News & Events
Faith, Family and Priesthood
May 7, 2009
Homily by Fr. John Phalen CSC, President, Holy Cross Family MinistriesApril 25th, 2009. Men’s March, Peoria; Readings: 1 Peter 5:5-14; Mark 16: 15-20
I want first of all to thank Bishop Jenky for the invitation to share with you today, and to thank all of you for being a part of the Mens’ March which takes a direct look at Faith, Family and Priesthood.
My work as National Director of Family Rosary, USA, has me speaking in many different settings. One of them is in parish missions, which I will be doing at St. Vincent dePaul’s parish Monday to Thursday nights at 7:30 PM. I invite you to consider attending one or all of the nights to gain a perspective on the Rosary which could help you relate the mysteries of Jesus’ life with those mysteries which occur in your own day to day living.
There is both sobering advice and encouraging promise in today’s first reading from 1 Peter. First the sobering advice: We are told to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God. We are reminded how we as men of whatever age depend upon God for everything. We must be sober and alert because our opponent, the Devil, is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. In other words, evil is very present in our world and unless we are vigilant, it can consume us!
Then the encouraging promise: The God of all grace who called you to eternal glory through Christ Jesus will himself restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you after you have suffered a little. We are never abandoned by our Lord, Jesus Christ. He is always present to us, as he was and perhaps still is present to us in the person of our own fathers, who molded our characters and modeled for us the Christian virtues. Priests come from real families led by real men. So do almost all Catholic men of faith.
Our Gospel today gives us a commission: to go to the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. We are to give witness to the world. If we are true believers, then certain signs will accompany us: We will drive out demons in Jesus’ name; speak new languages; pick up serpents; drink any deadly thing without harm; and lay hands on the sick to heal them. This is cool stuff! Who would not want to be a believer with those signs accompanying you? I’d like to give you my take on these five signs. As true believers we men will:
1. Drive out demons: “What demons?,” you ask. How about turning off the TV and giving it fewer hours in which to dominate the home? Driving out this demon could leave you more time to talk to your children about your work and its challenges. Most children do not see their father at his best, under the pressure of work. They rather see him at home at leisure when he is tired. Driving out this demon could allow you to discover who your children admire and why; to pray together with your family, especially the Rosary. There is nothing more important than being men of humble, sincere prayer, thereby passing on the faith to the next generation.
2. Learn to speak new languages: like, “Yes, Dear!”; like, “Sure I’ll help you with your homework!”; like, “Sure I’ll teach you to drive without lecturing you or shouting at you! A new language without the color of expletives!
3. Pick up serpents: Here in the Midwest you may have your own methods of doing this, but my idea of a snake handler is one who deals with and protects his family from shameless profiteers: from folks who do not share our values, our virtues of faith, hope and charity; of prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance.
4. Drink any deadly thing without harm: If we take this one too literally, then alcoholism and drug addiction will certainly reign. Drink in, rather, the Gospel life of Jesus Christ, perhaps as you contemplate the mysteries of the Rosary. There is suffering and death in Jesus’ story, but there is also resurrection. I have nothing but respect for the man who recognizes his addiction and chooses to live in recovery one day at a time! That is resurrection today!
5. Lay hands on the sick and they will recover: Even if you feel helpless around sick people, as perhaps you did when your first child was born, be brave and visit your loved ones when they are ill. Knowing that you care enough to go out of your way to be present and lay your hand on their head or their shoulder will help your loved ones to recover. Our mere presence and concern can have a healing effect!
So there you have it: Drive out demon TV; Speak the language of love; Protect the family from frauds; Imbibe the Gospel; and Be there in person for healing, even as you were in anointing your sons and grandsons today. Go forth to give witness to the Gospel alive in your lives. Be men of strength and conviction who accept the challenge of living in the 21st century as Christian fathers, brothers, religious, deacons and priests. The Lord will confirm the word through accompanying signs!