Make a Difference

Mar 22^nd, 2015    Sunday Homily:   Fr.Francis Chirackal CMI

Jer. 31:31-34; Heb. 5:7-9; Jn. 12:20-33

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 One day, a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.  Approaching the boy, he asked, "What are you doing?"  The boy replied, "Throwing starfish back into the ocean.  The surf is up and the tide is going down.  If I don't throw them back, they'll die."  "Son," the man said, "don't you realized there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish?  You can't make a difference!"  The boy bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it back into the surf.  Then, smiling at the man, he said, "See, I made a difference for that one."  "The Star Thrower" is a classic story of the power within each one of us to make a difference in the lives of others. Today’s gospel challenges us to make a difference in the lives of other people by our sacrificial service to those around us in the family, in the workplace, in the Church and in a wider society.

 The first reading from the book of Jeremiah explains how God will replace the Old Covenant of Judgment with a New Covenant of Forgiveness of Sins.    In the second reading, St. Paul tells that it is by His suffering and death, that Jesus established the New Covenant.  Using metaphors of the ‘sown wheat grain’ and the ‘spent life’, in today’s gospel, Jesus teaches the same lesson. He considers his “hour” as the way of glorifying his heavenly Father.  It is also the way by which he draws all people into the saving action of God.  In addition, the “lifting up” of Jesus on the Cross and Resurrection is the assurance of our own exaltation and glorification provided we accept our crosses.

New life and eternal life are possible only by the death of the self through suffering and service.  Salt delivers its taste by dissolving in water; a candle gives light by melting its wax.  Loving parents sacrifice themselves so that their children can enjoy a better life than they themselves have had.  Let us pray for this self-sacrificial spirit, especially during Lent.

Holy Father Pope Francis in his Lenten message has called on us to use the Lenten season to tackle what he has called a "globalization of indifference", by practicing acts of charity and becoming "islands of mercy" for brothers and sisters in need. Reflecting on the sense of communion that Catholics have, Holy Father has also said that, those in the church should share their possessions with one another. He says, "The Church is the communio sanctorum, not only because of her saints, but also because she is a communion in holy things: the love of God revealed to us in Christ and all his gifts…..Among these gifts there is also the response of those who let themselves be touched by this love”. He continues saying, "In this communion of saints, in this sharing in holy things, no one possesses anything alone, but shares everything with others."

 Only a life spent for others will be glorified here in this world and in heaven. We know that the world owes everything to people who have spent their time and talents for God and for their fellow human beings.  There were thousands of people who left this world after enjoying the wealth and pleasures of this world. We rarely know and remember even their names. But we remember those who sacrificed their comfort and life for the greater love of God and fellow beings.

It is better to burn out than rust out.  This is one of the repeated pieces of advice Jesus gave us.   As  John Wesley puts it, “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can” . May this period of Lent enable us to grow in Gospel spirit of communio sanctorum and make a difference. God bless you.