Homily: Monday of the 5th Week of Easter - "If someone asks you if you are a god..."

Yesterday, I attended the first Mass of Fr. Tim Roth, one of the new priests of the diocese of Cleveland, who has been assigned here at St. Angela as the new parochial vicar.  Fr. Tim did a beautiful job, and it brought back a lot of memories to my own first Mass at my home parish with my family and brother priests.  At the end of Mass, Fr. Tim delivered some special words of gratitude.  He thanked his grade school teachers who planted and nurtured the seed of faith, he thanked his parents for their wonderful example of faith, and then he thanked some priests in particularly whose example inspired him and challenged him throughout his seminary formation.

He then turned to his pastor, Fr. Jack Carlin, and told a funny story from his childhood. Because of the special liturgical role, the priest plays, sometimes children get a little confused.  So Fr. Tim said, "Fr. Carlin, when I was a child, and I saw you in the sanctuary of the Church, I thought you were God.  When you spoke, I thought you were God speaking to us."  Everyone laughed of course. 

In our reading from the Acts of the Apostles, the pagan greeks confuse Paul and Barnabas for two greek Gods, after all, Paul had performed an amazing miracle, he cured a man crippled from birth.  There was a greek legend that Hermes and Zeus visited that temple in lystra  in disguise once before, and all but an elderly couple recognized them and offered them hospitality; so the greeks didn’t want to make the same mistake; so they began to prepare to offer Paul and Barnabas sacrifices. 

Paul explains that they are not gods, but rather they have come to help the greeks turn away from false idols to the worship of the one true God.  St. Luke tells us that “Even with these words, Paul and Barnabas scarcely restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.”

Helping people to turn away from false idols is a primary work of the Church.  Just as it was 2000 years ago, it is a difficult job.  People might initially be confused at the Christian message.  Yet, just because it is hard, and just because people might be confused doesn’t mean we should refrain from spreading the truth of the Gospel

St. Augustine said, 'The truth is like a lion; you don't have to defend it. Let it loose; it will defend itself.'  Just preach the truth, don’t worry about how it will be received.  We can trust that the Holy Spirit is preparing hearts to receive the Gospel, but we have to be faithful in proclaiming it.

Inspired by the example of Paul and Barnabas and assisted by their prayers, may we be courageous today in spreading Christian truth for the glory of God and salvation of souls.