HOMILY 4^TH SUNDAY OF LENT

ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA CATHOLIC CHURCH & FURMAN U.

MARCH 22, 2009 8, 10, 12 NOON & 6:30PM

May the Lord make us pink with anticipation of the joy of Easter.

What a rush! beat the light, he can speak for himself.

What a rush! After Samuel decided that Jesse’s older sons were not the ones to be anointed, and that Jesse’s youngest son, David, a shepherd – was the one, the Book of Samuel says, “When he was anointed the Spirit rushed upon him.” David becomes King in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Anyone who knows the figure of King David knows this will be a mixed reign. David is great and makes great mistakes. Sounds like us. Does the Spirit then rush and retreat? Are we open to the Spirit more sometimes than others? Samuel God is choosing David. Is David choosing God? Sometimes yes, and sometimes no. Sounds like us. What a rush.

What makes the Spirit rush in, and what makes it bead up and run off

like water off a newly waxed car? We do. What a rush! When we’re right with God His Spirit rushes in. Get right by confession, charity and prayer.

Beat the light. St. Paul says to the Ephesians that everything will be exposed by the light, it will be made visible. So, beat the light – we can fess up, change the way we do things, then light can shine problem free.

He can speak for himself. The Pharisees (legal people) and the Jews (religious people) did not believe that the man who was healed was “born blind.” So they asked his parents who confirmed it - he was born blind. But as to who healed him, “he can speak for himself.” The man is called on to give testimony to who Jesus is and what He has done.

Can I call on you to do the same? Can God call on me to do the same?

How do Catholic people give testimony regarding “how they now see?”

We feed, clothe, keep from eviction, get people teeth, warm their hearts and bodies with fuel, counsel them to hope again, we serve Jesus them all.

It is my prayer that anyone who encounters a St. Anthony parishioner comes to know a close follower of Jesus by the way they make justice until he comes. I’d like to suggest a few ways beyond what is already being done, so should Jesus come (the light) we will already be - where He would go.

Ministry to Black people is a primary mission here, church and school. There is no doubting the school, 95% service, 95% graduation from High School. But the parish has become 80% white. Therefore I propose we begin a new 3-fold missionary stance.

First, we get the word out to black families and individuals who we know or, those who may have left, that we are sick of seeing their empty seat while Jesus offers Himself on the altar. This is their place since 1943. Second, we offer Greenville High School an after school program that changes their 56% graduation rate for black students to a level more like ours. Thirdly, we enter the downtown jail and Perry Prison to win our population back to following Jesus Christ in His Church.

I am looking for modern day missionaries to train and develop networks of influence to offer our testimony that no one is lost with God. Our parish must become re-populated, our local highschool graduating its black students and our jails evacuated because of proper penance and correction.

If you believe that this is our mission, then come forward by phone, emails, skype, twitter and talk. White folks, we are at St. Anthony’s for many reasons, but God has called here. The mission here has been clear.

Beat the light to a place where Jesus would find you shame-free doing His work. You’ll be able to speak for yourself. Testimony! And the Spirit rushes in. What a rush.