Mass for ACCW
The homily below was given by Father McSherry at the mass for the ACCW group
(Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women) on Saturday, April 02, 2005, at St. Patrick's.
Acts 3:1-10
Psalm 105
Luke 24:13-35
Sisters and brothers in the Risen Christ.
The Easter Season gives us an opportunity to renew our faith; our belief in resurrection, our belief in God's transforming grace present in our lives.
Luke's Gospel and Acts of the Apostles use a literary device called the "divine reversal".
The divine reversal gets at the "unexpected", "surprising", awe causing (AWESOME!) things that happen.
We do not expect the lame to walk like the man at the "Beautiful Gate".
The prisoners to be set free like happened to Barabbas, the dead to come back to life like happened to Lazarus.
We certainly do not expect the dead to "rise" to a new and transformed life like happened to Jesus.
The "divine reversal" was expressed by G.K. Chesterton in the following verse:
"How odd of God to choose the Jews!"
God has done a few other "odd" things if we reflect upon our church and human history.
God chose women to be the first witnesses to the Resurrection. God, in the Spirit, chose a pope from Poland to help bring an end to Communism in Europe and bring liberty to millions.
God, in the Spirit, chose two people who were "going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem" to know the Christ in word (stories) and sacrament (breaking of the bread).
There is some speculation about why two disciples are leaving Jerusalem on this most important day.
As they explain to Jesus, whom they do not recognize,
"Some women of our group" have astounded us" they were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his body; they came back and reported that they had seen a vision of angels who announced he was alive."
The two disciples may have been on a mission to tell others what happened.
The two disciples may have been on a mission of self preservation.
The two disciples may have been "fleeing from" not just "going from Jerusalem."
The divine reversal, God's surprises are at work.
The disciples recognize Jesus in the stories he tells and the bread he shares.
The disciples return to Jerusalem to share with the "Eleven and those with them" what they have experienced.
The most amazing thing and perhaps the oddest thing God ever did, in the Spirit, was to choose you and to choose me.
We do not merit faith. We do not deserve God's love.
We are never worthy of being chosen by God.
Today we are privileged to share the surprising stories and the amazing bread that is our inheritance.
We are chosen, privileged, blessed.
As we share the story of the Risen Jesus, as we break the bread that gives life let us recognize the One who comes to choose, save, transform and give new life to us.
If you have comments or suggestions, please send it to info@stpatrickokc.org.