April 8, 2008: Tuesday of the Third Week of Easter (A)

How many of us have heard the phrase, ‘honey attracts more flies than vinegar’? When we apply this to our ministry, it means much patience, gentleness, and graciousness when we deal with someone who is lacking or weak in faith. All of us here have experienced conversion—turning of our hearts to Jesus--and whether we experienced a gradual conversion or the microwave conversion of St. Paul, we always appreciate the fact that the Lord was gentle and patient with us. So how did you react to Stephen’s words to the elders and scribes in our first reading? He said, “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always oppose the Holy Spirit; you are just like your ancestors.” And upon hearing this, elders and scribes were infuriated and “they ground their teeth at him.” If St. Stephen was one of our seminarians assigned to a parish RCIA, how many weeks do you think it would take before he gets called in to the office?

What can we learn from Stephen’s bold approach? Is it, “A note self: Self, never insult and put-down the very people you want to convert”? Perhaps the helpful lesson is in the line, “But Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit.” When we are about to criticize someone in order to correct a fault, we better be sure that we have asked the Lord in prayer whether this is Lord’s calling for us. Otherwise, we could be led by our own spirit, which is vulnerable to temptations of the evil one. Can you imagine what happens when we criticize someone out of our pride, self-righteousness, anger, resentment, envy, jealousy, or even for fun? Our words will only harm, causing further anger, resentment, and division.

I can assure you that this homily is directed to myself, as much as it is for all of us here. Too often we shoot from our hips, regretting shortly after that again we opened up our fat mouths. Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. And I ask blessed Mary ever virgin, and all the angels and saints, and you my brothers and sisters to pray for me to the Lord Our God. May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.

(given at Notre Dame Seminary)