The Last Sermon

I would like to share my last sermon (this is more of a sermon than a homily, even though it refers back to the Mass readings a bit) that I delivered on June 29-30, 2013 at the Church of Saint Pius X in White Bear Lake, MN.  (If you are going to one of my Masses this weekend, don't read this yet!)  This makes me think that there should be "Last Sermon" series in parishes and churches.  It's longer than my usual homilies, but I think people will be patient with me.  Enjoy!

The Last Sermon

June 29, 2013 Feast of Saints Peter and Paul

and June 30, 2013 for 13^th Sunday in Ordinary Time Cycle C

On September 18, 2007, a computer science professor was dying of pancreatic cancer.  So at Carnegie Mellon University, Randy Pausch delivered what has been called and published The Last Lecture. This is a common title for talks on college campuses, a “Last Lecture Series,” in which top professors are asked to think deeply about what matters to them and give hypothetical final talks.

In a way, this homily today can be considered my “Last Homily or Sermon.”  This isn’t exactly accurate, because I will keep preaching at parishes and I’m not dying yet.  But I am leaving the parish priesthood, and I am dying to self and to the world as I enter a monastery.  As a side thought, it wouldn’t be a bad idea for priests to give a “Last Sermon Series,” considering the question, “What wisdom would we impart to the world if we knew it was our last chance?”

Now this is a strange weekend.  On Saturday, we celebrate the Feasts of Saints Peter and Paul, including at the 5 pm Mass (a solemnity in our archdiocese, one that overrides the Sunday Mass) and on Sunday, we have specific readings for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time.  But I’m not going to compose two different homilies!  Yet both days speak profoundly to what I would like to preach on. 

The context of the Sunday readings is all about following the Lord without looking back!  No excuses are to be given to even delay in following the Lord!  We are called to burn bridges and to go forward without regrets!  Is the Lord worth it?  Certainly He is, but it is clearly difficult.  And the Lord doesn’t comfort us in it, for all He says is, “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.”  What he is making unmistakably clear is that nothing—not even the most sacred values of the world—is more important than doing God’s will and living according to the plan He has for us.    We seem to have forgotten this these days, as we redefine marriage and society according to our plans and not according to God’s. 

And not just society in general but also our brothers and sisters who consider themselves good Catholics but think the Church is behind the times and needs to “get with it.”  As I’ve said before, I think the world is behind the times and needs to “get with it,” to get with the program, the plan that God has for us.  At times I have had the opportunity to challenge such Catholics.  The usual response, unfortunately, is anger.  “Father, how dare you call me a bad Catholic!”  Well, I want to say, if the shoe fits ... in other words, let’s not be hypocrites here.  My challenge to you is to become a better Catholic, better aligned with the will of Christ and the heart and the mind of the Church.  Remember, this is the Church that Christ founded and this is the Church that gave you the Bible.  This is the Church that has been around for 2000 years and gives you the Body and Blood of Christ.  This is the Church in which Jesus appointed St Peter to be the first pope and we’ve had 265 after him to Pope Francis.  The keys of the Kingdom of heaven are given to him and to his successors.  This is the Church in which St. Paul converted, a sinner transformed to become an apostle.  Yes, this Church is filled with weak and sinful people, especially the priests and bishops, but despite them (me) the Holy Spirit still works and works well through this Church. 

So first of all, trust this Church.  Trust what she teaches, especially with respect to marriage and family life.  Blessed John Cardinal Newman wrote:

Trust the Church of God implicitly

even when your natural judgment would take a different course from hers

and would induce you to question her prudence or correctness.

Recollect what a hard task she has;

how she is sure to be criticized and spoken against, whatever she does;

recollect how much she needs your loyal and tender devotion;

recollect, too, how long is the experience gained over so many centuries,

and what a right she has to claim your assent

to principles which have had so extended and triumphant a trial.

Thank her that she has kept the faith safe for so many generations

and do your part in helping her to transmit it to generations after you.

This is the Church that brought this former Hindu pagan to become Catholic, and to become a Catholic priest, and now, possibly, to become a Catholic priest monk!  I love this Church, and I pray you will too. 

Second, the best way to stay close to this Church is to stay close to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.  We live in a crazy mixed-up world, as is so abundantly clear.  There is an oft-quoted statement that “those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it.”  It is actually a foolish statement today because we live in times that we have never seen: the loss of a sense of the Divine in society and culture today; the ignorance of God and His ways with respect to a new humanism; science made in our image to conform to our selfish desires rather than seeing the truth of things; a hyperpluralism of thoughts, ideas, and opinions yelled loudly—all these things are new, never before seen in the history of the world.  How do we stay sane during these times?  Stay close to the Eucharist and to the Blessed Virgin Mary.  This is why I moved the tabernacle, because Christ absolutely needs to be at the center of our lives and our Church.  Even a slight deviation to over there (point to the side of the church) is a sign that things are wrong.  Jesus must be our focus, and you will find His Blessed Mother standing alongside us looking at Him.  She can help us by pointing the way to her Son.  It is only because of the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, (and the prayers of monks and nuns) that has kept the Church from going off the deep end these last 2000 years.  And the Eucharist will see us through the next 2000 years, as long as we don’t let Him go in this great and noble sacrament!

Third, a message I have preached for years, to surrender all things to Divine Providence, during the good, the bad, and the ugly times.  I’ve experienced all three, and I know you have too.  When you are most tempted to leave the Lord, don’t.  He loves you and will see you through the dark times.  Today’s second reading: Galatians: “For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery ... Do not use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh.”  If you live by the flesh, you are no longer free.  The only true freedom comes in staying close to the Lord in all things, to live in the power of His spirit.  Keep your hand to the plow in prayer.  And don’t look back!

Well, maybe I will, just a little bit, to make sure all of you are doing what I taught you.