SAD HOMILY

My Dear Sisters in Christ,

This Sunday we had the marvelous image of the Good Sheppard as our reading.  The celebrant was Father Jack.  His homily covered some interesting points.  One is that Jesus would happily have sat at table with a homosexual who is living in a homosexual relationship and after breaking bread, Jesus who lovingly accepted all, would have sent the man on his way to continue in his pursuits.  He also quoted from Newsweek, in specific that priests and televangelists were responsible for the collapse of religion.  We should just simplify the whole thing and follow Christ.  Yes, my friends, all those souls sitting in the pews were also told that the civil wars in Europe occurred over people’s disagreements in how to ‘take’ the Eucharist. 

It would be funny if I was making this up sisters, but sadly I am not.   When my Christian tolerance reached its full, I got up and went to the restroom.  I prayed fervently to the Holy Spirit, the Saints, Martyrs and Our Lady to help this servant of God to come back to the church with his heart and MIND.  In fact, I shouted in anguish from my heart at the travesty that passed for a homily this day.

I was so aggrieved by what I had been forced to endure that after receiving communion, I gave the problem of Fr. Jack back to God’s loving hands and began to pray with intimate love for the savior that not only died for my sins, but then nurtures me into eternal life with his own body and blood.  As always when my heart is hurting, his peaceful calm came over me.  I received a most marvelous image as I prayed on.

Jesus was standing before the altar in heaven.  He was young, strong, and had legs like tree trunks, so sturdy where they.  In his right hand he held a staff and on his shoulders, he carried the entire human race.  Body upon body was heaped on his shoulders as he carried us to the throne of God; who sat watching our Lord with a countenance that said he was well pleased.  Beside our Lord stood Our Mother Mary, with her small hand resting on his arm.  The altar where Jesus stood was bathed in the light of the Holy Spirit.  The light shone so bright, that bands of color could be seen swirling in the brilliance.  Countless of the faithful, already in heaven, danced for joy before the throne, as the angels sang, played music and shouted in their awe of the spectacle.  Outside the rim of light stood millions of souls, all straining towards the light, their eyes trained on Jesus, swaying slightly to the sound of the music and joy.  Every once in a while one of the souls came forward and was allowed to step into the light where he or she would start to dance and shout with joy.

The sight filled every part of me, my heart danced, united as it was to our brothers and sisters in triumph.  Sometimes I was looking at the spectacle from the shoulders of Jesus, sometimes I was in the shadows yearning with all my heart to join the light.  And sometimes I was dancing and singing before the throne of God.  Exultant, uplifted, full to the brim with joy and awe for our marvelous GOD! 

Amen sisters!  God sent me that GREAT consolation for the suffering of that homily.  I must say that the two things cannot be weighed as equal.  My suffering was as nothing compared to what I was given and I left the church happy, peaceful, calm and in love with Jesus.

I will continue to pray for Fr. Jack, but I think perhaps I will also avoid masses that he presides over.

Pray for priests and religious sisters, that they be true to our Mother the Church;

That they follow that ancient wisdom of our church,

That they hold fast against the power and lure of antichrist that is in the world

That they realize that to speak the truth is to love truly, because the TRUTH will set us free.

May we sing and dance around the throne of God in Glory!

AMEN!