Homilies

While unable to record this week's homily due to travel for the OFS, Fr. Christopher Panagoplos, TOR, offers us a way to reflect on the call and the response of St. Francis.

The Church, as Mother and Teacher of the faith, has given all believers, in these days of Eucharistic Revival, the opportunity to reflect deeply on the Eucharist, to be concerned what happens on the Altar and what should be happening in the hearts of those around the Altar. We need to reflect and understand that we are the Body of Christ, receiving Christ’s body.

The Father is Lover, loving the Son into being. The Son then is the Beloved of the Father, and the Spirit is the Love that binds them. It is from this love that everything else comes.

. Today, Pentecost Sunday, Easter’s 50th day, we pray for a fresh stirring of the gifts of the Spirit so that we can fulfill our mission to witness Jesus to others in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus consecrates us in truth, in God’s word, and His own word to us. We bring His Name and His Word to places where the great drama of life is played out. A new way of encounter, with the possibility of life-giving hope, for the sanctification of a wounded humanity.

Brothers and sisters, “what are you waiting for, there’s work to do.” There’s a world waiting to be made whole and holy.

Jesus stands before the Father for our sake where our new existence is rooted and grounded. The love by which we live should be the disposition and the strength in our relationships with all people, and with all creation.

True “abiding” in Christ is borne of prayer: Lord Jesus, without You we can do nothing. You are the true Gardener, Creator, Cultivator and Custodian of Your garden, which You plant with Your Word, irrigate with Your Spirit, and cause to grow with Your grace.

God loves my story and God loves your story, not because our stories are perfect (they are not), but because they are our stories. And God loves us. It is in and through the stories of our lives that God meets us, and makes His home in our hearts, and saves us.

Conversion, commission, and crucifixion initiated your Christian existence, your Franciscan vocation. In your Baptism you died to sin and self, you rose to God, to “newness of life.” At your profession you said—three times—this is what I want!