Homily for April 2019 Holy Hour
Jeremiah 29:10-15
Psalm 31
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
Luke 22:39-46<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Next\nweek we will celebrate the Passion of Jesus. \nWe know that God had a plan to save his people that culminated Jesus\u2019\nCrucifixion and Resurrection. Knowing of\nthe Resurrection helps us to see the value of the Crucifixion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
On\nat least three distinct occasions Jesus told his disciples about his coming\nPassion. He told them that He would be\narrested and crucified. He told them\nthat He would rise on the third day but they had no idea what it meant to\nrise. So, it was no consolation for\nthem. Thus, the Crucifixion made no\nsense but it was God\u2019s plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
God\nhas always had a plan. Sometimes the\nplan seems obvious. Other times, we can\nfeel like we have no idea what we are supposed to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sometimes\neven when we know the plan, it can be difficult to fulfill. Jesus knew what the Father\u2019s plan was for\nhim. He knew He must suffer. Still, in the garden He prayed, \u201cFather, if you are willing, take this cup\naway from me<\/em>.\u201d Jesus didn\u2019t want to\nsuffer but He accepted it as He finished his prayer with \u201cstill, not my will but yours be done.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n God\nhas always had a plan. He rescued the Israelites\nfrom slavery in Egypt. He formed a\ncovenant with his people that included the Ten Commandments and his promise to\nbe there for his people. God honored his\npart but the people sinned. <\/p>\n\n\n\n God\nallowed them to suffer the consequences of their choices towards evil. He allowed them to be defeated by the\nBabylonians. Many were taken into\nexile. However, that was not the end of\nGod\u2019s plan. Even as the Exile began, God\ntold his people through the prophet Jeremiah that it would only last 70\nyears. God never abandons his people but\nsometimes do need to wait, knowing God has a plan for our \u201cwelfare and not for we<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n God\ncan choose to reveal his plan in any way He wants. Our goal in prayer should be to follow his\nplan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yet,\noften we are not patient in waiting for God\u2019s direction. Sometimes we go and start our own plan. When we do so, our tendency is to think about\nwhat we are good at and focus on that alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However,\nthat isn\u2019t always the way God works. \nSometimes God chooses to work through our weaknesses so that we know it\nhis grace at work as He said to Paul, \u201cMy\ngrace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weaknesses<\/em>.\u201d When we accept our weaknesses, we open\nourselves to God\u2019s grace. We stop trying\nto do it all ourselves and we let God in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This\ndoesn\u2019t mean that everything that happens is the way God wants it. For instance, it\u2019s no secret that attendance\nat Mass has been going down for years just like the number of priests and\nreligious. God did not cause the\ndecrease in numbers but He does have a plan on how to deal with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n God\nhas plans for us as individuals and as a community of believers. The Catholic parishes of Wayne County spent\nfifteen months discerning together <\/em><\/strong>how to collaborate in light\nof declining numbers. Now we have a plan\nand we await word when it will be implemented. \nIt won\u2019t be easy but, done well, it will help strengthen our Catholic\nChurch. Pray that it be done well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\nwill lose a Mass (4:30) but we can share ministries. We can share resources to ease the financial\nburdens and eliminate needless duplication of efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At\nthe heart of good planning is a desire to do God\u2019s Will. Jesus gives us the perfect example of this\nwhen He prayed in the garden, \u201cnot my\nwill but yours be done<\/em>.\u201d This\nbecomes our prayer when, in the Lord\u2019s Prayer, we pray \u201cthy will be done.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Are\nyou ready to surrender to the Father\u2019s Will?<\/p>\n\n\n\n God\nhas a plan for each one of us. Sometimes\nthe plan is for us to \u201cdo something.\u201d \nOther times, it is to pray for others to do their part. Everyone can pray that God\u2019s Will be done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remember\nJesus\u2019 final words, \u201cFather, into your\nhands I commend my spirit.<\/em>\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Now,\nlook at Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and pray for God\u2019s Will to be done.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Homily for April 2019 Holy HourJeremiah 29:10-15Psalm 312 Corinthians 12:7-10Luke 22:39-46 Next week we will celebrate the Passion of Jesus. We know that God had a plan to save his people that culminated Jesus\u2019 Crucifixion and Resurrection. Knowing of the Resurrection helps us to see the value of the Crucifixion. On at least three distinct …<\/p>\n