150 S Enterprise
Bowling Green OH 43402
419-352-4195

Rev Mark Davis, Pastor

Mass Times

Contact Information


  
   
   
       Home
  This Week's Activities
  Upcoming Events
  Bulletin Highlights
  Our Ministries
  Parish History
  About St. Aloysius
  St. Aloysius School
  Web Links
  CYO Sports
  Life of St Aloysius
  Sunday Homily Archive
  Social Justice
      

Suggestions about our site? Send us your Comments

 

 

 


Homily for the Fourth Sunday of Easter
(Apr 29, 2007)

            I).There are at least two fascinating images in today’s reading from the Book of Revelation.
  A- One is the image of the Risen Christ as “the Lamb who was once slain who now sits upon the Throne.  There is also the paradoxical image of the robes of the martyrs being made white by the blood of the lamb.
      The Book of Revelation speaks in apocalyptic language:  So the Lamb can be the Shepherd. And the red blood of the Lamb can wash white the robes of those who have suffered for Christ’s sake.
      This connects with the white robe the newly baptized receive– because in Baptism we are called to die with Christ, so that we may rise with Christ.  Note too, “the Lamb will lead them springs of life-giving water.”

II)    In this passage from Revelation, joy and suffering are combined

A-The Christian Church, trusting in the Risen Lord, is filled with joy and the Holy Spirit, but still the church will suffer abuse and persecution.  Those who are filled with God’s love are ready to suffer for the sake of the Lamb. Even when they are persecuted for their efforts to spread God’s Word, they are still filled with joy and hope. 

B-    Even though we are an Easter People, there will always be suffering – the Cross stands behind our Alleluia.  But being a Christian is not all suffering. Those who are faithful will enjoy the victory of the Resurrection today and in eternity .

C-    Not only will there be those from every nation and race who survive the period of trial and stand in joy before the throne of the Lamb, but even now true joy is the infallible sign of the presence of God.  

Story: Mary Nelson, who directs a housing ministry in Chicago tells about the time she was walking in a civil rights demonstration with singer Mahalia Jackson. A woman standing along the curb came up to Mahalia, with eyes full of hate, seething with anger, and spit a huge glob of saliva in Mahalia’s face. The singer took this repudiation, wiped her face, smiled at the woman and said: “God bless you.”
      Mahalia was not being passive, but operating from a place deep down inside when she was able to return a blessing for a curse – Isn’t that what Jesus calls us to do?  If you stand up for what is right in this world, you too may be called names and you may be spit upon. Even in the 21st Century there are Christian martyrs – those whose blood is shed because they believe in Jesus and stand with the poor –or make efforts to spread the Gospel in lands where the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not welcome. This past week, I read about the 10’s of thousands of Catholics who are leaving Lebanon , because of religious persecution; and some Religious Sisters who were killed in Iraq – apparently because of their Christian faith.

Conclusion: If you spend your whole life trying to avoid risk and pain –-
  What a sad life you will have.
If we seek our own security above all other concerns—
   how contrary that would be to having a Christ-like life.
But they will rejoice –
  who have been found worthy to suffer for  the sake of the Lamb.