peace, love, and joy even in the midst of trials and suffering.

So, Jesus’ question will not go away. “But who do you say that I am?” We won’t come up with an answer from our own minds and hearts. None of the apostles answered Jesus except Peter, and Jesus declared plainly that it was not any human power that revealed the truth about Jesus to Peter, but it was Jesus’ Father in heaven. There is no other way for us either. Only the Father can reveal Jesus to us. We will not discern the quiet voice of the Father speaking to our spirit deep within us as long as we remain afraid of silence, of interior silence.

For the past four thousand years the only people who came to know God were those who were willing to slow down, stop, and be still in order to allow themselves to enter into their own spirit inside of themselves and, there, to enter into silence. When we try to do that, when we try to pray and meditate on the words of God and the things of God, we at first encounter interior noise, lots of noise: the noise of our many thoughts and feelings, our list of things to do, of fears and preoccupations, of our suffering and disappointments, of our concerns for others, of our many duties, an on and on and on, a lot of noise, which can be intimidating….

We don’t need to be afraid, because the Holy Spirit is always with us, within us, to guide us along the way of silence, the way of meditation and contemplation, the way of prayer and listening to the Word of God. From the cross as He was dying, Jesus entrusted us along with his beloved apostle John to the care of Mary as our Mother. In the Rosary she guides us to Jesus. Mary is an expert in pondering the things of God in her heart and she is eager to help us do that. Shall we pray?  Fr. Gilles prayed spontaneously for everyone

Let us now take a few minutes to reflect quietly on this Good News the Lord has spoken to us.

© 2006-2021 All rights reserved Fr. Gilles Surprenant, Associate Priest of Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montreal  QC
© 2006-2021 Tous droits réservés Abbé Gilles Surprenant, Prêtre Associé de Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montréal QC

The greatest gift is Jesus Himself - what joy to notice God is making a difference - 13th Sunday 2020 - Team of Our Lady Mtl 50

 Homily MP3 File                                 Holy Communion Instruction MP3 File 

Collect

O God, who through the grace of adoption chose us to be children of light, grant, we pray, that we may not be wrapped in the darkness of error but always be seen to stand in the bright light of truth. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Reading (2 Kings 4.8-12a, 14-16)

One day Elisha was passing through Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to have a meal. So whenever he passed that way, he would stop there for a meal. She said to her husband, “Look, I am sure that this man who regularly passes our way is a holy man of God. Let us make a small roof chamber with walls, and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that he can stay there whenever he comes to us.” One day when Elisha came there, he went up to the chamber and lay down there. He said to his servant Gehazi, “What then may be done for the woman?” Gehazi answered, “Well, she has no son, and her husband is old.” Elisha said, “Call her.” When the servant had called her, she stood at the door. Elisha said, “At this season, in due time, you shall embrace a son.” 

The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 89)

R. Forever I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord.

I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, for ever; with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations. I declare that your steadfast love is established forever; your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens. R.

Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O Lord, in the light of your countenance; they exult in your name all day long, and extol your righteousness. R.

For you are the glory of their strength; by your favour our horn is exalted. For our shield belongs to the Lord, our king to the Holy One of Israel. R.

Second Reading (Romans 6.3-4, 8-11)

Brothers and sisters: All of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death. Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation (See 1 Peter 2.9)

Alleluia. Alleluia. You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. Praise God who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. Alleluia.

Gospel (Matthew 10.37-42)

The Lord be with you.             And with your spirit.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.         Glory to you, O Lord.

Jesus said to his Apostles: “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple — truly I tell you — that person will not lose their reward.”

The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Universal Prayer

Priest’s Introduction                      To God the Father almighty, dear brothers and sisters, may every prayer of our heart be directed, for his will it is that all humanity should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.

That young people may find much joy in seeking your Sacred Heart, O Jesus; by living the Gospel may they help to renew the world, we pray to You, Lord.      R. Lord, make us missionary disciples.

For all families as we enter into summer – especially in the face of difficult challenges – that all may find peace in your Most Sacred Heart, we pray to You Lord….  R. Lord, make us missionary...

For indigenous peoples worldwide and in Canada as we fight against Covid-19; at all levels of Canadian society and government may we honour indigenous peoples in their dignity, be receptive to their rich heritage, and engage in Nation to Nation building, we pray to You Lord…        R.  

For victims of sexual abuse or violence, for their families and communities; for all those who are hungry, thirsty, naked, elderly, lonely, sick, in trouble, in prison, refugees, abandoned, or suffering injury or loss due to calamities, we pray to You, Sacred Heart of Jesus.      R. Lord, make us...

That married couples may grow closer through trust in your Most Sacred Heart; that families may support each other with their faith in God; and that engaged couples preparing for marriage and family life may make room for You, we pray to You, Lord.  R. Lord, make us missionary disciples.

That our governments may respect parents as first educators of their children; that all children and families in trouble, and all who suffer for whatever reason, may find comfort in your Most Sacred Heart – O Jesus – Gift of the Father to all of Humanity, we pray to You, Lord….  R.

In union with Pope Francis’ worldwide intention for June, we pray “that all those who suffer may find their way in life, allowing themselves to be touched by the Heart of Jesus", and for the Church in China, we pray to You, Most Holy Trinity.           R. Lord, make us missionary...

For those who are preparing to celebrate Baptism, Reconciliation, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, and Marriage; that they may find joy in preparing; so that their life in Christ may continue to grow, we pray to You, Lord.     R. Lord, make us missionary disciples.

That men called by You, Lord, to serve as priests may with courage and trust in You say “Yes!” to your call as Mary and Joseph did, and that the shepherds of our souls may govern generously and wisely the flock entrusted to them by You, we pray to You, Sacred Heart of Jesus.    R.

That our communities, as we emerge from isolation, may patiently observe the health measures and bear witness with great devotion to your Most Sacred Heart, we pray to You Lord….  R.

For our own personal intentions....

Priest’s Prayer                    O God, our refuge and our strength, hear the prayers of your church, for you yourself are the source of all devotion, and grant, we pray, that what we ask in faith we may truly obtain, through Christ our Lord.                          R. Amen.      

© 2006-2021 All rights reserved Fr. Gilles Surprenant, Associate Priest of Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montreal  QC
© 2006-2021 Tous droits réservés Abbé Gilles Surprenant, Prêtre Associé de Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montréal QC

Troubles - God doesn't rescue but always helps - our trust invites his power - 12th Sunday 2020 - Team of Our Lady Mtl 50

 Homily MP3 File 

First Reading (Jeremiah 20.10-13)

Jeremiah cried out: I hear many whispering: “Terror is all around! Denounce him! Let us denounce him!” All my close friends are watching for me to stumble. “Perhaps he can be enticed, and we can prevail against him, and take our revenge on him.” But the Lord is with me like a dread warrior; therefore my persecutors will stumble, and they will not prevail. They will be greatly shamed, for they will not succeed. Their eternal dishonour will never be forgotten. O Lord of hosts, you test the righteous, you see the heart and the mind; let me see your retribution upon them, for to you I have committed my cause. Sing to the Lord; praise the Lord! For he has delivered the life of the needy from the hands of evildoers.

The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 69)

R . Lord, in your steadfast love, answer me.

It is for your sake that I have borne reproach, that shame has covered my face. I have become a stranger to my kindred, an alien to my mother’s children. It is zeal for your house that has consumed me; the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me. R .

But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love, answer me. With your steadfast help, rescue me. Answer me, O Lord, for your steadfast love is · good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me. R .

Let the oppressed see it and be glad; you who seek God, let your hearts revive. For the Lord hears the needy, and does not despise his own that are in bonds. Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that moves in them. R .

Second Reading (Romans 5.12-15)

Brothers and sisters: Just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, so death spread to all people because all have sinned. Sin was indeed in the world before the law, but sin is not reckoned when there is no law. Yet death exercised dominion from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who is a type of the one who was to come. But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one man’s trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many.

The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation (See John 15.26, 27)

Alleluia. Alleluia. The Spirit of truth will testify on my behalf, says the Lord, and you also are to testify. Alleluia.

Gospel (Matthew 10.26-33)

The Lord be with you.          And with your spirit.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.         Glory to you, O Lord.

Jesus said to his Apostles: “Fear no one; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows. “Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before humans, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; but whoever denies me before humans, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.”

The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Universal Prayer

Priest’s Introduction                      To God the Father almighty, dear brothers and sisters, may every prayer of our heart be directed, for his will it is that all humanity should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.

For all indigenous peoples worldwide but especially in Canada on this National Indigenous Day; that at all levels of Canadian society and government we may honour their dignity, be receptive to their rich heritage, and engage in Nation to Nation building, we pray to You Lord…             R.

For all fathers on this Fathers’ Day – especially those experiencing difficult challanges – that all may find peace in your Most Sacred Heart, we pray to You Lord….  R. Lord, make us missionary...

That married couples may grow closer through trust in your Most Sacred Heart; that families may support each other with their faith in God; and that engaged couples preparing for marriage and family life may make room for You, we pray to You, Lord.  R. Lord, make us missionary disciples.

That our governments may respect parents as first educators of their children; that all children and families in trouble, and all who suffer for whatever reason, may find comfort in your Most Sacred Heart – O Jesus – Gift of the Father to all of Humanity, we pray to You, Lord….  R.

In union with Pope Francis’ worldwide intention for June, we pray “that all those who suffer may find their way in life, allowing themselves to be touched by the Heart of Jesus", and for the Church in China, we pray to You, Most Holy Trinity.           R. Lord, make us missionary...

For those who are preparing to celebrate Baptism, Reconciliation, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, and Marriage; that they may find joy in preparing; so that their life in Christ may continue to grow, we pray to You, Lord.     R. Lord, make us missionary disciples.

That young people may find much joy in seeking your Sacred Heart, O Jesus; by living the Gospel may they help to renew the world, we pray to You, Lord.      R. Lord, make us missionary disciples.

For all victims of sexual abuse or violence, for their families and communities; for all those who are hungry, thirsty, naked, elderly, lonely, sick, in trouble, in prison, refugees, abandoned, or suffering injury or loss due to calamities, we pray to You, Sacred Heart of Jesus.      R. Lord, make us...

That men called by You, Lord, to serve as priests may with courage and trust in You say “Yes!” to your call as Mary and Joseph did, and that the shepherds of our souls may govern generously and wisely the flock entrusted to them by You, we pray to You, Sacred Heart of Jesus.    R.

That our communities, as we emerge from isolation, may patiently observe the health measures and bear witness with great devotion to your Most Sacred Heart, we pray to You Lord….  R.

For our own personal intentions....

Priest’s Prayer                    O God, our refuge and our strength, hear the prayers of your church, for you yourself are the source of all devotion, and grant, we pray, that what we ask in faith we may truly obtain, through Christ our Lord.                          R. Amen.      

© 2006-2021 All rights reserved Fr. Gilles Surprenant, Associate Priest of Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montreal  QC
© 2006-2021 Tous droits réservés Abbé Gilles Surprenant, Prêtre Associé de Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montréal QC

Homily while in training - Saint Paul University Seminary - S.P. Institute of Pastoral Studies - St. Elizabeth Parish, Ottawa - Solemnity of Christ the King, Nov. 22, 1981

Well, it looks like God is making us an offer we can’t refuse: it’s either unending happiness or unending pain and loneliness. At first hearing, that sounds pretty scary! But as we give it more time, it seems as though Jesus is really telling us something about belonging. We often experience belonging, but we don’t often think about it.

With something like hunger, it’s different: we know that the empty feeling and the growling in our stomach won’t go away until we have something to eat. Or when our mouth is dry; it won’t feel better until we have something refreshing to drink. Now that the days re chilly, we wear sweaters and turn on the stove or furnace to keep warm. A lot of these things we can get for ourselves, but when new receive them from someone who cares about us, we really feel that we belong. And when we go without them for a long while, we begin to feel that we don’t belong to anyone – “Nobody really cares about me!”

Chances are, though, that we can remember at least one time in our life when we felt we belonged to someone, to a very special person. Perhaps it was the handshake, or a smile, that really gave a warm feeling inside. Perhaps it was a gentle kiss, a loving embrace, or a great big bear hug! Maybe someone tucked us into bed at night with a favorite fuzzy. It’s good to belong to someone special. That’s an offer that’s too good to refuse. It’s someone offering themselves that makes a difference.

At times, we might know someone who’s lonely or cold, and we feel badly for them. Like Jesus, we know what it’s like to feel hungry or tired, afraid or rejected. This is the moment to let that person know somehow that we care; that we’re ready to go out of our way for them. If we do, it becomes possible for them to feel that they belong. This is how the Father lets us know that we’re loved, that we belong – through the little caring things of every day.

In a way, our God is terribly weak, almost helpless. For 1000’s of years people have called him King, and he is. And yet he needs us to let people know that they are loved…. Have you ever met someone who is suffering, hurt or angry? If you try to tell them about God’s love and no one has ever cared for them it won’t take long for them to tell you where to go! It’s very difficult for us to know God loves us if we haven’t first felt the caring touch of another’s love.

The Father depends on us to let others know they are loved…. He depends on others to let us know we are loved… and He gives us the same strength He gave to Jesus: a Love so strong that it gives life that lasts forever. This love is a seed that sprouts in us – after we die, it will become fully grown and bear much fruit – and even now it is rowing, showing some flowers and even some fruit.

Jesus loves us first – He is the first One, our older brother – and his Spirit meets us in the quiet of our heart: that place where we can decide to care for someone, or not to care. We don’t have the strength ourselves to love as well as we would like, but Jesus gives us the strength to try. His Love within us only becomes real for others when we let it come out and touch someone – especially when it’s hard to do, or if it’s for someone we don’t like…. And when we do, that’s when we belong to Jesus the most. His Kingdom is about the giving of life… and we proclaim him our King when we share his love that wells up within us with one another. Jesus is the first of many brothers and sisters.

* * *

© 2006-2021 All rights reserved Fr. Gilles Surprenant, Associate Priest of Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montreal  QC
© 2006-2021 Tous droits réservés Abbé Gilles Surprenant, Prêtre Associé de Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montréal QC  

Homily while in training - Saint Paul University Seminary - S.P. Institute of Pastoral Studies - St. Elizabeth Parish, Ottawa - 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Oct. 11, 1981

 “How can I thank You, Lord?” “Listen… and let Me love you!”

Jesus once said his Father in heaven has sent him to bring us Good News. There are many of his words that really pick us up – they are Good News. Now, what about this story he tells us today – how does it strike you? Do you feel good about it? Maybe something struck you and your mind wandered… thinking about what happened before you came here, or about what you’ll do when you leave, or thinking about someone…. Or maybe like I’ve often done, you couldn’t help but put yourself in the place of the poor guy without the wedding garment. Can you imagine following the crowd and finding yourself in a wedding hall where you don’t know anyone and realizing you’re not even dressed for it? How embarrassing! It takes time to get ready for a wedding, and the more you love the newlyweds, the more time you take to make yourself look beautiful and joyful.

Still, it’s easy enough to get psyched up for a wedding. What about Thanksgiving that our society celebrates this weekend? It’s easy enough to feel grateful and to thank a person right away when they gift me with something, with their time or with themselves. It wouldn’t be proper to wait for this occasion once a year to thank all those people who all year give me life and make me feel special. So how can we celebrate thanksgiving? Maybe right now it’s difficult for me to find something to be thankful for… maybe someone I love is having a hard time for some reason, and I’m praying for something good to happen, but right now, I’ve got nothing to feel thankful for. So now what?

Isaiah the prophet, about 2,500 years ago – that’s a long time! – he felt close to God, and he was convinced that the Lord’s hand rested on the mountain where Jerusalem is built – he was convinced that God would prepare a banquet there for his people. Do you think they’re still waiting? His people were exiles, refugees you might say, but God kept his promise: they returned to the holy mountain – the place where God meets his people. God cares about his people. What about Israel today? What about Ireland? El Salvador? What about all those people at war or under oppression? What about us? Does God care about us, about our suffering? How do we know that He cares?

Do you think we can ask Him?... “Lord, if you really care about us, please let us know so we can feel thankful in our heart. Amen.” 

Jesus tells us that the Father is constantly inviting us to accept from him the gift of life – the joy of the wedding feast. So, who’s getting married, already?... would you believe us and God?

St. Paul boasts that there is nothing he cannot master with the help of the One who gives him strength? He must have been getting a lot of strength! And yet, Paul cares enough to thank the Philippians for having kindly remembered him at a time when the Roman police were giving him a hard time. Where was Jesus for them? In Paul’s own heart giving him strength; in his friends showing that they care; in Paul – letting them know he appreciates their gesture of caring. Where is God in our life? In the lives of those we love, those we meet?

Isaiah told his people that God would soon save all peoples: delivering them from exile, destroying death, wiping away their tears and taking away their shame. In the Psalm today, we ourselves prayed to the Lord as the One who provides, who revives, who guides and comforts, who prepares a banquet and anoints with oil, who blesses forever.

In what ways then, is the Lord doing these things? Think for a moment of a wedding you attended or a happy person you know. The bride and groom are really joyful… what do they do with this joy? They spread it around, don’t they? Just to be there, and for them to look at you, makes you feel like a whole new person!

Well it’s the same with God and us: in Jesus God is s close to us as the Groom and his Bride – they just know they are loved – they see it in each other’s eyes! The Breath of God in our hearts invites us to look to him with the eyes of our heart – He wants us to know we are loved, to feel his presence in our lives. He invites us to take a few moments each day to slow down, to listen to our heart, even if it’s upset; - underneath the tiredness, hurt or anger, Jesus is there, looking at us with eyes of love…. Yes, but sometimes I have “icky” thoughts or feelings in my heart and I’m embarrassed to pray! Jesus sees all that, and it makes him love us even more, because we need his love all the more.

To be without a wedding garment means not to care about the Bride and the Groom. For our love relationship with God, in Jesus, not to care means not to take the time to listen to Him in our heart. To take the time means to accept the not-so-nice things we might find in our heart – because Jesus loves us and wants to give us the strength to look at these things, to accept that they’re mine… and slowly, He’ll help us make our heart a more beautiful place for everyone to be and to feel welcome we’re the Bride of God. He wants to make us happy, and he wants us to help him to wipe away those tears on the cheeks of someone close by. He wants us to help him share with someone the Good News that their life means something to us. He wants us to have a lot to be thankful for….

“How can I thank You, Lord?”

“Listen to Me in your heart… let Me love you and let Me love others with you. Let Me give you Life in My Family!”

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© 2006-2021 All rights reserved Fr. Gilles Surprenant, Associate Priest of Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montreal  QC
© 2006-2021 Tous droits réservés Abbé Gilles Surprenant, Prêtre Associé de Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montréal QC