Throughout his ministry Jesus found refuge in the town of Bethany at the home of three siblings, Mary, Martha and Lazarus. This was the place where he could put his feet us and relax; a place of security and peace, a place where he could simply relax and have a good home-cooked meal. This was a place where he felt safe and secure.
We all need a place like that in our lives; and that is the reason we assemble as a Catholic Community of faith. We gather together, not simply to celebrate high feast days as we do this Easter Day, but also for those times when we say good-bye to loved ones and our family needs support.
Sacred Heart is a community were all should be able to put their feet up and relax, no matter their marital status, their sexual orientation, nor economic situation. We are called to be a community of faith where we are able to tell our story and not be judged; but welcomed to new life among a people who have your back.
During the Easter Season our homily series will not be focusing on the resurrection appearances found in the Gospels; but the struggles of the early church as they strived to form a community of faith. At times it is a miracle story, at other times it is a real struggle to “widen the circle” and be inclusive of all, no matter their background or their “story.”
It breaks my heart when I hear that someone feels judged by members of the community through gossip, slander, innuendo. That is abuse and abuse should never be tolerated. Fitting in is a challenge and feeling comfortable and safe is of the utmost importance for all of us. I know personally how it is to be judged and verbally abused. We can never tolerate this kind of behavior and we can never stop striving to become the people and community God calls us to be.
Lent is a season when we turn inward and ask God to work on us as individuals. Easter Season is a time when we look outward toward the people around us and expand the circle of who we are as a Catholic Community of faith; a community where we all feel safe, secure and at peace. Even with the fifty days of the Easter Season, we don’t always get it right. The good news is that there with be other Lents and Easter for us to better work at it and make the world and church the place God says it ought to be.
To all who join us this Easter Sunday, welcome! Come and join in a work in progress, striving to become the community and the place where all are welcome.