HOMILY 2^ND SUNDAY OF EASTER

ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA CATHOLIC CHURCH & FURMAN U.

APRIL 19, 2009 - 8, 10, 12NOON & 6:30PM

May our Risen Lord Jesus give us His peace. Alleluia!

Finding Nemo, a conquered world, put your finger here.

Finding Nemo. In the Pixar film “Finding Nemo” there are seagulls that try to eat Nemo. Do you remember what they say all the time? (Mine, mine, mine!) That’s right, they think everything is theirs. They swoop down to consume anything and everything, winged garbage trucks.

Jesus’ disciples did just the opposite of Nemo’s seagull problem. NOBODY said, “mine.” Everybody is found saying “ours, ours ours.” Jesus’ followers believed that the second coming of Jesus – judgment day, was very near. They all tried hard to keep everyone healthy by giving each other the things they needed. It didn’t matter what was stored up as it wouldn’t be long before Jesus came. Everything was ours, ours, ours.

No seagull madness. He is coming, so keep only what you need, and voluntarily make sure everyone else has what they need.

It reminds me of another story… once upon a time there was a woman who was not famous for being generous, except one time, she gave a beggar a carrot. When she died and reached the judgment seat of God, the Lord searched her records and could only find the one charitable deed. Such however is the power of a single deed done in love, that it was decreed that she would be taken up to heaven on the strength of that carrot. The carrot was brought to court and given to her. The moment she caught hold of it the carrot began to rise as if pulled by some invisible rope lifting her high into the sky. A beggar appeared and grabbed the hem of her garment, then a third person, but strangely the woman did not feel the weight of the people clinging to her. In fact she was looking toward heaven. As she rose higher and higher reaching the heavenly gates she looked down and saw the people holding on to her. She was mad, and tried to wave them off with the one arm. It didn’t budge them so she waved them off with both arms. Off, off! This carrot is mine! This last gesture caused her to let go of the carrot and down she fell with the others. The word mine doesn’t exist in heaven.

Even seagulls there say “yours!” because everything is God’s.

A conquered world. The letter from St. John speaks about faith conquering the world. What could he mean? Perhaps John believes the world is an enemy of sorts, like when you play a video game and miss the chance to shout “Get out of the way!” to help someone. Or maybe John thinks the world needs to be conquered because he sees pain and loneliness here. I would certainly want the world of missed opportunities and loneliness to be conquered. A world of attention and company rules.

If we have some degree of say in whether or not this world and its troubles gets changed, how? John says we conquer it by faith. “I believe God chooses me to be ready to help others. I believe God chooses me to accompany others. I believe God is present to me to give me strength when I feel weak.” These beliefs, belief in God, conquer this world.

Did you know the water that flowed from Jesus’ side is the fountain of baptism? And the blood that flowed is His crucifixion, a saving death? That is why you will always see the priest mix water with the wine. It reveals the two ways faith saves us – crucifixion (His gift) and Baptism (our response). We are connected to Jesus who conquers this world,

its awful slavery to sin and death. These are conquered through Him.

Put your finger here. Thomas is so bummed by the death of Jesus that he says those nasty words, “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands and put my hand into His side I will not believe.” Ooooh Thomas was so bold!

Jesus lets him remain smug and angry for a whole week before He comes back. BOOOOM! The doors that were locked fly open. Thomas, get over here. Yes Thomas is welcomed to do what he said were the conditions for belief. His finger probes holes, the hand goes in. “Put your finger here.”

On sad, weak days, we are Thomas too. Please Lord, just show me.

On good days we wake up and just know that following will be our easiest and most rewarding way to live. Put your finger on the pages of the Gospel and get to know Jesus who conquered this world.

Realize only God can say “Mine.”

Thank God He decides to look at you when He says it.