A Homily for the Sixth Sunday of Easter

 

What comes to mind when you hear the words, “Sunday Mass?”

 

Now, be honest!

Do you think of what an honor it is

to participate in

the greatest prayer on earth

and the most powerful prayer in Heaven?

 

Or, rather, do you find yourself thinking

of long sermons…and crying babies?

 

Maybe you picture teenagers

kneeling with their heads bowed…

Yes, their heads bowed…over their phones

scrolling the latest posts on social media.

 

Well, if indeed that is what comes to mind

when we think about Sunday Mass,

we probably find it a bit difficult to relate to

the passages taken from the Acts of the Apostles

on these Sunday’s leading up to the Ascension of the Lord

and the Descent of the Holy Spirit.

 

If we zero in on these passages

            we get the impression that, back then,

            going to church was anything but boring or routine.

                        Rather, the Church was alive and overflowing

                        with excitement and high energy!

pressing in to hear the apostles preaching…

(like the streets of Versailles, Ohio

on Poultry Days weekend!)

 

 

Well, don’t the contrast between that scene

and this morning’s Mass discourage you.

Why?

Because that rendition

of the Spirit-filled worship

in the early days of the Church is not complete.

 

If, for instance, you were to flip ahead

to Chapter 20 of the Acts of the Apostles

you’d come across an incident

that we can all relate to.

 

            I’m thinking of one incident in particular.

            that zeros in on a teenager named Eutychus.

 

Here’s the story:

One night, St. Paul the Apostle

is preaching in an upstairs room

that is packed with people.

The room is so crowded

that the only place a teenager named Eutychus

can find to sit is on a windowsill

at the back of the room.

 

            Well, as often happens with preachers,

            St. Paul got wound up and couldn’t stop.

                        He went on…and on…and eventually

                        Eutychus dozes off

                        and falls out the window!!

                        

As soon as it happens,

everyone, including St. Paul,

rushes down the stairs and out into the street.

            

And there lay Eutychus…

on his back...and not breathing!

 

Fortunately,

Paul grabs the kid, says a prayer

and Eutychus revives.

 

            So, everyone climbs back up the stairs

            and Paul, well, he picks up preaching where he left off.

 

***

 

Now, I have no idea why this story

is not included in the regular lineup

of Sunday readings.

But I do suspect that a lot of us…

find it relatable.

 

After all, doesn’t the fact that,

Sunday after Sunday,

we come to church,

listen to babies cry,

glance at our watches

then gaze up at ceiling

thinking about the bacon and pancakes

waiting for us at home.

 

Yet, does this note illustrate something beautiful

about the mercy of God?

 

That those of us

who believe in him and rely on him

can actually discern his presence

everywhere we look:

            in fields of corn and soybeans

            beginning to sprout…

                        from piles of laundry 

                        to stacks of bills…

                        to that never-ending list of things to do…

                                    as well as in those dark places

                                    where hope grows thin

                                    and fear gripes the heart…

                                                Yes, even there

                                                the Holy Spirit of God

                                                steadies us and assures us

                                                that the love and mercy of God

                                                penetrates every nook and cranny

                                                in the world around us…

                                                as well as 

                                                the soul deep within us.

 

Leave it to a lanky teenager named Eutychus

to remind us

that God is with us…

                        every step we take

                                    every minute we’re awake…

                                             and every hour we snooze.