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Uniting and Welcoming Diversity Through the Common Bond of Jesus

The branches are different and varied yet they are united in the vine.

This Fr. Gerry Creedon homily was delivered at St. Charles on May 18, 2003

"Mabuhay" I learned from my Filipino companions. This word means welcome. What are some are some of the other words for welcome your families may have used? [Volunteered from the congregration:} Bienvenido (Spanish), Bienvenue, (French), Aloha (Hawaiian), Dobro Pozhalovat (Russian), Bem-Vindo (Portuguese), Yokoso (Japanese), Salamat Datang (Indonesian), and of course, Cead Mile Failte from the land of one hundred thousand welcomes, Ireland.

We welcome people at the beginning of every liturgy with the Entrance Rite, a ritual of greeting and grace. When you come into the Church, you encounter the most important people in the ministry of the church, not the choir nor the clergy but the ushers. They greet you, look out for you and help you find a place. At the beginning of today's liturgy, I hope you turned, introduced yourself and took time to welcome the stranger.

Like the branches of the vine we are different and yet united. The Easter sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist proclaim that message. At a baptismal ceremony yesterday, the father, dressed in traditional African outfit was from Ghana, and the mother of the child from Japan. They combined the vitality of Africa and the gentility of Asia. A blend of culture was wrought in love, life, and in the waters of baptism.

We Are Called to Belong

Last night after the 5:00 PM Mass and after the 6:00 PM Mass this evening, St. Charles welcomes the almost 200 newly registered members that have come to join us over the last three months. We need to greet, welcome, and ask people to be a part of our family. The church is a place where we are called to belong and St. Charles needs to exhibit the signs of welcome, warmth, and hospitality.

As we gather together around the Lord's table, we prepare to celebrate the Eucharist under both species. Bishop Loverde has opened the door and allowed parishes to celebrate the Eucharist not only with the bread of life but also with the cup. When you think about the cup, it carries the fruit of the vine. Wine is always a sign of joy and hospitality.

Jesus' first public work was at the marriage feast in Cana in Galilee. Mary told Him they didn't have any wine and asked him to do something about it. He didn't want to, but his mother told him to, so he had to do it. He produced the best wine. They were surprised when the best wine was kept till the end. Like a wedding ceremony, the Eucharist is a banquet where joy is shared. Sharing the cup of salvation at the Lord's banquet table expresses the joy to which all of God's people are called.

The branches are different and varied yet they are united in the vine. Jesus is what we have in common. He unites us with His life, His hope, and His promise.

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Some would say the Church is in a shambles these days. Our bureaucracy and institution leave something to be desired. That may be true, however, on a community level I think we all finally recognize as Catholics, through the new evangelization that has been occurring since Vatican II, that we are knit together less by our structures than by our relationship with Jesus Christ. The true vine is what gives us vitality, life, and hope.

We are called in this Easter season to deepen our involvement with the spirit of Jesus, which is poured out in Pentecost. All languages will be respected and we will hear one another in our own tongues. It will be the miracle of diversity in unity.

Let us give thanks for the central message of Jesus. It is simple, the core and the heart of our life. He is the one who gives us union, meaning, life, and hope. Let us renew that relationship as we come to His welcome table.

  or  2003 Homilies