HOMILY – 4^TH SUNDAY OF EASTER

ST. ANTHONY CATHOLIC CHURCH & FURMAN U.

MAY 3, 2009 - 8, 10 12NOON & 6:30PM

May our Risen Lord give us His peace and lead us to love.

Final exams, Like Him, I know mine.

Final exams. This is the season for student testing. The experience of the year is evaluated on one test – ugh. The apostles were called in about an exam too. The apostles were examined about a good deed, a healing, done to a cripple. Can you imagine getting an A+ and being called in about it?

They were! The final exam revealed that the apostles knew who saved this crippled man. It was Jesus Christ the healer, acting in the power of the Holy Spirit, through the apostles. The examiners would have none of it, but were afraid to do anything because the healing was so obvious. They actually passed the apostle exam because the leaders were too afraid to fail them.

Like Him. We have heard since we were little that we are made in the image and likeness of God. We don’t have a complete sense of what God is like, but we know some things. We know in our hearts when we are acting like God. When we are patient, withhold our wrath, when we are generous, when we, like Jesus, seek to do the will of the Father instead of our own. We know we are children of God when we act like Him.

We are assured that when we act like Him we will be as mistreated and as wounded as He was. Yet we acknowledge the gift Jesus brought and seek to bring gifts like Him. We could be known like Him as we love.

I know mine. One of the most intimate things Jesus could do was to become food for us – Eucharist. In this we become one with God.

The second most powerful thing Jesus could do was to reinstate the 1^st covenant – I will be your God and you will be my people. We messed that up pretty bad in history. But Jesus restores this in Himself. He proclaims, “I know mine and mine know me.” Last week we heard about seagulls screaming “mine, mine, mine.” Today we hear Jesus speak reconciliation.

They are mine. They hear my voice. I lay down my life for them.

Now it is time for our exam with God. Tested, we love like He does.

The Good Shepherd has come for us while we are in the ditch. Bleat it little sheep, “Alleluia!” You are rejected no more. “Alleluia!” You are His own, “Alleluia!” One day Lord, one flock, one shepherd, one love. God says, yes, “MINE.” We give from being given so much. “Alleluia!”