[__Pentecost Sunday/ Sacrament of Confirmation__] Homily – May 23, 2021
[__01__] Imagine you are asleep in bed and the light
begins to come in through your window. Your father or your mother comes into
your room, kisses you gently on the forehead, and says, “Good morning, Sweetie.
What would you like for breakfast?” “I’d like some oatmeal,” you say. 30 minutes
later, you come down dressed and you have your steaming bowl of oatmeal.
That’s the way it is in childhood for many of
us, when we’re looked after by our parents or other caregivers. Now, why would
you ever give it up? Your mind would have to change in a way that drove you
away from your mother’s or your father’s oatmeal / cereal
[__02__] I read
that example in an article about “adolescence” and the adolescent or young
adult mind, that all of us once had – or will one day have – or perhaps have
right now… between the ages of … age 13 to age 20.
If your age ends in “-teen”… you have
such an adolescent mind.
[__03__] I bring
up this topic because this Sunday – Pentecost Sunday – also happens to be a
very special celebration for one of our young people – for _our Confirmation
Candidate__ who would normally make the S.C. in September with Bishop Manuel
Cruz, but due to some special
circumstances and the pandemic, _our Confirmation Candidate__ will receive this
anointing today at this 9:30 am Mass.
_our Confirmation Candidate__, yes,
you have an adolescent mind… but that’s not entirely bad news!
As many of you may know, the Sacrament
of Confirmation was not always celebrated during the teenage / adolescent
years.
But, now in our Catholic practice
especially in the United States, this Sacrament of Confirmation and the coming
of the Holy Spirit is associated with young people who in their teenage years.
[__04__] What
was happening at the very first – ancient- “Sacrament of Confirmation” or
coming the Holy Spirit upon the apostles in the Upper Room?
What was the milieu and mood?
Well, the milieu or scenario was that the
apostles were in hiding, concealing themselves in prayer and reverence for God,
but also concealing themselves in fear for their lives.
They had been followers of Jesus who
had been put to death for preaching the Gospel and while they knew of his
Resurrection, they were not really fully “confirmed” in what they were to do next.
Now, in fictional heroic adventures,
is there not often a withdrawal – even hiding – that happens along the way to
the hero hearing his or her call ?
Each must be somehow called into
action – whether this is Sarah Conner to fight off The Terminator. Sarah Conner
has no idea what’s coming next …
Or Peter Parker who will become
Spider-Man. Prior to becoming Spider-Man, Peter Parker is a victim of bullying
by his own classmates.
Heroes as we say are not necessarily
“born” …they are called and made.
And, they are called to adventure.
[__05__] Ventures
of Faith (John Henry Newman Sermon ?)
In my own experience, I recognize my
own desire and inclination to “withdraw” and hide when I am supposed to act and
trust not simply in my own gifts and talents but in God’s gifts to me.
I am also called to remember that the
proof of doing the right thing is not based on the evidence that someone has
thanked me…or appreciated me …. Or rewarded me…but that that this is based on a
connection to God in my conscience. It is based on a reward in heaven, not on
earth.
[__06__] Recently,
I read an article about the advantages of having a teenage or adolescent brain.
_our Confirmation Candidate__ may not
think that there is an advantage to being a teenager; you may not think that
there is an advantage to being a teenger… but I’d like to touch on some
information from scientists and connect this to the Gospel and to God’s grace
in our lives.
First of all, recall what we do – the
prayer we make before we hear the Gospel at Sunday Mass or in church.
We make the sign of the cross on our
MIND (on our forehead), on our LIPS (over our mouths) and on our HEART (over
our heart).
It’s a little prayer for the Gospel
but also a prayer we might make at any time of day or night, at any time when
we are not sure which to turn or whether to stay or go, Lord… let your word be
on my MIND, on my LIPS, and on my HEART.
I have found myself doing this before
I meet someone, before I pick the up the telephone….and I might also say that
that the same applies before we send a text or email, before we communicate
…that the word of God will not only INFORM us, but also help us to PERFORM and
be transformed.
[__07__] Now,
regarding our own human development and our prayer for Bryon.
I’d like to remind you that no
matter what age you are, whether younger or older, you are always growing and
changing.
This is true not just for adolescents
but for adults.
I’d like to touch on 3 things, based
on an article from U. California (Berkeley)
RISK, REWARD, REFLECTION.
[Part. 1. RISK]
There is, shall we say, a game of RISK
and RISK-TAKING that we see teenagers and adolescents engaged in. Sometimes,
their risk-taking behaviors will strike fear into the hearts of their parents.
One time, I arrived home at 5 am …my
father was up waiting. He was just glad that I was alive.
I was glad that he did not kill me.
Researchers have studied and proven,
however, that a young person’s willingness to take risks and accept risks is
part of his or her natural learning process.
John Henry Newman wrote this about the
“venture of faith”:
“it is quite
true, that all of us must for certain make ventures for heaven, yet without the
certainty of success through them. This, indeed, is the very meaning of the
word "venture;" for that is a strange venture which has nothing in it
of fear, risk, danger, anxiety, uncertainty. Yes; so it certainly is; and in
this consists the excellence and nobleness of faith; this is the very reason why
faith is singled out from other graces, and honoured as the especial means of
our justification, because its presence implies that we have the heart to make
a venture.” (Volume 4,
Sermon 20, The Ventures of Faith, Parochial and Plain Sermons)
We rejoice in the Sacrament of
Confirmation for _our Confirmation Candidate__ and for all of our young people
that it might help them to make the venture of faith and the venture of love
and the venture of hope.
It can seem risky, these days, even to
be hopeful !
Take the risk!
I remind you that in the prayer and
blessing of your “lips” – the sign of the cross – over your lips, this is also
a prayer that you and I can “risk” and take the venture of speaking God’s Word
of truth to each other.
May the word of God be on our lips.
[__08__]
[Part. 2. REWARD]
The brain researchers at Berkely
pointed out that the adolescent brain is particularly motivated by REWARD, by
the desire to see and get a REWARD.
Sometimes, this desire for reward may
frustrate or confuse parents / teachers / coaches. Why must I always reward my
teenager? Why don’t they see the inherent value of hard work, the reward of a
job well done?
But, the researchers are simply saying
that a teeenager’s interest in being rewarded also shows that he or she is an even better learner, is more
adaptable to new lessons and tasks.
One researcher said this:
“There is probably an evolutionary
reason for why teenagers are more emotional. One reason is that emotion helps
us connect with other people…. Emotions also serve as an important learning
tool. When you feel a particular emotion, you’re more likely to remember the
event.”
We pray, reading the Gospel that the
Word of God will bless our hearts, that the Word of God will bless also our
emotions, our feelings, that the Word of God may bless and strengthen us
through our moments of happiness and sadness, courage and fear.
It is a myth that teenagers should
quiet or silence all their emotions… teenagers – all of us – are called to live
with and understand our emotions so that we are not ruled by them.
May the word of God ..help us to
understand the rewards being given us .. may the Word of God be on our hearts.
[__09__]
[Part.
3. REFLECTION]
We pray also for you, _our
Confirmation Candidate__, and for all of us that the Word God will be part of
our ‘REFLECTION’ that it will be on our minds.
One of the reasons we receive the
Sacraments, and Sacrament of Holy Communion is that we believe that we are ever
changing.
And, in the adolescent brain, one
thing that researchers know ver well – is that the decision making part of the
brain is growing continuously throughout childhood and really does not finish
growing until age 25.
One researchers described it this
way…that there are 2 sides of the brain and they really balance each other out…
but when we are young, the more “excitable” part is winning. The example that
is given is the 2 heroes of the Star Trek TV show - Captain James Kirk (who is very excitable and
loud) …and Mr. Spock (who is very calm and intellectual and careful).
Well, as teenagers, most of us are
more like Captain Kirk than Mr. Spock.
In other words, before we reach adulthood – and our mid-20’s – the very
impulsive “Captain Kirk” side is charging ahead and the calm “Mr. Spock” is trying to keep up.
There is a lack of balance.
But, this lack of balance also means
that we are growing, changing, capable of so much and reminds us that what
grownups may dismiss as mere annoyances – the impulsiveness – are also things
that help teenagers to learn and succeed.
We pray that we will blessed in our
ability to reflect, to know God’s word, that God’s word will always be in our
mind.
While we have reflected here on our
human RISK … our human REWARD ..and our
human REFLECTION … we are also called to remember that the Holy Spirit comes to
us remind us that we do live our lives in communion with the Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit and that God loves us, and wishes to share His mercy with us each
day.
For _our Confirmation Candidate__ and
for all those who receive Baptism, Confirmation, Communion ….
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your
faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and
they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.
O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit,
did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we
may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord,
Amen.
[__FIN___]
No comments:
Post a Comment