Fifth Sunday of Easter, May 6, 2012
Fr. Joseph Eddy, O.de M.
Gospel: John 14:7-14 “I am in the Father and the Father in me”
(Full text of sermon) We see in the first reading a true conversion. St. Paul, who was one of the worst persecutors of the early Church, is changed 180 degrees. It was a true miracle. So much so that the other disciples of Christ could not believe that he had truly changed. St. Paul was a man of firm convictions whose life and beliefs turned totally around.
He was “cut to the heart” in discovering Christian captivesSt. Peter Nolasco was shocked and moved in finding Christians held captive and in danger of losing their faith. Read more about his heroic life and what he did about it on the website of the .
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Only an experience of the Risen Lord can do this to a person! St. Paul was knocked to the ground by the appearance of the Risen Lord. He tells us in the first reading that he “had seen the Lord” and “spoken to Him.” This was a real tangible powerful experience of God. This does happen in our times. People have deep conversions all the time.
Holiness face to face
Often times it happens from seeing holiness face to face. An example is Blessed Mother Teresa and Blessed John Paul II. Those who have had the privilege of spending time with these people or knowing them say that there was something radically different about them. Just being around holiness (those who are close to God) changes us. In the Risen Lord and to a lesser degree in the Saints, we have an experience of holiness. We see our faith in person or “face to face.” When we see holiness we see the power of God: 1) the truth of our Faith shown in a person who lives it, 2) the sign of God’s love for us, and 3) the hope we have to rise with Him for all eternity.
Conversion is something that we all should go through. It is for many people the first time they are taking ownership of their faith. For those of us who were raised Catholic, we go through the normal Sacramental rituals because “it is the thing to do.” We are baptized, go to first Confession, receive first Holy Communion, and are Confirmed. We do this in the Church because this is what are parents tell us to do. But, at some point we must take ownership of this faith. It must become not “my family’s faith,” but “my faith.” Until that point all the graces are not as effective. Holy Communion and the other Sacraments have their affect based in some part on the disposition of the person. The same is true of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit received in Confirmation. We all receive these Gifts at Confirmation, but they only grow and are active if we allow them to.
Take ownership of your faith
Basically, those who do not embrace their faith are a tree without fruit. Some people go through all their lives like this without ever taking ownership of their faith. Often times, these people fall away from the practice of the faith, because they find it to be meaningless for them. Those who do finally have an experience of the Risen Lord and begin to bear great fruit. They bear the fruits of the Spirit: charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, and chastity. When we meet them we say “wow” that person has really changed!!
The founder of my Religious Order (whose feast day is today) had this kind of conversion experience in the early thirteen century. St. Peter Nolasco was working as a merchant in Spain. He was born of Catholic parents and inherited the merchant business from his father. St. Peter would go throughout the surrounding regions and into Muslim occupied lands. In these lands, he was struck by the sufferings of the Christians. They were treated as second class citizens and not allowed to practice their faith. Many were held in captivity and in chains unless they would deny their Catholic faith. So many apostacized in order to live without persecution and have a better life for their family.
Jesus Christ suffering
St. Peter Nolasco saw this and was “cut to the heart.” He saw Jesus Christ suffering in the captive Christians. St. Peter had a conversion. He wanted to help Christians in danger of losing their faith. With a group of men, St. Peter began to collect alms in order to buy them back and take them to Christian lands. On August 1, 1218, the Blessed Mother appeared to St. Peter telling him that her Son wished him to found an Order dedicated to the great work of ransoming Christians in danger of losing their faith. The Order of the BVM of Mercy would take the traditional three vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. However, they would also take a special fourth vow to be willing to offer themselves in ransom for those Christians in grave danger of renouncing the faith. Many friars would offer up their lives in exchange for the lives of those in most danger or the weakest.
We see in St. Peter Nolasco and in others what a true conversion is. Those who really live the Christian faith will bear fruit in their lives. Others will see this and admire the beauty of their lives. A faithful Christian is someone who takes the Risen Christ out into the world and doesn’t try to be noticed. But they are noticed, because that which is true, beautiful, and good attracts others. The fruits of the Holy Spirit in one’s life naturally lead others to take ownership for their own faith. So, let us remain in the Lord and allow Him to bear true fruit in our lives. This is why conversion is contagious; people change and lead others to change. We become Christian in name and in fact.