4th Sunday - homily

On Friday night, I went to see the new movie, "The Rite", with some students. It's about a priest who learns how to become an exorcist. We have a vested interest in this because the priest on whom the movie is based will be at GW next month. Father Gary Thomas is the real-life exorcist who will speak to GW students on February 15 at Saint Stephen's Church. The movie is good, but some of the technical points aren't right. For example, Fr Gary is depicted as a seminarian when he performs an exorcism; he had been a priest for many years at that point. But, it's a good movie about faith, the power of the devil, and the power of God over evil. That power is real.


I had planned on telling you about something about God's power before seeing the movie. In almost five years of being a priest, I have experienced the power go out of me on several occasions. Do you know the story of the woman with the hemorrhage, Luke 8? She merely touched the garment of Christ and her bleeding of twelve years stopped. Jesus felt the power go out of him. I have felt the power go out of me in the same way. A few times while giving absolution in Confession, I have felt the power go out of me. A few times praying over people it has happened; many times the people have felt the power go into them! And, a few times during the Consecration at Mass it has happened. Last week at the 7:30 Mass, I felt the power go out. It's not my power, it's the power of Christ. That power is real.

Priests act in the person of Christ; all Christians act in the name of Christ. Every baptized Christian in this church has the power to act in the name of Christ. It is his power and it’s real. I know that you all have heard the Beatitudes a hundred times before and hope that you don’t gloss over them or think that that’s for other people or that you’ll live them when you get older. There is real power in living these ways of life. The Beatitudes are not isolated incidents; they are a way of life. They are the way Christ lived; they describe his life on earth. Living the Beatitudes means living as Christ lived on earth. That brings a great power to our lives. If you’ve ever lived any of the beatitudes or witnessed someone living them, then you know what I’m talking about. It may not a physical power going out or coming into our body, but it is a power that resonates in our hearts. It’s the power of uniting with the heart of Christ. Powerful stuff!

Pope Benedict has written a book, “Jesus of Nazareth”, which is really good. He’s an excellent writer – very deep, of course, but he writes pretty simply, for a pope. Even I can understand him! In the book, he gives a beautiful reflection on the Beatitudes. Concerning “blessed are the peacemakers”, the Holy Father focuses in on reconciliation with God. His point is that before we can bring peace to anyone around us, we need to be reconciled with God. And, to be a peacemaker means to reconcile others with God. Three students have told me in the past month how they have reconciled their parents with God. It’s three separate students, three different situations…all peacemakers. They have not just brought their parents back to Mass, but to Confession and prayer as well. Think about the mission of Jesus Christ in general: He came into the world to reconcile the whole world with God. He is the ultimate peacemaker. These students are right there with Him as peacemakers. Also, other students are reconciling their friends and roommates with God, starting with bringing them (back) to Mass. This is very powerful for me to hear and witness; it is the power of Christ. That power is real.

Why is that the poor and meek are “blessed”? Why do they live the Beatitudes? First, because it’s the way Jesus lived. He was poor in spirit, meek, merciful, etc. Second, because of what St.Paul writes in the second reading. God “chose the foolish..to shame the wise...God chose the weak…to shame the strong”. He chooses people through whom He exercises His power who will know it’s His Power. The poor and meek know tap into a power. They recognize it is not their power. Others recognize it is not their power. It is the power of God and it’s real. I didn’t have the power that “went out from me” before I became a priest. I recognize it’s not my power. It’s the power of Christ and it’s real.

Finally, when we talk about the people who live the Beatitudes, we are talking about the saints. The saints live Christ on earth. They tap into the power of the Beatitudes. And, they are the happiest people on earth. Jesus tells us this nine days in the Gospel: “blessed” are they…”happy” are they. If you want to be happy, live the Beatitudes! Then the question is, how? How do we live them? What is the secret of the saints? The Eucharist. All of the saints have a great devotion to the Eucharist. The Eucharist is the source of their power. It is their strength. It is the grace that helps them to live the Beatitudes. May the Eucharist help each one of us to live Christ on earth…to tap into his power…to live the Beatitudes…to live happiness. And, may Jesus say to each one of us, “rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven”.