Following The Passion (2012-04-06, Good Friday)

This is my homily for 6 April 2012 (Good Friday). 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.

[_01_] What are the risks, the consequences of following one’s passion?
A “passion ” can be something very positive, motivating us to success.
Nevertheless, risks – whether appearing as speed bumps or oncoming vehicles (or, telephone poles, trees….) – may appear in our lane, on our way of passion, the journey.

Passion has consequences.

Passion implies a calling, a responsibility.

This is our observance of Good Friday and the week of the Lord’s Passion.

[_02_] What motivates Jesus? It is his passion for us, his love for us, that inspires him to accept the cup which the Father asks him to drink. (cf. Mark 10:38, Matthew 20:22, cf. Matthew 26:42, Luke 22:42)

The Passion, then, has consequences. What are these consequences:

[_03_] 1st – DEATH. To follow one’s passion means a willingness to die to one’s own convenience, comfort. Also, to die for one’s beliefs, for one’s commitments.

The passion of mothers/fathers are for their children, teachers for their students, leaders/bosses for their workers, doctors/nurses for their patients.

Some days, of course, we give ourselves more willingly – passionately – than other days. Holy Week reminds us to keep the Lord’s Passion – as our model - in mind.

The consequence of our passion may mean fasting, sacrifice, or the equivalent or working through lunch on days other than Good Friday.

[_04_] Passion has consequences in our relationships. Passion means visibility, being seen.

In a parable, Jesus speaks of this visible love, referring to the son who, at first, tells his father that he will not go into the vineyard, but, then later changes his mind and goes. The listeners of the parable have to admit that this son – who lacks motivation at first– is the one who makes his love visible.
And, Jesus has a passion for the late comer, for the one who changes his mind – after the denials. These are the tax collectors and prostitutes who enter the Kingdom of Heaven before us. (cf. Matthew 21:28-32)

[_05_] Passion may lead to some dropped calls. Of course, we’d hope that following our passions would unite us to others, bring us communion, peace. This is certainly our long-term hope.

But, in the short term – or at midterms – we may find that following our passions leaves us, at times, isolated from others.

In his passion, Jesus find that his usual contacts are not there –

• Judas Iscariot finds a willing buyer on Craiglist or E-Bay for the Savior
• Peter deletes all of Jesus’s messages, forwarded through others.
• And nearly all the other disciples their phones turned off.

He is down to one friend plus the Blessed Mother. Following our passion sometimes means rejection.

[_06_] Passion has the consequence of poverty. Jesus loses his life and even his regular clothing in this conviction. Passion, then, calls us to see beyond the surface appearance for ourselves and for others. Am I willing to listen to God’s commandments, to pray for guidance?

This guidance is not going to surround me with an exterior of comfort, but will help me to make decisions in conscience which will give me inner peace, comfort.

This will help us to follow the way of the Cross from death to new life, to follow the Passion which God has set for us. [_fin_]