Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L.
Bishop of Scranton
HOMILY
Feast of St. Jeanne Jugan – August 30, 2011
Holy Family Residence, Scranton
It is a real privilege for me to join with all of you today – the residents, staff and friends of Holy Family Residence – and especially with the Little Sisters of the Poor as we celebrate the feast day of their foundress, Saint Jeanne Jugan.
The scripture passages chosen for today’s feast offer us profound insight into the saint whom we honor today – and also into the lives of each one of us, who, like Saint Jeanne Jugan, are called through Baptism to live as followers/disciples of the Lord Jesus.
Most notably, the gospel proclaimed today offers to us one of the most consoling and familiar passages in the New Testament – the Beatitudes. “Blest are the poor in spirit: the reign of God is theirs. … Blest are the lowly: they shall inherit the land. … Blest are they who show mercy: mercy shall be theirs.” I think we appreciate these words because more than most, their substance causes us to aspire to live them and especially to experience the fruits of their promise. But how? How do we become a people of the Beatitudes?
To be people of the Beatitudes is to embrace the spirit of humility that begins with valuing life as a gift from God, a gift we have received only through God’s love, not through anything we have done to deserve it. … To be people of the Beatitudes is to detach from looking to material things as the source of their comfort and peace in order to attach ourselves to the things of God and to trust in the power of his abiding presence. … To be people of the Beatitudes is to understand the blessing of lowliness – of realizing our need to be forgiven and reconciled with God, our family and our friends. … To be people of the Beatitudes is to embrace the spirit of mercy that enables us to consider things from the perspective of others and to feel their joys and sorrows. … To be people of the Beatitudes is to recognize that peace – which we all seek – is not merely the absence of trouble or discord. Peace is a positive condition: it is everything that provides and makes for humanity’s highest good – it is found around us and particularly within us – through faith.
The “blessed” of the Gospel – those who ARE people of the Beatitudes – they remind us of the power of divine love that can unfold in our lives when we embrace a spirit of humble gratitude before God who gives, nurtures and sustains lives. The “blessed” seek to respond to such unfathomable love in the only way they can: by returning that love to others – to God’s children – as a way of returning it to God.
Saint Jeanne Jugan understood well what it means to be a people of the Beatitudes. She knew where God was to be found. She understood the message of Isaiah the prophet, shared with us a moment ago, “This is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, … setting free the oppressed, … sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless.”
Listen to the simple yet profound words of Saint Jeanne. “Be kind, especially with the infirm. Love them well. … Oh yes! Be kind. It is a great grace that God is giving you. In serving the aged, it is He Himself whom you are serving.” She understood where God was to be found – and she served her God joyfully and completely. … Now listen to others words that were likely shared in an effort to support and encourage her dedicated and tired sisters. “Jesus is waiting for you in the chapel. Go and find him when your strength and patience is giving out, when you feel lonely and helpless. Say to him: ‘You know well what is happening, my dear Jesus. I have only you. Come to my aid. …’ And then go your way. And don’t worry about knowing how you are going to manage. It is enough to have told our good Lord. … He has an excellent memory.”
What powerful words for all of us to consider – especially in light of today’s Gospel. As we give thanks for the courageous and selfless life of Saint Jeanne Jugan – and as we also give thanks for the woman who have assumed her mantle of service in the Church – especially our own Little Sisters of the Poor – may we leave this celebration today mindful of what it means for us to authentically embrace the message of the Beatitudes. … Our “blessedness” will never be measured by our portfolios, celebrity or intellect, but in our ability to grasp that we exist not in and of ourselves … but only by and in the love of God.
