Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L.
Bishop of Scranton
HOMILY
Mass for Those in Consecrated Life – January 30, 2011
4th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Apart from the scripture passages that are proclaimed during the Christmas and Easter seasons, there is probably not a more encouraging passage or a passage that more deeply touches our hearts than that proclaimed today by Saint Matthew. We know the passage, taken from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount as the Beatitudes.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. … Consoling images. Beautiful poetry. Heart warming words.
But stop for a moment and reflect with me on what the Gospel writer is proclaiming. In essence, Matthew is proclaiming a paradox. The beatitudes are opposed to all of the conventional values of the Jewish and Roman world – and our world today as well: the values of wealth and plenty, health and vigor, pleasure and comfort. Instead, they pronounce blessings on all those who do not share in these values. Blessed – esteemed – honored are those who mourn – those who hunger – those who are persecuted for doing what is right.
Why would Jesus, why would any of us see such life experiences as worthy of pursuit and ultimately worthy of blessing? Don’t those who mourn, who hunger, who are persecuted for maintaining values, who work and labor for peace in the midst of upheaval, who show mercy and forgiveness – for as noble as such personal qualities may be, don’t such individuals also reflect lives that can be perceived as weak and vulnerable, reckless, and misguided? Yes, they can.
But something else can happen in the lives of such individuals as well. You and I understand this from our experiences of life. When we face our weaknesses, when we admit our vulnerabilities, when we risk living with integrity, in our moments of deepest despair, apprehension and pain – we find ourselves most in need of help, don’t we? … And we find ourselves most open to the power God in our lives.
Consider our life experiences for just a moment – yours and mine. When have you been most genuinely filled with love for another person? When you or they just received a pay raise, an inheritance or won the lottery and suddenly discovered that you could provide them or they could provide you with anything they might want in life? … Or do we feel love more deeply when we’re confronted with the possibility of loss or the pain that comes from grieving the death of that person who has been so much a part of your life or mine?
Where are we more likely to sense God’s presence, to see the face of God? In the reflection of a face in a shiny new automobile? … Or do we see the face of God more readily in the face of a hungry or abused child?
When do we feel most accomplished and satisfied? When we’ve made the right investment? … Or do we find satisfaction in standing up for what we believe; in making a difference in another person’s life; in living with integrity and a commitment to the truth, even if the rest of the world sees us as misguided and misinformed.
Paradoxically, aren’t we most comforted, most fulfilled and most at peace when we are most vulnerable and challenged?
In his second letter to the Church at Corinth, Saint Paul offers these powerful words: I willingly boast of my weakness, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I am content with weakness, with mistreatment, with distress, with persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ; for when I am powerless, it is then that I am strong (II Corinthians 12:9b-10).
The message of the Beatitudes only begins to make sense when we see within them the posture of openness to God. Indeed, the paradox of the Beatitudes is found in this reality: only when everything is taken away from us are we most open to being filled with the life of God.
Today we commemorate the world wide day of prayer for those in Consecrated Life. We join together in this Cathedral with woman and men celebrating jubilees of 25, 50, 60, 70 and yes, even 80 years in religious life. Collectively, our jubilarians alone represent over 3,990 years of service to the Church in Consecrated Life. What a blessing you have been and continue to be for all of us. … On a personal note, I’ve had the privilege of working with many of our jubilarians as a deacon and priest of the Diocese of Scranton. … I’m particularly honored to celebrate this mass with and for two religious sisters who taught me: Sister Joan Paskert, who taught me music throughout most of my high school years … and my kindergarten teacher, Sister Babette Opferman.
For all of the personal connections and achievements that fill the hearts of so many of us today during this liturgy, what lies at the heart of this annual celebration of Consecrated Life today?
Pope Benedict answered that question best and most succinctly. Consecrated life “is a radical imitation of Jesus.” We celebrate countless numbers of ordinary women and men, like all of us in this cathedral today, who embraced an extraordinary calling: to imitate Jesus in their lives of service to the Church. We celebrate women and men who have embraced the spirit of the Beatitudes – who have been open to God and who have allowed the Spirit to fill the openness of their lives with the power and presence of Jesus. We celebrate women and men who have taken to heart the words of St. Paul in the second reading from today’s liturgy: “Let him who boast, boast in the Lord.”
Embracing lifestyles that have been rooted in the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience, these woman and men have served to build up the Church throughout its history – teaching, healing, consoling, nurturing – becoming for us in so many ways the hands and heart and voice of Jesus.
They serve in a spirit of poverty, not for personal gain, but freely for the sake of the proclamation of the Gospel.
They accept God’s call to chastity, freely giving their hearts to those whom they serve with dedication and fidelity.
They walk this journey obediently, seeking to do God’s will, not merely their own.
And they embrace all of these counsels for the simple sake of the mission of the Church – the proclamation of the good news of the Gospel of Jesus and in imitation of his life.
My dear sisters and brothers in Consecrated Life, may we, the People of God be given eyes of faith to see in you shining examples of all that can happen when we risk setting aside the values of this world and instead stand before God – open and humble enough to admit our need for God’s love and power in our lives.
May you be blessed as you continue to serve the Lord Jesus. And may each of us have the wisdom, like you, to open our lives to God so that together, we may rejoice and be glad, for our reward in heaven will be great.
