HOMILY FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT - MARCH

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1 Dear Disciple of St. Francis, This written version of the March 11 th Homily is for deeper reflection, for sharing with friends and family, and for those who are traveling or are seasonal parishioners. As Catholics, we are aware that it does not replace our commitment to attendance at Mass, worshipping and praying with our parish community, and receiving the Eucharist. For a review of the Sunday readings, please go to: Blessings, Katie Christensen Pastoral Associate HOMILY FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT - MARCH 11, 2018 We are step closer to spring as daylight saving time began at 2:00 this morning So I have a short quiz for you on your knowledge on DST. 1. Which of these states does not observe daylight saving time? Arizona Florida Indiana Hawaii 2. What country was the first to implement DST? France United Kingdom Germany United States (Effort to save coal for the war.) 3. How many countries in the world observe DST? DST was first adopted in which year? President Woodrow Wilson at the end of WWI 5. Studies suggest an increase in which of the following after daylight time begins? Heart attacks Depression Road accidents All of the above That is it for the quiz! Whether you like DST or not, enjoy the extra hour of evening sunlight.

2 One of the things that, I no longer get to enjoy is the rib-tickling comic strips, because I read most of the news on line. The one comic strip I miss the most is Dennis the Menace. In one cartoon Dennis and his mischievous little friend, Joey, were leaving Mrs. Wilson s house with their hands full of cookies. Joey says to Dennis, I wonder what we did to deserve these cookies? Dennis responds, Joey, Mrs. Wilson gives us cookies, not because we re nice, but because she is always nice. I have often wondered like little Joey, What have I done to deserve the love and mercy of God. St. Paul answers that question in our 2 nd reading this morning. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is a gift from God. To paraphrase Dennis the Menace, God gives us grace, not because we are nice, but because God is always nice. In other words, the grace to be saved forever and ever is a gift from God. Somehow I missed this in my 8 years of catholic grade school, and 4 years of Catholic High School. I thought God only loved me when I was nice. God loves us all the time, even when we do not love God. God s love is not like ours. Because of this, God s love is incomprehensible, irrational, unmerited and unlimited. How do you define this type of love, It can only be described. Perhaps the most quoted passage of the sacred scriptures to describe this kind of love is found in our Gospel this morning. You see it a lot at crowded stadiums or on street corners. It is John 3:16, God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish, but might have eternal life. This scripture passage is the Hallmark in describing God s love. John 3:16 tells us that God does three things: God loves, gives and saves. God loves the world. God did not come into the world to condemn it. God gives the Son. Our almighty God could have sent angels or prophets, but God the Father gave us his own Divine Son. And God saves and everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. Unfortunately some people some people don t want to be saved.

3 Here is a story to describe how God s love is incomprehensible, irrational, unmerited and unlimited. The ancient people even before the time of Abraham were nomads, or gypsies or wanderers they have their own laws to govern their own community. The story is told of a young man who struck and killed his best friend. Knowing the inflexible customs of his own nomadic people, the young man fled, running away as far as he could go the night of the killing. He ran to the chief leader of nomads to seek protection. The elderly leader took the young man in and the elder assured him that he would be safe until the matter could be settled legally. The next day the young man s pursuers arrived at the elder s tent and demanded that the murderer be turned over to them. They would see to it justice was served. The elder protested saying, I have given my word that he would be safe. But you don t know who he killed! They shouted. I have given him my word, the elder repeated. One of them blunted out, But he killed your only son. The elderly leader was visibly shaken and stood speechless with his head bowed for a long time. Finally the old man raised his head and courageously said, Then he shall become my son. Everything I have will one day be his. The young killer certainly didn t deserve such generous mercy and forgiving love. And that of course is the point of the story. A generous gift, lovingly given, not because he deserved it, but because of who the elder leader is ---like Mrs. Wilson! This is the same extravagant love that God has for each of us. God s love is incomprehensible, irrational, unmerited and unlimited. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish, but might have eternal life For God s love to be genuine we can t just learn about it from a catechism or a class room or simply read about it in the bible; we have to experience it personally!

4 There is a profound difference between saying you believe in Jesus Christ and experiencing Jesus Christ in your own life. The French acrobat Charles Blondin would do amazing feats on a tightrope stretching across Niagara Falls. One day, in front of a crowd, he asked one person in the crowd, Do you believe that I can push this wheelbarrow across this rope to the other side of Niagara Falls. The person said, Yes, I do believe. Blondin said, Then back up your belief, get in the wheelbarrow. Getting into the wheelbarrow is experiencing total trust that that he so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish, but might have eternal life One way we here at St. Francis can experience that Christ loves, Christ gives and Christ saves, is to participate in our Alpha seminar, which will begin, the week after Easter, Monday, April 9 th at 6:00 pm. By last week all of the registered parishioners of St. Francis should have received in the mail the pledge form for this years Bishop Annual Catholic Service Appeal. Our goal is $113, and I encourage each of you to prayerfully consider how much you can donate to financially support the ministries of the Reno diocese. Of the 28 parishes in the diocese, 9 of them depend on financial support from the diocese. Our own parish back in 1965 totally depended on the diocese, as the diocese purchased and gifted our existing 12 acres of land, so the original 54 founding families could hand build the first Church. Now it is our turn to help the diocese. To paraphrase President Kennedy: Ask not what the diocese can do for you, but what can we do for the diocese. I totally and enthusiastically support this annual diocesan Catholic Service Appeal. Deacon Don and Jeanne and I have already made my financial gift. The money I give is from my substance; by that I mean it is the money I live on. This is not from my surplus money.

5 I can t ask for your money to support the diocese, if I don t support it myself. As a parish we are continually contributing to various national and global tragedies or missionary appeals. These are all worthy causes, but so is our local diocesan appeal a worthy cause. Without your generous gifts the diocese will not be a welcoming, engaging and evangelistic diocese in which all of us come to know Jesus as our Living Personal Savior. Your donation will demonstrate your gratitude to God for his generosity to you. God so loved the world that he gave his only son God gave. That is what God does! God gives and we are the recipients. Now it is our turn to give back to God by supporting the diocese. Let me thank you in advance for your generous and giving hearts and being open to God s call to sacrifice yourself from your substance to support the ministries of the diocese.