Homily for Tuesday October 23, 2007

Today’s saint, St. John of Capistrano, was a faithful Franciscan friar of the fourteenth century in Italy! He studied for the priesthood under St. Bernardine of Siena! He spent his life after ordination preaching the gospel of Christ and defending the Church against heresy in Italy, Germany, Bohemia, Austria and Hungary. He died 1456.

In the first reading today we find a short summary of what motivated St. John of Capistrano: the idea and the reality that if we are in Christ, then we are truly a new creation; the old order has passed away! The order of sin and death is now defeated and destroyed. All is new in Christ. There is reconciliation available for everyone! And God has appointed ambassadors for himself to bring the ministry of reconciliation to the whole world. Such are men like Paul, all the apostles and their helpers throughout the ages - men like John of Capistrano; and men chosen by God even in our own day - the bishops and priests who are faithful to his teaching and the message of new life and reconciliation!

In the gospel passage, Jesus makes it clear that there is a radical quality about discipleship - about being both a minister of the Gospel, and a receiver of the Gospel message - “it’s all or nothing!” In order to gain the rewards of the death and resurrection of Christ, we have to make Jesus our number one priority - there is no other way! We have to follow him wherever he goes - do exactly what he tells us - and not look back at what we leave behind to follow him! For the newness of life that comes with such dedication and commitment far surpasses anything that we leave behind!

For those who follow Jesus, his Light illumines the way! He is the Light of the world! He is the only one who could be the dawn of a brand new day for the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve! What it will be like in the fullness of day, when all will be all in Christ and there will be a new heaven and a new earth, keeps us hoping, and praying and following Jesus’ every word and command, day by day, while we continue our pilgrimage to the Grand and Glorious Day - when there will be a beginning, but no end!