Dear Preachers:

The author of the Book of Wisdom was addressing a problem we moderns are also experiencing. The years after Alexander the Great tried to Hellenize (i.e. make Greek in form and character) the known world, many Jews were drawn away from their faith. Large numbers were living in the Diaspora and attracted to the philosophies and cults of their foreign environs. It is similar today to the way our secular values draw many away from the faith we profess.

Wisdom addresses those who work geographically and spiritually far from their ancestral faith. The author proclaims that true wisdom is found in one God, the God of Israel.

The reading from Wisdom we hear today is like a section of a homily. It reflects on the Exodus experience, the key moment in Israel’s formation as the people of God. The ancient readers, including us, are reminded of God’s fidelity to the people, especially when they were in slavery. As we Christians ponder on Israel’s deliverance we are renewed in our awareness of God’s freeing actions on our behalf in Jesus Christ. God has fulfilled the promises made to our ancestors Abraham and Sarah. Jesus’ Passover also brings about deliverance from sin and death for us.

Wisdom emphasizes the care with which God protected the people of Israel. Because the people trusted God, they were ready to begin their journey out of slavery to freedom. This is a favorite and central biblical message: our God is a freeing God and will give us what we need to lead us out of bondage. Over the generations of faith, the Jews could recall what God had once done for them as they faced still one more challenge, one more journey to freedom.

How very fitting is our Responsorial Psalm to the Wisdom reading: "Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own."

[Let’s focus on the initial selection from Luke given us today: 12:32 – 40.]

For a few days this week our television here at the priory has been giving us trouble. I mentioned to someone after Mass today that we haven’t been able to watch the evening news. He said, "I can’t watch the local and world news these days, it is so upsetting and sad!" I think the same, but I feel somewhat obliged to watch the news, despite the anger and sadness it stirs up in me.

Jesus tells his "little flock" not to be afraid any longer. I want to say, "Are you kidding! Have you seen the latest news about: the cutbacks for the poor; global warming; the wars in the East; violence on our streets; disease, homelessness, hunger etc.?" Maybe we should not get our television fixed; who wants to learn about the justifiable fears so many of our world experience?

Luke spells it out: we are to put first what matters to God. Fear should not be a distraction that draws us away from the work Jesus has given us to do as his disciples. Nor is it to hinder us from hearing and believing His assurance of God’s tender and attentive care for us. While we usually put our confidence in "money bags," of one kind or another, purses and stock portfolios will wear out, Jesus warns. Instead, our priority is not to the attractions of the world, but to the gift of God’s very self in Jesus, "… For your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom."

In chapters 12 and 13 Jesus speaks clearly and urgently of the dangers and challenges a disciple will face. For example: the hypocrisy of the Pharisees (12:1); fear of human beings, rather than God (12: 4-5); denying Christ (12:8 – 9); anxiety about material things (12:22 – 31); not being watchful and ready (12:35-48); false confidence in belongings (13:24 – 27), etc. Chapters 12 and 13 present Jesus both as a warning prophet and a patient, merciful shepherd. He urges us to stay awake, be courageous, resist false securities and stay faithful, despite the high cost asked of us.

Note Jesus’ instruction and parable. Disciples are to "gird your loins" (i.e. fasten your belts) and keep lamps burning at the ready to serve Jesus’ way. His Jewish listeners would have recognized the instructions God gave for the celebration of the Passover meal. We are to be like people prepared to travel, and ready to respond to God’s directives at a moment’s notice.

The letter to the Hebrews reminds us that we are pilgrims, not stuck worrying about the passing things of this world, but ready to respond, even realign, the direction of our lives. That is what Abraham and Sarah did in response to God’s call: that’s what we are to do, whenever and however God calls us.

Today’s worship places before us our ancestors in faith, Abraham and Sarah, to bolster us in difficult times. Let’s use today’s celebration to recall those who, in our lifetimes, have been similar witnesses – parents, family, friends and community members, who "went out, not knowing where [they] were going." Perhaps these modern witnesses volunteer to work in a shelter for the homeless; visit the sick; work in the parish office; sing in the choir; go before local government; teach children in religious ed programs; work in an inner city school; strive to be honest employees or just employers; serve in civic jobs like police officers, fire fighters, as emergency medical personnel----no matter how big or seeming insignificant their "stepping out" was, these are people who decided to follow an inner calling, to choose a life journey faithful to God and responsive to those around them. They may have turned down promotions or other jobs, because, as they might put it, "I like what I am doing, I believe in my own way, I am serving God," or "I like helping people."

At this Eucharistic meal, Jesus feeds us followers who have grown weary, or fearful in our service. Here he welcomes us, sits us down at the table, invites us to eat and rest. At the table we are refreshed so that when we leave this place, guided by the Spirit, ready to "tighten our belts," and light our lamps, we will be refreshed and able to live the life Jesus has called us to today.

All of today’s readings speak about people on the move in search of a new homeland. As Christians, we are all migrants journeying with others; all of us responding to God’s call to journey towards God’s concept of home, one built on the foundations of justice, mercy, virtue, and love. Our task is to animate lives of service and solidarity with others who may have had different life experiences than ours.

One of the best experiences of accompaniment that I have found is in building Habitat for Humanity homes for working poor families, who sometimes come from far away countries. My husband and I have volunteered with Habitat Wake County for many years and, back in 2010, we decided to initiate another effort. Knowing that we needed lots of helping hands, I decided to put out an appeal in our area parishes’ bulletins. "But," I said to Chris, not wanting to get our hopes up, "nobody ever reads the bulletin."

Want to see how God works--the Catholic Coalition will, hopefully, be building our 16^th Habitat house starting this Fall. We will get to meet a new family. Parish bulletins turned out to be a wonderful conduit as the Coalition has consisted of the following: St. Luke and Our Lady of Lourdes (the 1^st two parishes with the funds back in 2010), St. Andrews in Apex, St. Raphael, St. Joseph, St. Francis, and Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral. In the past, St. Mary in Garner, Cardinal Gibbons High School, NCSU Catholic Campus Ministry, and Catholic Young Adults joined us and may again.

The riches of this journeying together is so much more than just the end product of sturdy, well-built homes for lovely families. Treasures include a manifestation of what it means to live a Christian life; the forming of friendships united in a common cause; the expansion of each of our worldviews and understandings; and the pure experience of selfless love. I often felt keenly Jesus, the carpenter, journeying among us.

Like the ancient Hebrews who knew that they had to escape from certain death in Egypt, to Abraham who began his journey into the unknown in faith, to Jesus, in today’s Gospel, urging followers to not be afraid, we are tasked to step out of our comfort zones and do the same. This is the way of Jesus.

Barbara Molinari Quinby, MPS, Director,

Office of Human Life, Dignity, and Justice Ministries

Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral, Raleigh, NC

"Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen."

Faith doesn’t already possess the goal; nor does it always have concrete evidence of its existence. Still, we believers can see and hope for what is not yet visible to the eye, because we see with the eyes of faith. We trust, as our ancestors did, in our God, who has promised to be with us; whom the Book of Wisdom reminds us is worthy of our trust. God’s promises give us courage to continue to take bold steps on our faith journey.

• How am I being asked to step out in faith at this time in my life?
• What promise do I hear God making me as I try to take that step?

"One has to strongly affirm that condemnation to the death penalty is an inhuman measure that humiliates personal dignity, in whatever form it is carried out."
---Pope Francis

"Can you imagine what it’s like to have your boy on death row? Can you imagine what it’s like to visit him there every Saturday and tell him, ‘I love you. I’ll see you next week,’ when you never know if they’re going to call and say, ‘He’s up next—it’s time for his execution."’

----Jeanetter Johnson, Mother of Alan Gell, who was retried and found innocent because prosecutors withheld evidence that might have cleared him of first-degree murder. [The News and Observer, February 15, 2004, Raleigh, NC]

Please write to:

----Central Prison P.O. 247 Phoenix, MD 21131

Please note: Central Prison is in Raleigh, NC., but for security purposes, mail to inmates is processed through a clearing house at the above address in Maryland.

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