From Monday to Friday I was up in Leeds for a priests’ retreat led by
Sr Briege McKenna. On the Monday evening she put to us a series
of questions, one of which was, not, “Who do people say the Son of
Man is?” but rather “Who is Jesus to you?” We were also asked, “Is
Jesus the Lord of your life?” We can easily take our eyes off the ball
and not notice that things have slipped a bit. And sometimes, what
we think is acceptable, is still not enough for the Lord.
She gave the example that, some years ago, one of her relatives was
dying in Ireland. Sr Briege had been due to give a retreat, but she
asked her religious superior and received permission to cancel it and
go to see her relative instead. But before she got on the plane, she
heard Jesus telling her to cancel the flight and give the retreat. She
wrestled with this and thought that her plan was reasonable, and
appropriate. But again, Jesus asked her to cancel her plans and give
the retreat. She gave in, informed her superior and went on to give
the retreat. About three weeks later, she phoned family in Ireland to
see how they were doing. “Haven’t you heard?” she was told. After
being unresponsive, her relative had perked up and was now
speaking and had more energy again. Sr Briege went to visit her.
Then she left, got on a plane, and before the plane touched down her
relative had died. God is not outdone in generosity.
Who is Jesus for us? Is He the Lord of our lives? Do we put Him first
before everything else? He has to be, not just important to us, but
essential, like the air we breathe.
Some years ago, I came across a cartoon which had a few big strong
men in shades turning up in a van with “Carbon Dioxide Emission
Control Authority” written on the side. They would find anyone, a few
of them would hold the person down, whilst one man in shades would
securely tape the person’s mouth, and there was a host of dead
bodies on the floor. During the first lockdown, a video was made by
various lay Catholics, addressed to the bishops of England and
Wales. They were saying that, effectively, they were suffocating by
not having access to the sacraments. They were pleading with them,
saying that they were happy to sign up to help disinfect churches and
do whatever was needed in order for churches to re-open. Do we
see our faith as, not just important, but essential?
Peter had to change his life plans. He could have retired as a
fisherman. But Jesus said, “Come, follow me”, and it was to be with
no strings attached. Saul had to radically change his plans by one
hundred and eighty degrees. He had been the zealous Pharisee,
determined to get rid of Christians. Christ appeared to him on the
road to Damascus. He didn’t say: why are you persecuting the
Church? He asked him: why are you persecuting Me? Saul was so
sure of himself, but he was completely wrong, and took time
afterwards to think it all through and work out where he had gone
wrong. But then he was able to convincingly show people that Jesus
was the Christ.
Later on, he had people thinking that he wasn’t a “proper” apostle,
and that certain false apostles were more worthy to be listened to
than him. So he put them straight. This is a shortened version of his
defence:
“I have worked harder, I have been sent to prison more often, and
whipped so many time more, often almost to death. Five time I had
the thirty-nine lashes from the Jews; three times I have been beaten
with sticks; once I was stoned; three times I have been shipwrecked
and once adrift in the open sea for a night and a day. ... I have
worked and laboured, often without sleep; I have been hungry and
thirsty and often starving; I have been in the cold without clothes.” (2
Cor 11: 23-25. 27)
Being a priest in Thame is so much easier than what he went
through! But we need to ask ourselves: are we willing to lose sleep
for the Lord? Face ridicule? Miss that football match we’ve been
looking forward to because it would mean we wouldn’t be able to get
to Mass? For our faith, are we prepared to miss promotion at work?
Or that new job that would make it difficult for us to get to church at
the weekend? Is He Lord of our life? Is He, not just important, but
essential? What are we prepared to give up for the Lord? What are
we prepared to take on? Spending less on ourselves and more on
others or on charity? Forfeit some of our own time to help in the
family, the parish or the wider community? Have a bigger family,
maybe even considering adoption or fostering? Or even a celibate
vocation? God won’t be outdone in generosity. Saints Peter and
Paul literally had their whole lives changed for something far bigger
and better. St Peter could have remained a fisherman; St Paul a
tent-maker. Instead they saw the world, brought so many to Christ,
died martyrs’ deaths and still inspire and evangelise to this day. Are
we going to play our part? Who is Jesus to us?
Curious about exploring things further? If you would like to ask further questions about the topics raised in these homilies (or maybe think it wasn’t explained too well!), please feel free to e-mail Fr Michael at stjoseph.thame@rcaob.org.uk