Door, Revolving (2012-04-15, Easter Season)

This is my homily for 15 April 2012 (2nd Sunday Easter). I am a Catholic chaplain in Teaneck at Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) campus and for the FDU Newman Catholic Association. We celebrate Catholic Mass - during Fall and Spring semester - every Sunday Evening (7:30 p.m.) at the Interfaith Chapel, 842 River Road, Teaneck, NJ.

Gospel: + John 20:19-31

[_01_] This Sunday is observed as both the 2nd Sunday of Easter and as Divine Mercy Sunday, a devotion in which we recall in a special way that Jesus has died for our sins and that he opens a door – a doorway -- to eternal life.

[_02_] Usually crossing over – or through – a door or alarm system which is locked or secure, we need something unique – a PIN code, password, key, or engraved invitation.

We might note that Jesus possesses none of the above yet is still able to find his disciples who hae the lights out, the blinds pulled down, and the door barred shut in the upper room.

It is the Good News of the Gospel that Jesus is able to reach his disciples – despite the padlocking - on two occasions and to reach Thomas who has a special request to see the nailmarks in Jesus’ hands and the wound in his side.

[_03_] In these conversations behind the locked door, the disciples learn about the Lord’s forgiveness not only NOW – at the first Easter – but also the Lord’s continuous gift of mercy via the sacrament of penance and reconciliation.

Jesus gives the apostles and all priests – the grace – to absolve others of sin in his name, saying:

“Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them and who sins you retain are retained.” (cf. John 20:19-31)

[_04_] This is the gift of the sacrament of absolution and forgiveness through the Lord, the apostles and his Church.

[_05_] This is the new doorway to God’s mercy. But, sometimes, this doorway is difficult to enter. Should we have a PIN, password, key? Maybe we want some control over the door, the access.

The disciples in the Gospel, perhaps, have it a bit easier than we do. They are the ones for whom seeing equals believing, whereas we are the “blessed who have not seen but have believed.”

Moreover, the disciples gain control over the door. For security, they have the door locked and seatbelts fastened. And, Jesus comes to them with mercy.

[_06_] We, on the other hand, may have to work a little more to find Jesus in this sacrament to move through the doorway.

And, if I might make a comparison, not an exact theological comparison…but just an example.

That the sacramental encounter of confession / penance / reconciliation is similar to both an open door and to a revolving door.

What is a revolving door?

We’ve had all the experience, the difficulty of entering an office building or airport or train station which has a revolving door entrance/exit.

Such a door turns on its axis very quickly.

This is, perhaps, an excuse not to approach the door

Our mind spins also, fearing repercussions, consequences.

But, there are certain techniques – are there not – for passing through a revolving door. And, this technique may guide us toward God’s presence and absolution in the sacrament.

[_07_] FIRST – Go toward the door. In the parable of the Prodigal Son, we read that the Son moves ever closer to his Father, to his reunion. Confession for the Prodigal begins the moment this angel looks homeward. And, he can go home again.
Confession – and the change of heart – begins even before words are spoken. Isn’t this true in the admission of a fault – or the apology – I make to another person who may know what I’m going to say before I do. Neverthless, the articulation, the contrition, the confession is good for me as the sinner. It resets my direction, my compass/satellite. Go toward the door. This is confession, conversion of heart.

[_08_] SECONDLY – once inside the revolving door, be prepared to exit at the other side. I myself have absentmindedly walked 360 degrees and found myself back on the sidewalk outside the building.

Go Inside. This is reconciliation where we speak through the priest to God our Father who is in secret and hears us in secret. (cf. Matthew 6:5-6) God the Father hears us confidentially. Once inside the room, the priest is speaking for God who wants you to know you are loved, special, redeemed and worth dying for.

Go inside. This is reconciliation and leads to absolution and to the next step on our journey.

[_09_] THIRD, Start over. After absolution, we receive a penance, a prayer to say, a sacrifice to make.

I would compare this to a newfound control over the door, the revolving door. In our penance, we use our strength, to push a little, recognizing that the Lord is also moving the door. In fact, we move it together. In penance, we cooperate with God’s movement and will and power.

[_10_] The Gospel this Sunday reminds us that Jesus opens a door for us but that he also asks us to approach this door regularly so that we can encounter one on one his mercy and love.

And, this door moves both by his grace and our strength. [_fin_]