2020-04-26
– 3rd Sunday Easter
● Acts
2:14, 22-33 ● Psalm 16 ● 1 Peter 1:17-21
● Luke 24:13-35 ●
Friendship,
Road to Emmaus
[_01_] When I was studying and living at
the seminary at Seton Hall U. around 2005, I lived in the seminary residence
hall and came to know other seminarians, the priests and others who worked in
the seminary.
This is an episode about Franco. Franco was neither a
seminarian nor a priest – but rather a carpenter, repairman, painter,
electrician – in all of these things, he took care of the building. To me,
however, Franco was also a model “parishioner” of the seminary community. Of
course, the seminary is not a church with parishioners, but rather an
educational institution that existed for
the students and faculty. But, if the seminary were to allow “parishioners”,
Franco would have been the first to register.
I bring up Franco as an example of the calling we all have
to fidelity and friendship and to compassion and charity for those who are in
our “building”, those who are in our immediate community or house, for our
closest relatives and friends.
[_02_] Franco
cared deeply about the seminary building, the property and the people in the
building. He wore a tool belt. We wore
black clerical attire – “Roman collar” – but our calling was similar, to build
up and take care of God’s Church and each other.
That 2005 community was called then – as we are called now
in 2020 – to do this through our friendship and relationship with others.
[_03_] What is friendship?
I’d like to give an example from a nonfiction book about
famous U.S. Olympic “crew” or rowing team. The book title is the The Boys in the Boat.
[ Rowing: this involves propelling a boat on water
using oars. The training and physical strain on the body required to be a
successful rower is intense.]
And, each rower has a relationship with the other rowers –
because they are teammates – but a relationship that is affected by his
connection to the boat itself.
For the “boat” is
not just something that floats on the water, the boat is also symbolic of the
team, of their connection to each other.
The biography is not just about their technique or victory or medal but
also their relationship to the boat – to the vessel – itself.
The boat and their experience of rowing the boat is the
venue of both their victory and their vices.
How do the teammates treat each other in the boat?
Do they have respect for the boat?
In this regard, the boat builder – the marine carpenter and
craftsman – George – is an important figure in their lives, just as much as
their coach.
At one point, one of the rowers confides in George his
disgust and distaste for someone else on the team. This rower is also thinking
he cannot continue on the team.
So, George the carpenter teaches him – saying – “look if
you do not like someone on the team, somebody rowing in boat with you, you find
a way to love him, to like, to appreciate him, to forgive him.”
This reminds me of the famous saying by St. John of the
Cross, San Juan de la cruz: “Donde no hay amor , pon amor y sacarás amor.” –
Where there is no love, put love, and you will draw out love.
George was telling this young rower about love and
forgiveness. And, to remind him that this will make everyone better off in the
boat. It is about the boat.
[_04_] Right now, you and I are in a boat. It´s not a cruise
ship, not a luxury liner. And, you may think it´s not even moving, that’s an
illusion. The boat is moving. You are helping to row it by your prayers, by your
charitable service, by your kindness.
The boat is the Church which is symbolized in Jesus´ own
Gospel experiences on the Sea of Galilee, it is symbolized in Noah´s ark.
The boat is the Church, in our case, Our Lady of Lourdes
Parish. We are in the boat.
[_05_] And, I am inspired by your efforts care
for everyone in your boat.
[***
pause ***]
What is going to help you and me survive and thrive during
and after this COVID 19 pandemic?
Monetarily and macroeconomically, I’m sure we need the
philanthropy of foundations and the stimulus of the federal government.
But, we also need the basic philanthropy of your friendship
and the saving love and compassion that begins when you and I are stimulated
and inspired by the Holy Spirit, when we listen to the Holy Spirit.
The Gospel of this Sunday is a beautiful
example of contemplation of our Lord, listening to Him..even when the 2
disciples - on the road to Emmaus - did not know it was Jesus.
The personal encounter with our Savior is meant to lead us to friendship with each other and
with God our Father.
[*** pause ***]
[_06_] Sometimes it seems that our love is so
localized and limited. Does it really make a difference? I suggest it makes all
the difference not only because it is concrete and significant to those near to
you but also because when we love locally – just when we shop locally – helps
us to care for the whole world.
[_07_]
In a similar way, our the love
and honor your show to “honor thy mother and thy father” is a parallel and
preparation to love God.
That is we don’t love our parents just because God threatens to
punish us if we do not.
Love of our parents is something we learn to do and learn to
desire not because our parents give us what we want, but we love them even when
they do not give us what we want. We love them simply because they exist and
they gave us existence. We love them simply because they are. And we love God
simply because God is.
[_08_]
John Henry Newman wrote (John Henry Newman, “Love of Relations and Friends”, Book 2, Sermon
5, Parochial & Plain Sermons, San
Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1997, pp.259-264) that friendship is a
shelter, a home, a refuge.
Newman wrote: “by trying to love our [closest] relations
and friends, by submitting to their wishes, though contrary to our own, by
bearing their infirmities, by overcoming their occasional waywardness … [this
love like the mustard seed] shall at last even overshadow the earth.” (J.H. Newman, “Love of
Relations and Friends”, p.261)
[_09_]
I saw in Franco someone trying to love and take care of those closest to
him and this also was a way for him to learn to love the whole world and to
love God.
He did this through his labors.
Now, the seminary had a very fixed and specific schedule
for prayer and worship and Daily Mass starting at 7:15 am.
On certain special holy days, Franco might join us for
Mass. I recall that he would be there on Ash Wednesday but on an ordinary day,
Franco’s schedule did not allow him to attend. Yet, at 7:30 am on an average weekday,
Franco could be seen kneeling outside the chapel, looking through the glass
doors at the altar during the Eucharistic prayer. He was a guy in a toolbelt
giving a class in Eucharistic Adoration and contemplation of Jesus in the
Blessed Sacrament.
Right now, many of you are kneeling “from a distance”
relative to the interior of Our Lady of Lourdes church building. Yet, I am also
inspired by your perseverance in prayer as we shelter in place outside of our
regular church building.
Franco – unlike the 2 disciples on the Road to Emmaus –
would have recognized Jesus immediately.
I pray that you and I would also recognize Him.
During this time of sheltering in place and stay-at-home,
I’m grateful for your devotion, your acts of charity and prayer toward your
neighbor which help us to row this boat, to heal and care for the Body of
Christ and the persons in our midst, to keep rowing to the shore.
Our Lady of Lourdes, Pray for Us ! [_fin_]
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