REBIRTHS, NEW EDITIONS, STARTING AGAIN, ETC. ETC. ETC.

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “Rebirths, New Editions, Starting Again,  Etc. Etc. Etc,”

Today’s gospel continues with the story of Nicodemus, Nick at  Night He’s  the one Jesus tells he needs to born again. And like most of the main characters in the Gospel of John – he takes Jesus literally. So that’s why he says, “What? Go back into my mother’s womb and start all over again?”

Jesus calls all to rebirths, new editions, starting again and again and again.

So every year the church has Lent – leading to baptismal renewals at Easter. So folks read,  make retreats – attend conferences and workshops – hoping for growth – insights - change – reconversions – new beginnings and fresh starts.

Parish Missions and Renewals are a crucial piece of our story as Redemptorists.

I’ve often heard that’s the story of many marriages. They have their ups and downs. They have their falling asleep on the job called marriage – and please God people both don’t fall out of love at the same time. And it’s the making up – the waking up -  that are significant moments in the stories of many a marriage.

Life is ups and downs, peaks and valleys. To flat line is to be pronounced dead.

Take a moment to feel and take your pulse today. Where are you?

It takes Nicodemus time – but in time he becomes a follower of Jesus Christ.

ST. CATHERINE OF SIENNA

Today is the feast of St. Catherine of Sienna.

Reading short takes on her life last night, I was amazed to read at the bottom – that she was only 33 when she died.

Talk about retakes. She had many lives – hiding out in her room as a teen ager – then traveling – then getting involved in both church and state issues big time. They have over 400 of her letters to kings and poor unknowns. She challenged church to wake up and get on mission. She challenged priests to divest from the pursuit of money. She told popes to step down when there were 3 at the same time – as well as get back to Rome from Avignon – a great place to visit. At times folks wanted to assassinate her.

Talk about remakes. Rome declared her and St. Teresa of Avila doctors of the church in 1970. There were 30 males in that hall of fame – better wake up to women writers in our church.

CONCLUSION   

To look at our life?

It’s Easter time…. It’s Spring time…. The bursting new life flowering around us is like those reminders  that it’s time to renew a magazine or this or that.

I’m hearing that Pope Francis has gone through some big retakes.

I just read last night about a Benedictine Sebastian More. He said a big significant moment in his life was when he said to God, “You’re boring!”

Then the realization  - that I’ve been boring in how I’ve been doing life myself.

So it’s time for a shape up, a wake up, a rebirth, a new springtime in my life – like how about starting today. Amen.

O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O

Image on top: Chinese symbols of rebirth.