Homily – July 5, 2009 – Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Well, we made it! We are a brand- new church, part of a brand new parish! It is an excellent opportunity to begin again, taking with us the very best of the past, and leaving the worst behind. And so we take up our posture again to "receive the glad tidings that are brought to us, in the Word of God, and in preaching;" and also to take up the mandate to spread that Word and to be that Word, that is transformed into the Bread of Eucharist to spiritually empower us to do just that: be evangelists and helpers, to be friends and peacemakers amongst ourselves in the Christian community and in the world at large.

St. Paul gives us a clue as to who will be successful in doing this: the one who declares himself/herself weak! For God tells us that "my grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." And so we are to "boast of our weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with us!" In that way we can accept and even be content with whatever life sends our way: weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints FOR THE SAKE OF CHRIST: for WHEN I AM WEAK, then I am strong!

And so God chooses and empowers the weak to do his work, but all he can do is invite the general public to receive the work, to receive the word, to accept a helping hand, a kind word, an embrace of peace - to act like they have received it – all it takes is FAITH THAT IT INDEED DOES WORK THIS WAY! Jesus tells us that in his own hometown he could not spread the word like he would have wanted, nor performed miracles as proof of his identity because they lacked faith!

This is, of course, was prophesied in the first reading from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel. The Lord indeed will send one as a true prophet: that the rebellious house – all those who are stiff-necked and obstinate - shall only know that a prophet has risen among them – but not many will hear or heed what he has to say!

As we begin a new life as a "church-in-a-parish" let us keep our eyes fixed "on the prophet" the Great One – the True One – Jesus Christ – and let us never stop pleading for his mercy as we cry out in our weakness: Lord, hear us! Lord, save us! Lord, heal us! Thus we shall be strong and faithful members of the new and improved St. Ambrose! God bless us all!