Weekly HOMILY for June 27, 2010: The Wake We Leave in Life

13th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle C
Our Lady of Grace
June 27, 2010

The Wake We Leave in Life
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato


The Principle

A wise old priest was meeting with a young man who was feeling conflicted about the decisions confronting him. He felt pretty clear about the sort of material success he was after, but uncertain about everything else in his life.

So the priest asked him what he thought he was committed to. What path did he think he was on? Could he describe it?

He warned the old priest that he wasn’t going after some sappy religious fantasy. “Sappy or not,” the priest countered, “everyone has a religion of some sort.”

“Everyone functions from a grand operating principle whether or not they admit it,” he added.

“Mostly that principle can be inferred by the wake they leave behind as they pass through their lives,” he continued.

What the priest meant was that the tangible content of our commitments – what we spend our time on and the things we do – tells the tale for all of us, notwithstanding what we say. That’s true of each of us as individuals; that’s true of us as a parish.

The priest then suggested that the young man check out the wake he was currently leaving behind, or if he was brave, he might ask a couple of others what they saw there.

The question remained, “Did he want to hear the evidence of what his wake revealed?”


Our Individual Wakes

Jesus is asking that very question in today’s Gospel: What is our “grand operating principle” – what are the values that we live, not just talk about, as individuals and as a parish?

To realize your “true religion,” – that is, what you worship – look at what you leave in your wake, look at the harvest your life is reaping.

Think for a moment of what you love. (Pause after each for a moment of reflection)
Think of your disappointments. How is your wealth spent? In what areas are you poor? What can you say you have accomplished? And what do you still hope to do?

Now ask yourself, “Are you satisfied?” “Are you fulfilled?” “Are you happy?”


Our Parish Wake

In theology we say that gifts given and received make people what they are. Over our 15 years together, you have been a gift to me and my life and ministry have hopefully been a gift to you.

You have loved this parish and me as I have loved you who make it up. The marvelous reciprocity of grace – how love begets love, and zeal produces zeal, and that generosity over the years has engendered more giving – is evident.

Just look around at our relationships, our sense of welcome, our concern for those in need, and our campus.

I love being a priest and I have loved being your pastor these past 15 years. And reciprocally, I have felt your love for me. And yes, that has moved me to love you all the more.

Out of this give-and-take of love we have both reached even deeper and farther in our support of each other, for love feeds on love. That reaching and deepening is the mystery of what we celebrate on this altar each Sunday.


Farewell

But, the final act of service, as Jesus has taught us, is how to leave friends and faith family and by the very act of leaving send more spirit into the community you love.

The Ascension after all is followed by Pentecost. Jesus’ final ascent to the Father sends the Holy Spirit’s fresh descent on the Apostles.

Those who are able to depart from what they love most know something special about Jesus and they inspire even more grace in their wake.

And, the grace for this community will come because of who you are and what gifts I am tangibly and intangibly leaving behind here in this marvelous parish.

“Remember such a one in time to come…” it says on my anniversary card. I count myself as one who will not forget you; please remember me, as well.

God bless you all.