Hope in Christ Risen
Summary of a Fr. Gerry Creedon homily from May 1, 2005
"Because I live and
you will live" John 14:18
THIS WEEKEND OUR NEWLY confirmed members read
the Scriptures. They proclaimed the Word with the power and effectiveness of
the Holy Spirit. I have recalled other situations where newly confirmed youth
saw their confirmation as a sort of graduation, a time to stop going to RE/CCD
and perhaps even to drop their Sunday Mass attendance. I am glad that here at
St Charles we see the Sacrament of the Spirit as call to a deeper involvement
with their parish. I pray that all our ministries, especially religious education
and WAY, will benefit from the enthusiasm and leadership of our confirmed young
adults.
Easter is the season between the death of Jesus and Pentecost. As nature renews
herself in flowering trees and fields, the church receives the gift of new life,
eternal life. With our youth we are all called to testify to our hope in Christ
Risen.
I experienced that witness in a touching way last week. I presided over the
Funeral Mass for Harrison Orosco, a young boy of 7 years from our parish who
was killed in a bus accident. His Peruvian mother and her companions from St
Charles stayed by custom to see the earth scattered over his coffin. Marisol
cried out from the depth of her being "Harrison, Harrison, why have you
left the mother who loved you so much? Porque has dejado a la madre que te queria
tanto?" Along came a couple who reached out to her in her pain with words
of faith and assurances of eternal life. The pain was transformed into prayer
and hymns of resurrection. "Resucito!"
The couple who came to the graveside were the parents of Lilibeth, the little
girl who had been killed in the same accident. They had buried their daughter
on Saturday and came back to console other grieving parents. What faith, what
power of the Spirit enabled them to transcend their own grief to comfort another?
Let each of us in our own way join our young people and our grieving families
in testifying to the belief: "Because I live and you will live"
