When lives intersect

Homily for the Tenth Sunday of Ordinary Time

The great parade

This afternoon, there will be a special Mass celebrated here at 3:00pm.  When the Mass is complete, there will be a parade.  All the people who will have gathered around the Lord’s table will assemble, and follow the statue of Saint Anthony as it processes from here to the Davidi Club.  I’ve always loved parades – the long and intricate ones composed of marching bands and colourful floats stand out most in my mind, but there are other kinds of parades too.

Today’s gospel speaks of two parades: the first is composed of Jesus and his disciples, who were on their way to the town called Nain.  I wonder what the disciples were talking about along the way.  I wonder whether Jesus took even that opportunity to teach them lessons about discipleship.  The second parade was made up of a number of citizens who were coming OUT of the city of Nain, along with a woman who was on her way to bury her son, her only son.  What was going through the woman’s mind? She was a widow, and her only son had died, so according to the laws of the time, she would have to spend the rest of her life begging, or relying on the goodness of friends. 

In the midst of her grief, her parade met Jesus’ parade, and when it did, an unbelievable thing happened.  Saint Luke tells us that Jesus had compassion for her … he encouraged her: Do not weep.  He touched the pallet and stopped the parade.  He restored the young man to wholeness, and gave him to his mother.

Saint Paul too speaks of his own parade, but when God was pleased to reveal his Son to him, Paul too had to come to a standstill.  He too had to be prompted by Jesus to proclaim him to the Gentiles.  Unbelievable things happen when God’s parade meets with ours.  In the days ahead, be on the lookout for the moments when this divine parade intersects with yours.  What are the concerns that preoccupy our time, and keep us from recognizing Jesus on the road?  What demands are so pressing that they keep us from stopping long enough to encounter Jesus?  Are there any areas of our lives that we would like Jesus to heal, to restore to wholeness?  How do we demonstrate the joy of having encountered Christ as we continue the parade of our lives in faith?