NICKNAMES

 

The title of my homily is “Nicknames.”
 
The subtitle would be “Descriptions of the Other Person.”
 
When I read today’s two readings what hit me are two wonderful nicknames from the scriptures of other people. They are not called nicknames, but that’s what I call them.
 
From today’s first reading from Acts 3 we hear mention of The Beautiful Gate. From what I read last night I heard the commentators say they are not really that sure just what gate into Jerusalem was The Beautiful Gate.
 
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be the gate to healing – the gate where people meet Jesus and they are healed.
 
In this building what would be the place of greatest care and healing and joy.  In one place I was stationed. It was in Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania.  In the kitchen there was a booth -  that had a table – with a light brown vinyl couch on both sides.  It was the place where we sat every night around 10 PM – for about a half hour – had a cup or two of tea – and good cookies – talked and told stories.
 
Looking back that was the best moment of the day. It was a beautiful gate into peace and laughter – joy and fun.
 
Wouldn’t it be nice to have  as a member of the community someone who was a beautiful gate to God – to each other  - to wonderful moments of life.
I would call people like that “The Beautiful Gate.”
 
In today’s first reading from Acts 3, it’s Peter who in the name of Jesus heals a crippled man who begs at the beautiful gate every day.
 
In today’s gospel it’s the story of Emmaus – Luke 24:13-35. I was giving a retreat once and a nun told us about a member of their community.  She never stopped talking  about the Emmaus story. She did it so often to every class of kids she  taught – that the kids nick named her, “Sister Mary Emmaus.”
 
Imagine going through life and telling everyone that we need to recognize God every time we break bread together.  Imagine knowing the scriptures so well that we help others see their life in the breaking of the words – and the breaking of their lives.
 
So my homily is about two nicknames: The Beautiful Gate and Emmaus. Wouldn’t it be neat to get one of those nicknames?