Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L.
Bishop of Scranton
HOMILY
Saint Andre Bessette Parish – First Patronal Feast Day of New Parish
January 6, 2012 – Weekday before the Epiphany of the Lord
I am so pleased to be here today to celebrate the Eucharist with all of you who are Saint Andre Bessette Parish. I’m especially pleased to be with you as you celebrate the first patronal feast day of this new parish community. Your presence here today – and your faith – remind me and should remind all of us of what’s possible when we open our lives to the power and presence of God – when we trust in the life of Jesus and the mystery of faith that he lived and passed on to us through his suffering, death and resurrection.
Although I have an idea, I can only imagine all that you have experienced in the days and years leading up to the first patronal feastday that you celebrate today as a parish community. I can only imagine the struggles that you embraced and to some degree, still experience – the grief and pain that comes from letting go of parishes and churches that were familiar, that were homes for you – as you ventured into the wilderness of something new – called “Saint Andre Bessette Parish.” While there is still much to be done, look at you today. A perfect community – No – no community is perfect because we’re not perfect – not me or you. But a life giving community in which faith can grow, hopes can be nurtured and hearts can find peace and consolation – Yes – absolutely yes. And why do I so boldly proclaim that all of this is possible? Because the presence of God is here in our midst through this gathering and in the Eucharist that we will soon share.
The example of John the Baptist from this evening’s gospel is a wonderful reminder to all of us today of who we are and who we are called to be as God’s people. John the Baptist spent his entire life pointing away from himself. He spent his entire life preaching and proclaiming the Lord Jesus – his life, his love and his desire to be the instrument of his Father as Savior of the world. The message of the Baptist was never self-centered. It never focused on his own person – his popularity – his needs or wants – his status or comfort. No, John’s message and his very life were always about Jesus and the life and salvation he would bring. Listen to his words again, “One more powerful than I is to come after me. I am not fit to stoop and untie his sandal straps. I have baptized you in water; he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.”
I think it’s probably fair to say that two years ago and to a certain extent even today, parishioners from Sacred Heart and Saint John the Evangelist Parish wondered about the parishioners from Holy Savior Parish who wondered about the parishioners from Saint Stanislaus Parish. Maybe there was a little bit of unfair judging going on – some rumors – a little bit of jealously, uncertainty that was caused by a fear of the unknown; a fear of letting go – behavior that the best of us might embrace – yet behavior that focuses upon our own needs – wants – desires – preference – behavior that doesn’t fully reflect the Gospel and its powerful example of discipleship exemplified by John the Baptist – who ever and always pointed the way to Jesus.
But it’s also fair to say that there has been and is something else at work in all of your lives, just as it was at work in John the Baptist’s life – FAITH – which gives us the honesty to admit that we all struggle, none of us are perfect, we need to give one another a chance – FAITH, which helps us realize that life is not about winning or losing – it’s about fidelity to values and for us as Christians, it’s all about embracing the Gospel of Jesus – walking in his ways and living with his peace – and pointing the way to the Lord.
And because of YOUR FAITH, salvation has come to this house – to this parish community – because like John the Baptist, you opened your hearts to the Lord, you were and are willing to look beyond your own needs and desires to something bigger. You were and are willing to trust in the providence of God. And look at what you have the power to become. A life giving community of faith, hope and love – embracing the mission of Jesus.
I would never be so presumptuous to conclude that there is no sense of longing for the past or that you no longer grieve or worry about the loss of buildings and structures that meant so much to you. Of course some of you do. We should grieve the loss of that which we love; the loss of that which provides a context for meaning in our lives. Yet life always goes on, even if we hold on to what has past. Life goes on.
I recall a personal experience that occurred in my family a few years after my father died. The grounds of the Carbondale YMCA bordered the back yard of the house where I grew up. My mother very much wanted to live out the remainder of her years in that family house and was placed in a bit of a quandary when the YMCA approached her to buy her house so that they could begin a major expansion. Ever resilient, my mother felt that it was not her place to stop progress in her home town. She sold the house in which she and my dad raised their family and she moved to another. The thought of her moving was a little awkward for all of us at first – until the day she moved and my sister and I presented her with a plaque that still hangs in her kitchen today. It reads, “Home is where your mom is.” She was and is there … and all is well in our family.
The same can be said for a parish. “A parish is where the Lord is.” A parish is the gathering of God’s faithful people nourished by his presence in the Word and in the Eucharist.
I will never forget words that were written to me by a parishioner of this parish shortly after the new parish was formed. I’ve long forgotten the name of the person who signed the letter and wouldn’t know her face. I will never forget her words, “We feel very badly that our church closed. But we have much for which to be grateful in this new community. We have the mass, good priests and the Lord in our midst.”
Isn’t it amazing what we celebrate today – the fact that THROUGH FAITH we are linked one to another – families linked to a parish that is linked to a diocese that is a part of the universal church – and the communion of the saints and your parish patron, Saint Andre Bessette – that kind, simple, determined, faith-filled soul. And we are all linked together through the Eucharist and the living presence of Jesus in our lives. What a great gift to celebrate today!
And stop for moment to consider all of the other things that we’ve been given by God. I’m not talking about a new car, a raise in pay or a lottery jackpot. If you have those things, that’s great. But remember – one day every THING that you and I possess will belong to somebody else.
Nor am I talking about a perfect world free from pain and suffering – as much as we all pray for that. Jesus’ world wasn’t perfect. He carried a cross, even when he prayed that it would pass him by.
When I ask us to reflect upon what we’ve been given by God, I am talking about lasting things … the gift of life, however long or short that it may be – loving relationships with family and new friends and fellow parishioners – forgiveness when we need it – peace at our center, regardless of what life brings – faith that enables us to face each day with hope – and the gift of a parish, as Blessed Pope John Paul II described it, “the family of God, a fellowship afire with a unifying spirit.” We’ve ALL been given these gifts and they stay with us, wherever we are, wherever we go.
As we gather in faith this day – even with the grief which we still experience from time to time – may we ever and always, like John the Baptist, spend our lives pointing to the way to Jesus – our life and salvation. And may we also give thanks – thanks for all that has been, for those who nurtured faith within us, our parents and grandparents, families and friends – may we give thanks for the rich blessings of parish traditions and experiences – and may we especially give thanks for all that is and for all that will be through the abiding presence of God who comes to us through his people who are Saint Andre Bessette Parish.