Fri 6th Week of Easter Homily

1st Reading: Acts 18:9-18

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 47:2-7

Gospel: Jn 16:20-23

Graduation season is upon us. It was only last week that I was graduating from Saint Meinrad and in the upcoming days schools will hold their graduation ceremonies. At this Sunday's 11am Mass this parish will have our graduates with us to celebrate this great milestone within their lives. Thinking about my time in school makes me think of all the teachers that I have had through the years. I especially think of those that I had during high school and how hard it was for them to control their classes at times. The teachers had prepared their lesson plans and were ready to teach, but there were times when the class was too rowdy to accomplish anything that they had set their sights upon. No matter how difficult it was for them they would continue on and do their best to teach the class.

Saint Paul had a lot to teach concerning Jesus Christ, but his missionary work did not always come easily. After all that he had endured with his missionary work the Lord came to him in a dream and reminded him to not be afraid and not to be silent because He will always be with Him. Despite all the people who would meet Saint Paul and deny his message and despise him he continued to preach the faith without fear. He was able to do this because the Lord continually dwelled with Him.

All of us here are called to be missionaries. We are called to bring the Lord into the world and to be an example of the faith that we profess. We will encounter many false voices as we follow along this path, but we can only trust in the voice that comes to us from the Lord. There will be people who will not want to hear our message, but we must continue to bring Christ into their lives. Each of us here are called to follow this path that was begun by Saint Paul; may we take up his example as we bring Christ into the world. May we not be afraid and never be silent as we preach Christ to the world through our actions and deeds.