INTRODUCTION
The title of my homily for this Second Sunday of Easter is, “Divine Mercy.”
On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the highest, how would I score, rate, or see myself, as a person who has mercy and compassion, forgiveness and understanding, of others?
CHRIS PAUL
Yesterday afternoon, I finished my homily for today. I was going to preach on the theme of Doubt – and Faith – a big theme in today’s gospel – with the story of Thomas. I paused and decided to look up on the Internet whom the football Giants drafted. I noticed on ESPN.com an article by Rich Reilly on Chris Paul. I think Rick Reilly is a great sports writer. Now that the Knicks are out of the basketball playoffs– which I expected – and now that the New Orleans Hornets are out of the playoffs, I thought maybe the article might hint that Chris Paul might want to be on the Knicks next year.
Nope – no mention of that. The article was about the grandfather of Chris Paul – Nathaniel Jones – the owner of a service station in North Carolina – who was robbed and killed in 2002 by 5 teenage boys. They wanted his wallet. They taped his wrists and his mouth and then beat him to death with metal pipes.
2 of the boys – brothers – are in jail for life. The other 3 will be getting out one of these years. The article says none of them have yet to voice any remorse. The article also says that Chris Paul hopes they would be given a second chance – forgiveness – mercy. The article reports that they are roughly his age. Two nights after the killing, Chris Paul, a senior in high school, got 61 points – deliberately missing the second shot of two foul shots – in memory of grandfather’s life and death at the age of 61.
Chris Paul said his grandfather, Chili Papa, taught him more than he could get with a Ph.D. – being extremely generous all his life.
Based on the article, Chris Paul has a sense of mercy – compassion – understanding and forgiveness.
Could I do that? Would I do that? Do I think like that?
On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the highest, what is my level of mercy, compassion, understanding and forgiveness?
JOHN PAUL II
Pope John Paul II has been beatified this day in Rome.
One of the most significant moments in his life was the day in 1981 when he was shot 4 times in St. Peter’s Square by the Turkish criminal, Mehmet Ali Agca. We all remember the TV moment when John Paul went to his prison cell and spoke and forgave him publically. This took place 15 years after the shooting. Then Pope John Paul II pushed for his pardon – and in the year 2000 he was pardoned – but then went to jail in Turkey for other crimes including the murder of a newspaper editor – from years earlier. In January, 2010, he was released from that prison in Turkey. He made a statement that he had renounced terrorism and violence.
Could I forgive like that? Would I want him out of prison?
What is my position on Capital Punishment?
How many Catholics agree with the Catholic position on Capital Punishment – which in recent years has gotten stronger and stronger – as being against it – a Church that in the past has condemned people to death and tortured people, etc.
On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the highest, what is my level of mercy, compassion, understanding and forgiveness?
LES MISERABLES
By reading the book, seeing the play or a movie – based on Victor Hugo’s 1862 novel, Les Miserables – The Poor Ones, The Miserable Ones, how many people in our world have changed their attitude towards criminals – convicts – ex-convicts?
A man, Jean Valjean, prisoner 24601, is sentenced to 5 years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread. He then ends up being in prison for 19 years because of various failed attempts to escape. Then after he gets out of prison, he can’t find a place to stay or get a fresh start. A bishop takes him in – but he robs 2 silver candle sticks. He’s caught. The bishop lies and says they were a gift to him. He’s released, but then steals a coin from a boy. He is pursued again. Then he realizes what he did was wrong and wants to give the coin back to the kid. The reader or the audience sees redemption taking place right in front of them.
Did that musical, movie or book, change and help improve any person’s sense of mercy towards other human beings?
On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the highest, what is my level of mercy, compassion, understanding and forgiveness?
Do I ever wonder what’s going on in the minds and hearts of other people – especially those I don’t know – associate with – don’t like – or don’t understand?
Do I ever think that there are people – many people on this planet who are singing, “I Dreamed a Dream”? Did I cry when I heard Susan Boyle sing that song from Les Mis – Susan being a person that many had written off – by her looks? Do I ever see a group of people cutting grass – or being rounded up as illegal’s – and do I ever wonder what their dreams for their lives and their kids are like?
If you feel trapped in prejudice or sin or doubt or any kind of feeling stuck, you’re here in the right place today. Sneak up on the communion line today – even if you feel unworthy and steal the bread. Hear the gospel news today, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Hear Jesus words, “I tell you there is more rejoicing in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine virtuous who have no need of repentance.” [Cf. Luke 15:2, 7,10] Steal the bread of life today – but don’t take the candlesticks or the collection.
I’VE BEEN BLESSED
I've been blessed joining a religious community in the Catholic Church called the Redemptorists. Our motto sums us up: "Copiosa apud eum redemtio." It's a text from the great Divine Mercy Psalm, 130 - and translates into English from the Latin, "With him there is fullness of redemption." Our charism is to reach out to those who feel they are lost or drowning and they are screaming out to God for help, "Out of the depths, I cry to you O Lord."
A parishioner asked a Redemptorist, "How come you guys never talk about Divine Mercy?" And the priest answered, "That's all we ever talk about!"
I’ve also been blessed in being born in a Catholic Family – the youngest of 4 kids – my father and mother both being immigrants – who came here with the dream of a future. I remember my sister Mary telling me how surprised her grandkids were when she said her dad – our dad - never made more than $100 a week. My mother worked on Broadway – cleaning offices at night. I was brought up in the seminary hearing about the rich legacy of Papal teachings about work – put into encyclicals on Labor and Labor Unions – as the Catholic and Christian answer to the plight of the world’s workers – which the communists were trying to address – especially on a day like today, May 1st – May day. [1]
Last night and this morning as I was thinking about the stuff in this homily. I realized loud and clear that our family was gifted with a great blessing about having mercy and compassion and forgiveness. I have to talk to my two sisters about this – next time we’re yakking. Our mom was killed in a hit and run accident – and it was a horrible experience – but we didn’t go bonkers with the 3 men – in the car who hit her – illegal’s – who ran. We never really had any issue with forgiveness. They didn’t wake up that morning saying they were going to hit and run and leave someone dead on the street. They must have panicked as they were on their way to work and this happened. Somewhere along the line we learned it wasn’t worth holding onto anger or hurt. The death of our mom was tough enough. Let go and let God be our help!
As priest I’ve met various people who can’t forgive others or themselves for disasters in their lives. Sometimes I want to scream, "Enough already!"
TODAY IS DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY
Today is Divine Mercy Sunday. It’s also called "Doubting Thomas Sunday". Today’s readings are filled with the theme of mercy.
Do I have any doubts about my take on others? Is my take on another, really the other?
Do I have any doubts about my take on myself? Do I really know who I really am?
Do I believe people can change? Have I ever changed?
Do I believe people can be forgiven? Do I believe I have been forgiven?
What’s my take on what God is like? Do I see God as fist or open hand?
Do I believe that Jesus Christ is God - God incarnate? See Jesus, see God? Do I believe that Jesus Christ wants us to have Mercy – and move us towards incarnating or being Divine Mercy?
Do I believe Jesus’ words on the cross, “Father forgive them they don’t know what they are doing?” Did Jesus look at those who were arresting him, putting him on trial, beating him, making fun of them, putting a crown of thorns on him, screaming for his capital punishment and wanting to free Barabbas? Did he look into the eyes of those in the crowd on the way to Calvary, those spitting at him, cursing him, nailing him to a cross at Calvary, watching him die, as well as his disciples who ran away, denying him, betraying him? Did anyone hear him say, “Father forgive them, because they don’t know what they are doing?” and then apply those words to themselves? [2]
Did I ever think or say, “It’s not fair. All my life I’ve been good and you’re telling me this other person who really never did anything can get into heaven the same as me?” Did I ever realize Jesus might have told the story about those invited to work in the vineyard even at the last hour – and get the same amount of salary as those who worked the whole day to get me to look at my attitudes? [3] Did I ever wonder if I was like the elder brother in the Prodigal Son Story – who wouldn't welcome his younger brother home – like his father did? [4] Did I ever doubt the story about the Good Thief at Calvary – whom Jesus said would be with him in paradise that same day as well? [5]
Did I ever think that Purgatory might be for those who can’t give the sign of peace to everyone in heaven – especially those there whom they don't think they should be there - and till they are willing to reach out that hand or whatever we have in Paradise to these others – they will not be fully in heaven – which is being in God – a God of Divine Mercy – a Trinity in the Eternal Dance – which is the so called, "Perichoresis of eternity" – everyone out on the dance floor with the Three Persons in God leading all of us in the Wedding Dance called eternity. And slowly people in Purgatory – those in those chairs facing the dance floor – realize I have to let go of my prejudices – my inability to forgive all these horrible people dancing hand in hand with God – and those on the dance floor scream joy as they pull that person into the dance – into the dance called God? [6]
CONCLUSION
The title of my homily is “Divine Mercy”. The sooner I discover God is forgiveness – God is all inclusive – God is all let go of what I'm holding onto – the sooner my hands become empty so I can then grab God's hands and I then become Divine Mercy as well. Amen.
NOTES
[1] If you are Catholic and you're against Labor Unions - I challenge you to read the various social encyclicals by our popes. Type into Google the following for starters: Rerum Novarum [1891] by Pope Leo XIII; Laborem Exercens [1981] by Pope John Paul II; Caritas in Veritate [2009] by Pope Benedict XVI.
[2] Cf. Luke 23:34
[3] Matthew 20: 1- 16
[4] Cf. Luke 15: 11-32
[5] Cf. Luke 23: 39-43
[6] Perichoresis is seen by some theologians to mean the "dance of the Trinity". Not all agree with this. I have been intrigued by this analogy ever since I heard it in a lecture years ago. It's personal. The 3 persons in the Trinity are one in the dance, yet 3 persons. And they are pulling all of us into union, communion, with them. If interested explore Google typing in the word, "perichoresis". I don't know how to dance, nor do I like it when people at weddings try to pull me onto the floor, but I do want to be in the Trinity.
