Starting Fires

A Homily given to the Priests, Deacons, and Seminarians at the Pontifical North American College on Friday during the second week of time throughout the year.

Being a priest is a lot like being a fireman
Trained to carry even the most helpless people to safety

Firemen are experts at saving lives and putting out fires,
And yet, while they have many skills,
meant to save lives and keep them safe

too often, because they work so close to danger,
while attempting to save lives, they loose their own.

The scriptures reminds us of this danger today:

Jesus came home, to Peter’s house,
and hearing of His return, the people flocked to Him,
and He taught them. And in the midst of the crowds,
the scribes were sitting there

The scribes were experts in the law
who had an important role to play in Jewish society:
safegaurding and administering not just civic life
but the Jewish faith and the souls tied to it.

And there they were, sitting in the presence of the Word—
the very law that they had spent their lives learning about

The Word—who like a refiners fire, was slowly purifying
the hearts of all those who heard Him
and pondered Him in their hearts.

All their training should have prepared them for this moment
and made them docile to this Word,

They were the ones carrying the people to Jesus
but instead they became obstacles blocking the way.
Crash! Through Peter’s roof came believers
Carrying their friend to safety,
into the midst of the house on fire
buring with the living Word of God.

These were simple men without
And yet they saw in the burning fire of Christ’s words
the love of God, and the possibility of healing for their friend

And so they brought him to Jesus:
All they wanted was a physical cure
But as always Jesus purifies our intentions
and gives us what we all really need.
Saying: Child, your sins are forgiven.

reminding them, and us,
that while the life of the flesh is a relative good
there is another life that must be our primary concern!
Pausa brevis
My brothers it is dangerous to approach Jesus,
To approach, with Moses, the burning fire of God’s Word.

Because approaching Him we are confronted by a choice
A choice between life and death—
When we come into His presence,
all the training in the world
Can not replace trust in Jesus
As we choose between our life and the true life He offers.

We priests and deacons, acolytes, and even new lectors
Who are meant to be experts in the faith.
Must be ever vigilant watching and waiting
Not just for danger but also for the source of life.

So that when we see Him at the distance
we can run to Him not letting anything stand in our way
lest we ourselves block the way for others.

WE MUST Be on guard! For as St. Paul warns
we have received the Gospel just as our ancestors did.
But the word that they heard did not profit them,
for they were not united in faith with those who listened.

we like the scribes may have a vocation
in the administration of God’s chosen people
but God can and will work through us, even without us.
And having received the word,
we too can loose the very promise that we administer.

During your time here in seminary
Don’t let yourself become the type of expert or professional who, like the scribes, sits in the presence of the Word
without being united in faith with those who listen.

Instead, each and every day,
Let what you learn about Christ
become an opportunity to come into His presence
so that you can learn from Him.

Our training is important,
but faith, hope, and love are even more important!

Because while being a priest is like being a fireman
The life we risk if we live our vocation poorly
is unimaginably more important

So if there is one thing you learn during your time here
Learn from the Romans  to be shameless
breaking down any barriers,
pushing aside any obstacles,
and ignoring all cultural niceties
in order to come into the healing presence of Jesus Christ.

May Jesus Christ be Praised…