I know it sounds trite but it is so hard to believe that the Easter Season is coming to a close. We celebrate Pentecost this weekend, and as we seek to not only mark this important event during our weekend liturgies but make it a significant part of our ongoing faith life, let’s take new and fresh inspiration and motivation from the Holy Spirit. Pentecost tells us that the same Holy Spirit that guides us each and every day came upon the disciples gathered in the wake of Jesus’ Ascension into heaven. The same Holy Spirit gave them what they needed to carry out the aggressive mission that Jesus had given them ten days earlier. The same Holy Spirit connected them with their community and deepened their identity as disciples. As the Easter season draws to a close, the same Holy Spirit propels us forward to look ahead and reNEW.
The first disciples experienced a reNEWal and a sending forth that has changed the entire world, and that same Holy Spirit will lead us to reNEW here at Holy Family. The core of Jesus’ commission to the 11 disciples was to make disciples, baptize the WHOLE world, and to trust in his presence with them FOREVER.
Part of my homily this past weekend was to consider focusing on the last part of that statement first. If we trust and truly believe that Jesus Christ is present with us, perhaps the baptizing and the making of disciples will be not only easier, but will be grounded in a wisdom, authenticity and courage that our world needs. When it becomes challenging or difficult to both BE disciples ourselves or to MAKE disciples of others, it is at those times that believing in God’s presence through Jesus Christ will certainly give us energy and purpose and grounding in the teachings and loving example of Jesus Christ. It also grounds his commissioning with an authenticity that is hard to refute. The commissioning comes from Christ himself and is carried out through US, the Church—The Body of Christ. We were reminded of this aspect of the authentic message of Jesus Christ in the second reading last weekend from Ephesians, during the Feast of the Ascension, that we, the Church, are his body.
I also mentioned that defining the term disciple is important. Considering how it has changed and, most importantly, what it means to be a disciple now is critical. Cardinal Cupich has asked us to be invested in the Renew My Church initiative here in Chicago, and a significant aspect of this movement is to make more and stronger disciples of the countless who make up the Archdiocese of Chicago. I was very moved as I reflected on the commissioning of Jesus during the Feast of the Ascension last weekend, and I heard loud and clear the challenge to make disciples. So I found myself starting with the question, “What is a disciple?” This question will be a important during my upcoming sabbatical as I interview church leaders across the country and listen to how other parishes and dioceses have called people to discipleship.
So far, here is my definition: A disciple discerns God’s call with prayerful awareness and responds actively, engaged in a community, guided by the loving example of Jesus Christ and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. As I preached about this, I was also taken with the fact that this is a long definition, so again, inspired by the scripture account of the Ascension from Matthew, I also offer to you a more succinct definition. A disciple Discerns Prayerfully, Responds Actively, and Trusts in the eternal love of God through Jesus Christ
The first definition includes action words and so, quite naturally, begins to address what I have identified as another critical question – “What do we want a disciple to do?” or “What should a disciple do?” or “What does Christ ask disciples to do?
As I reflect on these important questions, I am aware that my time as a priest, and my time with all of you here at Holy Family, has helped to craft some long term interests and passions concerning our baptismal call, our response to that call based on using our own unique gifts to make the world better, the importance of our work, and what it means to be a community of faith, all of which are essential to discipleship. I am critically aware of the importance of discipleship in the role of our mission here at Holy Family.
I have been inspired by many resources but among them three books. I will go into greater depth of the core of these books next week in this space, but perhaps you are familiar with Rebuilt by Michael White and Tom Corcoran, The Four Signs of a Dynamic Catholic by Matthew Kelly, and Great Catholic Parishes by William Simon. I will share more in the coming weeks.
On Sunday we welcome Fr. Jack Wall, the President of the Catholic Extension Society, and our partner in the Cuban Church Lenten Social Justice Project. We will present Jack with a check for $95,000. Our substantial generosity will not only achieve the work needed for our initial goal of $43,000 for the church of San Miguel de los Banos in the Diocese of Matansas, located south and east of Havana, but now towards restoration, electrical work, solidifying structural damage, painting and more for Las Ovas Chapel, St. Rosendo Cathedral, and Paso Real de San Diego in the Diocese of Pinar del Rio, located south and west of Havana.
I would like to boldly suggest that your generosity is a sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit that unites our church on an international level and celebrates partnerships such as ours with Catholic Extension Society and the Roman Catholic Church in Cuba. Muchas Gracias, Holy Family!!!