Homily
Homily --- Thursday, July 17, 2014 Matthew 11:28-30
[This homily was given during the First International Gathering of the Advisors for the Vincentian Marian Youth Association (Paris, July 15-20, 2014)]
Lord, this word is actually for us because often we feel tired. The mission, which in your name we share, is in many respects a difficult one to fulfill. We become tired when nothing seems to go according to the plan … we give ourselves generously and enthusiastically to the task of making you known, Lord, and there are so few positive results. We had hoped for some return on our investment and, suddenly, nothing … only silence. Lord, we do think that our burden is heavy but you tell us that your burden is light … you tell us that in carrying your yoke, we will find rest!
Thus, Lord, the first question: is this really your mission that we are engaged in? Are we ministering in your name? What really causes us to be tired? Previously in your gospel you invited us to abandon our families and friends. You told us not to be concerned about the things we think we might need. So then, what really disturbs us and what are we concerned about? Are we concerned about not being recognized? Is the gift of our ministry as free and generous as we would wish? Are we clear about our need for recognition? We all need to be recognized but the question is, from whom do I seek this recognition?
From the young men and women to whom we are ministering? But at that age they are so ungrateful … they are trying to build their own life and really do not understand our commitment.
From our brothers and sisters? But are we I willing and able to be concerned about what our brothers and sisters are doing?
From our superiors and/or provincial? But they are concerned about many other things… things that we can even imagine.
Is it this lack of recognition that causes us to be tired? What makes us think that everyone is in the same situation? Why would we think that our ministry is not important? You, yourself, Jesus have distanced yourself from all of this because you know the human heart. You give us a recognition that is much more powerful than simply trying to please those around us. Your recognition creates a inner peace and serenity --- the God who dwells with you, knows what you are doing and will reward you …. You, Lord, invite us to surrender our life and to place ourselves in the hands of God the Father … how wonderful to know that in the end we are recognized and loved by the Lord!
May we realize how much energy we use in attempting to be recognized and may we utilize all that energy in fulfilling our mission for the greater glory of God.
To take up your yoke is to accept a different concept of “rest” … no, it is not dreaming about the warm sands on the beach where one can rest and close one’s eyes.
The rest that you, Lord, speak about involves placing ourselves in the hands of God … continually being filled with the love of God. You want us to rejoice in this love and so you have given us your Mother … your Mother who cared for you, provided you with security, taught you self-confidence so that you might move forward in your life with that same feeling of confidence. You have entrusted your Mother to us so that she might teach us and accompany us on our mission. That mission involves sharing your love with all those who surround us and doing so at every opportunity and with everyone whom we encounter … it involves acting in this manner without expecting any reward … thus we are able to imitate you who so graciously shared your love with all humankind.
In this way then we can rejoice and at the end of the day we can also be proud of the fact that we have collaborated in the mission of the Son of God. It is this collaboration that gives us peace and joy and rest.
On this eve of the apparitions of the Blessed Mother to Saint Catherine we ask for the grace to be renewed in our vocation … to have been called so that others might come and unite with us as collaborators in the same mission.
Translated: Charles T. Plock, CM
