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This Fr. Gerry Creedon homily was delivered at St. Charles on August 18, 2002
I first would like to tell everyone on behalf of my family and me how much it has meant to have your support and your prayers. As many of you know, the last week of my vacation my mother suffered a severe stroke that left her without speech and without the capacity to swallow or eat. Although in the last few days I'm told that she is showing some signs of recovery. The prayers of this community as with those from the Circle of Caring reached out and buoyed our spirits. I want to thank you for that support, and hopefully I can return it to you and your families as we pray together.
This happened at the end of my vacation so I was happy that I had many opportunities to enjoy my mother's company and she was never in better spirits. The night before we were at a party at a brother's house and we ate, drank and had conversation. During the course of the party my mother started a discussion on a theological or spiritual topic. She spoke of Danny Hyde, who was a great friend of my family, especially my father. He was such a great friend that my sister married his son. Danny was a bit of a philosopher but once said that he didn't believe in prayers of petition. He didn't want to bother God with all of his needs because God would have more important things on His mind and after all God knew his needs anyway. He preferred to thank the Lord. My mother said that she completely disagreed. She thought we should storm heaven pointing out that God said, "Ask and you shall receive", "Seek and you shall find", and "Knock and it shall be opened to you." She then turned to me to bolster her argument. I agreed that there was the story about the corrupt judge who was pestered by a widow who wanted her rights but he wasn't listening and eventually he thought that the woman was going to do violence if he didn't bring her justice so he gave her justice. He did this just because he wanted to live and because she was pestering him so much.
I could have used today's Gospel just as well. This Canaanite woman, who was a foreigner and an outsider, was rebuffed by the Lord, but she didn't take no for an answer and kept on pestering Him. The disciples wanted to send her away but she kept calling out after them. Jesus recognized her persistence and her great faith and so she received her request, which was the health of her daughter.
Women of Great Faith
Now we all know women of great faith. In my family my mother is seen as that, because she is very persistent. We celebrated the success of our Irish soccer team in the World Cup even though we didn't win it. In one game against Germany, Ireland took a long time to score and it even looked as though the coach had given up. My mother turned to where? Down to the parlor to light a candle to Saint Therese Lisieux, but the Irish team still didn't score. She gave up on St. Therese and instead lit a candle to Saint Padre Pio and the next thing you know Ireland got a goal. This is just one illustration of not taking no for an answer. If you try one saint and it doesn't work, try another, but persist.
In our parish community and in your own families we all know women of faith like this. In our parish, I often think of Sister Benedict as that valiant woman. I am her ninth pastor and she has been pestering every pastor she has had for a community center and gymnasium, but they turned a deaf ear. Guess what? Next week we will have our groundbreaking ceremony. The Bishop sent a letter yesterday approving the contract and loans. He couldn't say no to this persistent faith that kept knocking at the doors of the parish and diocese for what was needed.
I also think of someone at this Mass who is outside the door at a table. She is Celia Cornanado. She is another "pest" to the Pastor. She keeps pushing for the needs of poor people and sick people in her homeland of the Philippines. Through her persistence was formed the Philippine Medical Mission outreach, which has its home at St. Charles. In three years they have raised $70,000 for basic health care resources for the needs of the people in the Philippines.
When we find obstacles or walls in our way, do not give up. In that old expression from the 1960's, we "keep on trucking". We need to keep on believing and to have persistent faith.
So let's stand with that determination and with that persistence.
* * *
or 2002
Homilies
Revised/reviewed September 19,
2002