A Word of Thanks
Good morning, everyone.
I’m sure you know who I am because I’ve come here at least once a year to promote our school, Mary Immaculate Catholic School. My name is Father Alphonse, and I’m the pastoral administrator at Mary Immaculate.
I want to thank Father Ignatius for inviting me this year to speak, to give the homily, and to celebrate mass with you in this beautiful community. We have many families from St. Catherine who send their children to our school, and I believe we have one of the best schools in the diocese. So thank you, Father Ignatius, for being so gracious and giving me this opportunity to be with you all and to share a reflection on today’s readings.
The One Thing to Remember
What’s the main point? What’s the one thing I don’t want anybody to forget?
No matter what you’re going through, no matter what challenges you’re facing, no matter what difficulties you’re experiencing — don’t worry. That is the message from God today. Don’t worry.
From St. Paul: “Have no anxiety.” Brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious — stick to these things.
If you are the outlier, if you are the weirdo because you’re being good and kind, if you’re the outcast, if you’re going against the flow — don’t worry. Everything will work out. Just stick with me.
What Isaiah Is Saying to the House of Israel
This is the challenge, because in the first reading from the prophet Isaiah, God is essentially asking: “What more do you want, house of Israel? Look at what I have given you.”
God helped the Israelites escape Egypt. He helped them cross the Red Sea. He helped them reach the Promised Land and gave them a beautiful country. And still they looked elsewhere. “What more do you want from me? Haven’t I given you everything?”
That’s what Isaiah is saying. Why are you letting other people influence you more?
You have to remember that Israel was a tiny nation, surrounded by empires — the Babylonians, the Egyptians. These great powers were constantly trying to influence the Israelites, and the Israelites wanted to be like everybody else. But the question God keeps pressing is: why do you want to be like everybody else? Why don’t you want to stand out? Why don’t you want to be better, to make a difference for what’s right and good and beautiful?
Everything Changes Except What Matters Most
I’ve been reading a book on Ulysses S. Grant — about a thousand pages. He lived 160 years ago. And you know how many things have changed in 160 years? Everything. Everything changes.
There’s a young boy here. How old are you? Ten? Imagine in 10 years he’ll be 20. And you know what’s going to happen? He’ll call his parents and say, “Mom, Dad, I’m going on vacation.” They’ll ask where. He’ll say, “The moon.” And his parents will say, “Again?” Maybe he’ll even check out the other side.
You think that’s impossible in 10 years? Or imagine he gets in the car and says, “Take me to Grandma” — and he doesn’t even have to take a driver’s test. Everything is going to change.
But today the Lord says this: everything changes except my love for you. That will never change.
The meaning of love will never change. The meaning of honor will never change. The meaning of truth will never change. The meaning of graciousness will never change. The meaning of purity will never change. All that is true, all that is good, all that is right, all that is beautiful — that will never change.
So stick with me. That’s what the Lord says. Stick with me. Stop letting other people influence you.
The Same Problems, 160 Years Apart
Like I said, I’ve been reading about Ulysses S. Grant. And you know what? All the problems he had, I could have today.
The backstabbing. The gossiping. The murmuring. People talking badly about you. People not liking you. People getting jealous of you. That happened 160 years ago, and it happens today.
So the question is: am I going to be like everyone else?
Have no anxiety. Have no fear. What is good, what is true, what is honorable, what is just, what is pure, what is lovely, what is gracious will never change. And it will always be good.
Stick with me. Amen?
