Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L.
HOMILY
Mass for the 60th Annual Novena to St. Jude – October 26, 2017 

Listen once again to the words just proclaimed by Jesus in our gospel today.  “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!  …  Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth?  No, I tell you, but rather division.”

Unsettling words aren’t they?  Do we really need to hear Jesus speak about division and upheaval in our lives and in our world?  …  Don’t we hear that enough these days from world leaders who seem to be looking for a fight?  …  Aren’t our lives surrounded by more than enough discord and pain and suffering?  …  Are these words germane to our lives as we participate in this annual Novena to Saint Jude – these days in which we look for God’s grace and peace to make our way through life?

Simply put – Yes!  The words of Jesus in today’s gospel are far more relevant that we might ever imagine or believe.

Every one of us in this church today is undoubtedly holding up to the Lord a particular person or situation that is in need of God’s grace and healing.  Frankly, most of us probably have a roster of individuals for whom we’re praying these days.  Perhaps for some of us, we’re praying about our own particular needs.  Such prayers are more than appropriate.  For most of us, however, our prayers are likely “other centered” and capture, in their very nature, the selfless love that so characterized the life and ministry of Jesus.

Our prayers – and who and what we pray for this day – begin to give us a glimpse into why today’s gospel – that initially seems rather unsettling – is so significant for our reflections these days.

You see, the effect of Jesus’ mission in our world was hardly to establish peace at any price.  Quite the contrary, Jesus’ mission was to proclaim a message of selfless love, justice, mercy and forgiveness – a message that by its very nature turned his world upside down and divided families, neighbors and friends.

For example, when Jesus forgave a woman caught in adultery, many people thought that he was going “soft” on sin.  And when he challenged the righteous men, who may very well have been involved with her, to face their own sinfulness before they cast a stone in condemnation of the woman, we can see the foundation for division being laid.

Or when Jesus healed a Gentile – hardly deserving of God’s grace and love from the perspective of some – we can see how selfishness and narrowmindedness can get the best of faithful Jews who had believed that they had cornered the market on God’s.

These two simple examples alone enable us to see how Jesus’ commitment to the truth of God’s merciful and faithful love began to sow seeds of division and upheaval among those who should have known better.  Yet, for Jesus, what was always at the heart of his ministry was hardly the desire to establish a sense of harmony and peace rooted in superficial worldly values, but rather the urgent need to proclaim the values of God’s kingdom – values rooted in justice, mercy and forgiveness – to every soul who authentically sought to engage the truth of God in their lives.

Are you beginning to see how is this gospel reality reflected in the prayers that you offer today and throughout this novena?  If you’re still uncertain, take a look at the people and situations for which you are praying today.   …  Maybe you’re praying for your son who has lost his way – but you won’t write him off.  No, you’re praying for him to come back even when others are telling you that he’s too far gone.  …  Or perhaps your prayers are for a relationship that has gone awry and needs healing and you know reconciliation will only happen when you’re not too proud to take the first step and ask for forgiveness.  …  Or, like so many of us who have countless numbers of personal needs, your prayers during this novena are not solely for yourselves, but for the sake of others who suffer and are in pain.

My friends, when the prayers that we offer during this novena are rooted not so much in the self-consumed, self-centered values of our world, but rather, in the timeless values of the gospel of Jesus – when those same prayers are characterized less by a desire to convince God of what we want and need, and more by a posture of trust in the mercy and goodness of God who first gave us life – we will come to recognize beyond a doubt the value of prayer, the power of faith and the peace that it brings at our center – even in the midst of a complicated world.

I came upon a wonderful reflection on today’s gospel from a meditation on the daily scriptures written by a Carmelite sister from England.  “Many of us see the Church and Faith, as we call it, like an insulated, armored carriage in which we can sit secure behind curtained windows as we hurtle through the dark forests.  …  How different from the reality that Jesus speaks about in the gospel.  Do not think I have come to bring peace but a sword.  I have come to cast fire on the earth.  …  The true experience of faith is more that of the biblical imagery of a frail boat tossed like a cockleshell on the waves with not a chance of survival in itself.  Only the presence of the Lord is its security, and he is asleep, seemingly inactive.  …  His only certainty and security lay in the love of his Father.  …  That is what faith is about.  And this is what it means to know the Lord.”

May the blessing of these treasured days of prayer, more than anything, provide us with an ever-deepening sense of trust in the Lord, who promises to carry us through the storms of life and bring us to peace.

Bishop Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L.
Bishop of Scranton
Homily for Mass Consecrating the Diocese of Scranton to the Care of
the Blessed Virgin Mary on the 100th Anniversary of the Apparitions at Fatima
28th Sunday on Ordinary Time
October 15, 2017

In his apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia, Pope Francis quotes from a homily that he had given at a Mass celebrated with new cardinals in 2015: “The way of the Church is not to condemn anyone forever. It is to pour out the balm of God’s mercy on all those who ask for it with a sincere heart. … For true charity is always unmerited, unconditional and gratuitous.”

These words sum up today’s readings and the special nature of this celebration. From Isaiah’s vision of God providing for and sustaining all people through his gracious and unconditional love – to Saint Matthew’s parable of the wedding feast to which all people: Gentiles, foreigners and even those who do not believe in God are invited and welcomed – to Saint Paul’s powerful reminder that we can do all things and face all things through him who strengthens us, the Word of God today challenges us to trust in God and to put our hope in his power and presence at work in our lives and in our world.

In so many respects, these scripture passages not only remind us of the posture that we would do well to embrace in our life of faith and in our relationship to God. They also capture the essence of the one who best understood what it meant to live as a faith-filled disciple and child of God – the Blessed Virgin Mary – to whom we consecrate our local diocesan Church this day.

Let’s take a moment to reflect upon her life, all that she teaches us this day, and what her presence in the Church provides us with as we journey through life.

In another gospel passage taken from Saint John, we are given a glimpse into the life of Mary and the very foundations for her greatness in the Church. That passage takes us to the wedding feast at Cana, which finds Mary concerned about a seemingly insignificant issue. The wine for the feast had run out and she brings that discovery to her son, Jesus. She’s met with a sharp rebuke by her son. “Woman, how does your concern affect me?” Mary’s response, however, which is not based on one shred of information in the story, sets her apart from among all other disciples. “Do whatever he tells you.” … In those words, Mary becomes the first disciple of Jesus to show the quality of true belief. She trusts unconditionally in the word of her son, even in the face of apparent rejection and rebuke. … She trusts unconditionally! … Hold on to that reality and reflect with me a bit more on the woman whom we honor today.

We really know very little about Mary from the scriptures. Yet, she has intrigued us for twenty centuries. … Why? … What is her appeal? … The answer is found in her human journey with God – which, in reality, is our journey as well. Let’s reflect, then, a bit more on how this incredible woman – Our Lady of Fatima, our Queen of Heaven – speaks to our lives. And as we reflect, I’d ask you to see yourselves in her life. I assure you that she will speak most poignantly to us not from her throne on high, but from the struggle of her journey of life and faith as well as the deep sense of trust that gave life to her relationship with God.

When we first meet Mary, she is the object of an ugly rumor. She is pregnant without a husband. That she was innocent and touched by the Holy Spirit simply wasn’t believed. … Isn’t Mary a source of comfort for all who have suffered from rumors and have had their reputations soiled? Doesn’t she speak to unwed mothers who chose the life of their unborn child yet who are misunderstood and often maligned in our self-centered and self-interested world?

During our initial encounter with Mary in the scriptures, we are also confronted by her anxiety and fear. When invited to become the Mother of God, Mary’s response is likely no different from our own. “How can this be?” … Isn’t Mary like any of us who have ever wondered: “What does God want from me?”

And when her son, newly born, was sought after by those who wanted to destroy him, isn’t Mary like any mother who worries about her child and wants to protect him or her from all those individuals who seek to kill spirits and potential and who trample our deepest hopes and break hearts – the drug dealers, the child molesters, the preachers of false values.

Recall that after Jesus’ birth, Mary and Joseph fled with their son to Egypt – a foreign land – homeless and displaced – like the millions of refugees and immigrants who wander our world in search of a better life for their children and are often, sadly, turned away.

In later years, when Jesus was a young man and appeared to have been lost in Jerusalem during the Passover feast, he told his parents who were frantically searching for him, “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” And the scriptures tell us that Mary and Joseph “did not understand.” … How many of you don’t understand your children’s decisions or choices? How many of us struggle at times to make sense of what others do – even with the best of intentions on their parts.

At some point, Mary became a widow and cried like so many of us who have lost someone we love in death. … She saw her son leave home and she faced the fear and uncertainly of life alone.

Mary heard rumors about her son. She sought him out but couldn’t get near to him because of the crowds. … Then her son was caught by those who sought to destroy him simply because he spoke truth to the hearts of those who sought a way forward through their faith in God. He was betrayed by one whom Mary had undoubtedly welcomed into her home many times with her son.

She saw her son mocked and beaten as he hung on a cross, even while she was told to keep her distance. … And suddenly, every parent who has seen their child carted off to prison – or dealing with addiction – or content to raise his/her own children without having them baptized – or going through a divorce; every parent who witnesses such “crucifixions” and is told to keep away can identify with Mary. … Like Mary, sometimes all we can do is pray and suffer in silence.

Finally, Mary cradled the dead and broken body of her only son in her arms and sobbed uncontrollably. … Once more, Mary speaks to every parent who has ever lost a child, to every soul who has ever lost a spouse or parent or friend.

Mary has known all of life, as you and I experience it. And we call her blessed – not because she reigns today as our Queen of Heaven – but because she walked our world and embraced it as a woman of faith: a trusting disciple of her son, Jesus. Scan the scripture and you will discover that Mary’s faith by no means guaranteed her a perfect world, free from suffering and pain. Yet her faith enabled her to trust and to see life in a hopeful way. … And it can do the same for us.

Pope Francis described Mary’s vision of life in these words: “At the message of the angel, Mary did not hide her surprise. It was the astonishment of realizing that God, to become man, had chosen her, a simple maid of Nazareth – not someone who lived in a palace amid power and riches, or one who had done extraordinary things, but simply someone who was open to God and put her trust in him, even without understanding everything. ‘Here I am, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word’ (Lk 1:38). That was her answer. … And God constantly surprises us, he bursts our categories, he wreaks havoc with our plans. And he tells us: trust me, do not be afraid, let yourself be surprised, leave yourself behind and follow me!”

Because of her willingness to trust unconditionally and to say “yes” to following the Lord completely, Mary becomes a woman for all ages. Therein is the secret of her appeal to all of us who have struggled to find true meaning and purpose in our lives. … Mary was the handmaid of the Lord who traveled a lowly path throughout her life. And God lifted her up and did great things for her!

The message of Mary – the message of our consecration of the Church of Scranton to her loving care this day – and the message that God places within our hearts every time we invoke her memory and example – is a simple message of hope. … Mary is faithfulness rewarded. … She now is where we hope to be when we come to the end of our journey of life. … And she reminds us that the same mercy and love of God that carried her through life and entrusted to her the gift of her son Jesus, will fill our lives and lead us to lasting peace if we but open our hearts to God and trust in his ways.

Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L.
Bishop of Scranton
HOMILY
Rite of Admission to Candidacy for the Permanent Diaconate
Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary – October 7, 2017
Acts 1:12-14; Luke 1:26-38 

On the cover of the program for today’s liturgy, there’s a copy of a 15th century icon from Moscow called “The Mother of God of Tenderness.” In this type of icon, of which there are many examples, Mary listens attentively and sadly while her Son reveals to her his passion and death. The icon captures so well both the role that Mary plays in salvation history as well as the unique ministry in the Church that we celebrate today and to which you, our brothers who will be admitted to Candidacy aspire.

First, a few thoughts about Mary, as we celebrate her today in her title as Our Lady of the Rosary. For all that we have come to attribute to Mary in her many titles, in the devotional life of the Church, and in our personal journeys of faith, the scriptures portray Mary as the ideal disciple, the model listener that is reflected so powerfully in the icon that I referenced a moment ago. Mary hears God’s word and acts on it.

This theme, not unique to Mary but certainly epitomized in her life, is most explicit in Saint Luke’s gospel, from which today’s proclamation is taken. Recall that in Luke’s first two chapters, Mary encounters Gabriel, Elizabeth, the shepherds, Simeon, Anna, and Jesus himself, each of whom proclaims, in his or her own unique manner, the good news of God’s presence and praise God for his mercy and fidelity. Luke then goes on to tell us that Mary kept all these things in her heart, turning them over and over again. Yet, it’s her response to what she hears from the angel Gabriel that sets her apart as a model of faith and discipleship: “Be it done to me according to your word.”

Later in the same gospel, Luke captures the essence of both Mary’s response to Gabriel and the heart of authentic discipleship. You’re familiar with these words. His mother and brothers came to be with him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you.” He told them in reply, “My mother and my brothers are those who listen to the word of God and act upon it.” (Luke 8:19-21)

This theme, Mary as the listening disciple, has often been overshadowed by other more exalted Marian titles. But it is an extremely important one. In fact, it lies at the core of New Testament spirituality: all disciples, like Mary, are called to listen to the word of God attentively and act on it.

My brothers, who are to be admitted to Candidacy this afternoon, having listened to the word of God, remember that, like Mary and like the eleven who gathered with her in the upper room to await the coming of the Holy Spirit, you too, are being called to act upon that word today.

Eugene, Joseph, John, Peter, Joseph, Gerard, Luis and Joseph – like the first disciples, you have been chosen by the Lord Jesus through his Church for this role. This means that no one enters into ordained service who has not first been called, chosen and sent. Ordained ministry is not like a career which one self-selects, but a divine vocation and grace to which one strives to be faithful.

With this formal recognition of your Candidacy, you enter into a new and deeper phase of formation to prepare you for the singular seal of the Holy Spirit in the Sacrament of Holy Orders. While all of us as baptized followers of the Lord Jesus are called to make a decision to embrace his life and to make his example of selfless love and service a pattern for our own lives, as those preparing for ordination to the diaconate, this decision speaks to your lives in a unique manner today. … Seek, therefore, to imitate the example of Jesus who washed the feet of his friends in humble service and then commanded them, “As I have done, so you must do.”

Reflect often on the nature of your call. A deacon’s service to the People of God is three fold: service to the Word of God – service at the altar of the Lord – and service to the poor. While all three types of service are essential in the life of the Church, know, however, that the ministry for which you are being formed must include some form of direct service to the poor and those who are most in need.

My brothers, as you consider what you are asked to do this day in response to the Lord’s call, the entire Church is especially grateful to your families and particularly to your wives. … In so many respects, my sisters, you have and will continue to assume an integral role in your husbands’ spiritual journey. Your willingness to encourage them to open their hearts to the call of the Lord – your selfless love and support amid their struggles to discern their place in the Lord’s plan – and your fidelity in prayer – is a blessing not only to your husbands but to the Church of Scranton and especially to the lives of all those who will be touched by their ministry of service. Thank you.

Finally, while we focus at this moment on the calling that God has given to these men preparing for unique service to the Church through ordination to the permanent diaconate, all of us today are reminded through the scriptures and this memorial that we celebrate in honor of Mary, our mother, of the radical decision that we must face each day. … Through baptism, we are all called to discipleship – to remove from our lives everything that can separate us from the things of God or diminish our capacity to serve and to love. … And we are all called to echo Mary’s words to the Lord, spoken through her exchange with the angel Gabriel, “Be it done to me according to your word.”

The call to holiness and mission, my friends, is both a blessing and an incredible challenge. It’s demanding – for me – for these men – and for every one of us. It is, however, the only way in which we will find our peace. And so, my brothers, assured of our resolve to love and pray for you as you continue on your unique journey of faith, when you are called by name, come forward and declare your intention before the Church assembled here.

Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L.
HOMILY
Respect Life Mass – October 1, 2017
26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Some time ago, Pope Francis shared these profound and challenging words:  “Each day the Lord calls us to follow him with courage and fidelity.  He has given us the great gift of choosing us as his disciples.  He invites us to proclaim him with joy as the Risen one.  But he asks us to do so not merely by our words but by the witness of our lives, in daily life.”  …  The Lord asks us to follow him but not merely with our words but by the witness of our lives. 

In today’s gospel, Jesus tells a simple parable that serves as the foundation for the words of our Holy Father.  …  A man had two sons – and a vineyard that needs attention.  Simple enough!  …  So the man asked the first son if he could give him a hand.  “Sorry dad, I can’t do it today.”  But in time, the son changed his mind and provided his father with the help that he needed. …  Then the man approached the second son and asked for his help.  “Sure dad, whatever you need me to do.  I’m your man.”  But the son never set foot in the vineyard.  He was all talk.  He did nothing to give life to his words.  They were empty.

Jesus concludes the parable by asking a question.  Which of the two sons did his father’s will?  …  And we would all answer without hesitation:  the first son – because despite his words, his actions revealed the depth of his love and compassion.

Jesus’ simple story of the two sons takes the gospel out the realm of the theoretical and places the mercy of God into the midst of our messy, complicated everyday lives.  Compassion, mercy and respect are only words until our actions give full expression to those values in our relationships with others.  Calling ourselves Christians and followers of Jesus means little until our lives express that identity in the values we uphold and the beliefs we live.  Discipleship requires us to embrace the gospel as a set of idealistic assumptions or abstract concepts but as the rule by which we struggle to live our imperfect lives.

In short, today’s parable of the two sons is a devastating condemnation of those of us whose faith is confined to mere words and rituals.  …  It’s easy to say that we’re Christians – especially in a Church, where everybody else would likely join in the chorus.  …  It’s easy for me to profess on your behalf all that we believe.  …  But at some point, we have to live our faith.  Wherever God has placed us in this journey of life, we have to give life to the gospel message of love, respect and forgiveness.

It is hardly by coincidence and surely a part of God’s plan that the Church offers this gospel challenge to us on the same day that it celebrates Respect Life Sunday.  More than ever, our words must yield to actions if our world is ever to embrace the fundamental Christian belief that all of life is sacred and every life deserves to be treated with respect and dignity.  …  Just look at our world!

In mid-August, violence and hatred motivated by racism and a disrespect for human life led to one death and multiple injuries in Charlottesville, Virginia.  A few days later, a terrorist attack in Barcelona, Spain, arbitrarily took fourteen lives and injured over one hundred.  In less notable news, debate continues almost daily in medical societies and state legislatures regarding the legalization of doctor assisted suicide.  And the list goes on!

The treasured belief that all of life is sacred because all of life is made in the image and likeness of God appears to be eroding before our eyes.  Frighteningly, even some of us who presume to profess faith in God make arbitrary determinations about the value of life based upon criteria such as one’s country of origin, ethnic background, religious tradition, lifestyle or the color of one’s skin.  …  It’s sad – but true, isn’t it?  …  While such attitudes might appear to simply be vestiges of a by-gone era, they are tragically far more evident in our world than any of us would imagine or admit.

When coupled with an ongoing disregard for the countless numbers of human lives lost through abortion, euthanasia and capital punishment, it is not difficult to see that our world, with its values that so recklessly compete with those of the gospel of Jesus, is far from that which was willed by God at the beginning of creation.

Pope Francis has warned us often of the consequences of embracing such an erroneous perspective:  “All too often, as we know from experience, people do not choose life, they do not accept the ‘Gospel of Life’ but let themselves be led by ideologies and ways of thinking that block life, that do not respect life, because they are dictated by selfishness, self-interest, profit, power and pleasure, and not by love, by concern for the good of others.  …  As a result, the living God is replaced by fleeting human idols which offer the intoxication of a flash of freedom, but in the end bring new forms of slavery and death.”

Amid such competing values that the world places before our eyes, for us to ever begin to experience the fullness of life and freedom that God has promised, our lives must first be rooted in the life of Jesus.  Through his own example of service, selfless love and compassion for all, Jesus challenges us to engage our world in the same way.  Today’s gospel parable is a fitting reminder that it is no longer sufficient for us to merely preach and pray about respect for human life.  Nor is it enough for us to simply long for an end to what appears to be a godless age or to despair in the face of a world that seems to have lost its way.  Yes, prayer must be the foundation of our lives.  But Christ-like respect and action must characterize all of our relationships, our decisions and even our words and opinions.  In short, while it may very well appear that, at times, others need to change far more than we ourselves, to presume that we bear little responsibility for the upheaval that is enveloping our world is to miss the heart of the message of the Gospel of Life.

Simply put, the dignity of every human being must be upheld – even when such a posture places us in opposition to popular values, political expediency, and the tide of today’s evolving cultural norms.  Jesus’ way must become our way – in our homes, in our workplaces, in our parishes, in our relationships, in our casual conversations, in the votes that we are privileged to cast and in every aspect of our lives.   In the end, while we may not wind up changing those who need to change the most, in humbly seeking to change ourselves, we will be witnessing to the power of Jesus which alone can change our world.

My brothers and sisters, filled with the power of Jesus’ love, it’s our responsibility as Christians to continually to engage the battle of respecting life at its earliest and most defenseless of stages in the unborn.  …  But it’s also our role to follow that battle as it brings us to life’s end stages as well, in the defenseless elderly and infirm.  …  And every day, that battle also takes us to our borders, our prisons, our houses of worship, and to our workplaces, schools and neighborhoods where we encounter lives that look and sound differently than we do and that embrace lifestyles with which we might not agree.  …  These lives also deserve to be treated with respect, dignity and love.  For nowhere in the scriptures or in our faith tradition are we ever told that one life has more value than another.  Every life has value and every life can be worth living.

So, be not afraid!  Embrace the message of today’s gospel as it challenges us to not merely speakwords of faith, but to be light in the midst of darkness, to be hope in the midst of despair  …  and to be Jesus’ voice, hands and heart in the midst of a broken world.

May our merciful and loving God forgive and sustain us as we work ever more earnestly to establish a culture of respect for life, beginning first with those lives entrusted to our care, including our own.

Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L.
HOMILY
V Encuentro Mass – September 30, 2017
26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Welcome to our Cathedral!  I’m happy to join with those of you who regularly worship with us and particularly pleased to welcome all who gather for this special mass celebrating V Encuentro.  …  Some time ago, Pope Francis shared these profound and challenging words:  “Each day the Lord calls us to follow him with courage and fidelity.  He has given us the great gift of choosing us as his disciples.  He invites us to proclaim him with joy as the Risen one.  But he asks us to do so not merely by our words but by the witness of our lives, in daily life.”  …  Jesus asks us to follow him not merely with our words but by the witness of our lives.  He calls us to a loving encounter with him that, in turn, sends us forth as missionary disciples and witnesses of God’s love.  

In today’s gospel, Jesus tells a simple parable that serves as the foundation for the words of our Holy Father.  …  A man had two sons – and a vineyard that needed attention.  Simple enough!  …  So the man asked the first son if he could give him a hand.  “Sorry dad, I can’t do it today.”  But in time, the son changed his mind and provided his father with the help that he needed. …  Then the man approached the second son and asked for his help.  “Sure dad, whatever you need me to do.  I’m your man.”  But the son never set foot in the vineyard.  He was all talk.  He did nothing to give life to his words.  They were empty.

Jesus concludes the parable by asking a question.  Which of the two sons did his father’s will?  …  The answer to Jesus’ question is pretty obvious, isn’t it?  Without hesitation, we would all answer:  the first son – because despite his words, his actions revealed the depth of his love and compassion.

Jesus’ simple story of these two sons takes the gospel out the realm of the theoretical and places the mercy of God into the midst of our messy, complicated everyday lives.  Compassion, mercy and respect are only words until our actions give full expression to those values in our relationships with others.  Calling ourselves Christians and followers of Jesus means little unless our lives express that identity in the values we uphold and the beliefs we live out in our relationships with one another.

In short, today’s parable of the two sons is a devastating condemnation of those of us whose faith is confined to mere words and rituals.  …  It’s easy to say that we’re Christians – especially in a Church, where everybody else would likely join in the chorus.  …  It’s easy for me to profess on your behalf all that we believe.  …  But at some point, we have to live our faith.  We have to give life to the gospel message of love, respect and forgiveness.

It is hardly by coincidence and surely a part of God’s plan that the Church offers this gospel challenge to us on the same day that it celebrates Respect Life Sunday and on the same day that the Church of Scranton gathers in prayer in celebration of V Encuentro.  In the spirit of both of these moments in the life of the Church, it is clear – more than ever – that our words must yield to actions if our world is ever to embrace the fundamental Christian belief that every life is sacred, every life deserves to be treated with respect and dignity, and every life is entitled to share in the joy of the Gospel!

Sadly, the treasured belief that all of life is sacred because all of life is made in the image and likeness of God appears to be eroding before our eyes.  Amid competing values that the world places before our eyes, for us to ever begin to experience the fullness of life and freedom that God has promised, our lives must first be rooted in the life of Jesus.  Jesus’ way must become our way!   In the end, while we may not wind up changing those who need to change the most, in humbly seeking to change ourselves, we will be witnessing to the power of Jesus which alone can change our world.

My brothers and sisters, filled with that divine power, it’s our responsibility as Christians to continually proclaim and live Jesus’ Gospel of life on behalf of all of God’s people – especially the defenseless unborn, the abandoned, the immigrant, the dreamer, the poor, the sick and the elderly.  …  And every day, it’s also our responsibility to proclaim and live that Gospel in its entirety in whatever situation or circumstance God places us:  here in our houses of worship – in our workplaces and schools – at our borders – to our political leaders – in our neighborhoods – and wherever we encounter lives that are diminished or challenged, regardless of how they look or sound or the lifestyle that they embrace.  …  Nowhere in the scriptures are we ever told that one life has more value than another.  Every life has value for every life is saved by the cross of Jesus.

So, be not afraid!  Go forth as missionary disciples sharing the joy of the Gospel to present and future generations of every race, language and culture.  And above all, embrace the Word of God this day as it challenges us to not merely speak words of faith, but to be light in the midst of darkness, to be hope in the midst of despair  …  and to be Jesus’ voice, hands and heart in the midst of a broken world.

Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L.
Bishop of Scranton
HOMILY
Dedication of Saint Jude’s Church, Mountaintop
September 17, 2017

What a glorious day that we are privileged to experience in praise of God and with gratitude for all that God has done in our lives and in this wonderful parish community of Saint Jude. This magnificent dwelling place for God is a tribute to all of you who, in so many and different ways, have served to build not merely this church – but the Church – the People of God.

While I could never begin to sufficiently single out and thank the countless numbers of parishioners, building professionals, civic officials, clergy, religious, neighbors and friends who have helped to bring this day to pass, I must acknowledge one person who has worked tirelessly for many years to make this moment a reality: your local shepherd and pastor, Father Joe Evanko.

This liturgy of dedication, while familiar in its shape and substance, is unique in many ways. It doesn’t happen that often. In fact, it’s the first time that I’ve ever experienced it as a priest for 34 years, much less celebrated it as a bishop for almost 8 years. I hope you will watch and listen and soak in the richness of this powerful moment of prayer and praise.

So first, let’s reflect upon the Word of God. While numerous scripture passages may be chosen for the liturgy of a church dedication, the first reading from the Old Testament book of Nehemiah is always required. In so many respects, it’s a passage that is foundational to what this day and this moment in the life of your parish is all about.

In the reading from Nehemiah, Ezra the priest gathered the people of Israel together and proclaimed the Word of God. But that gathering was not just an ordinary moment in which the people joined together in worship and praise. It was the first time that the people of Israel had come together after almost 50 years of the Babylonia exile – an exile that began with the destruction of their lives and the eventual destruction of the magnificent temple to God built by King Solomon.

Finally, after a half century of suffering, the people of Israel were allowed to return to their homes. And Ezra reminded them through his proclamation of the Torah that while the temple had been destroyed, God was in the midst of his people bringing them back to life!

Indeed, that moment reminded the people of Israel that for so much of their history following upon God establishing a relationship – a covenant of love – with them, Yahweh – God – didn’t dwell apart from his people in a house made of gold and silver and precious stones. No – he dwelt in a tent in the midst of his people. He was one with them – supporting and sustaining them – and forming them into a people unique unto himself.

Look at yourselves, my friends. Look at the journey of that you’ve experienced as a parish on this blessed mountaintop for 63 years. … Many of you have said to me today and in recent months, “Finally, our dream of a church is realized.” And it has been realized and it’s beautiful to behold, isn’t it? … But, my brothers and sisters, this dream is a reality today only because from your earliest days, you have first been deeply committed to building CHURCH – the people that God has called you to be!

In today’s gospel passage, we hear familiar words of Jesus spoken to one of his closest disciples, “You are Peter, and upon this rock, I will build my church!” The word translated as “church” comes from the Greek ekklesia which means “an assembly.” Through Peter’s leadership, Jesus would establish not a building or temple but a people – a people who embraced the call to missionary discipleship – a people who proclaimed the good news of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection – a people who lived their faith in Jesus in word, worship, community and service.

And that’s what you have done in this parish for all of your years together as the People of God. You have celebrated life and called one another to a profound respect for this sublime gift of God. You have taught people to read and write and sing about our faith. You have fed families and clothed the poor. You have healed bodies and spirits, consoled, buried and converted hearts to the Lord. … You have acknowledged God’s presence in your hearts and have served so well the lives of the people God has woven into your midst. … You have first done Christ’s work – a work that, more than anything else, has created the rock solid foundation upon which this house of God now rests.

Our late Holy Father, Saint John Paul II, stated this reality best with these words that he shared early on in his pontificate. “The parish is not principally a structure, a territory or a building, but rather ‘the family of God, a fellowship afire with a unifying spirit,’ ‘a familial and welcoming home,’ the ‘community of the faithful,’ … the place where the very ‘mystery’ of the Church is present and at work.”

And so, because you have been faithful, we come to this moment of great joy in the life your parish community. This rich ceremony that we undertake as we dedicate this structure for the worship and praise of God and the building up of his people reminds us of who we are as children of God – of all that we are called to do and to be – and of the heart of our faith and hope in Jesus.

In just a few moments, we will celebrate four rites that are unique to this dedication ritual: the anointing the altar and walls of the church, the incensation of the altar and church, and the covering and lighting of the altar and church. Each of these rites expresses in a visible way the work that Jesus accomplishes in and through his Church whenever we celebrate the mysteries of our faith, especially the Eucharist. Watch and pray along with me as these rites unfold.

All of these unique rituals will culminate in something very familiar: the celebration of the Holy Eucharist – the end for which this church was built – the living presence of God in our midst – enlivening us for mission and service.

Pope Francis reminds us often – and so well – that our lives as Christians, while strengthened by the Eucharist, can never lose touch with our responsibility as the baptized to engage the mission of Jesus and to serve generously and selflessly, following his example. “If Catholics do not proclaim Jesus with their lives,” the Holy Father notes, “then the Church is less than what it should be. … But when believers share their faith … embrace the power of their baptism … and serve with love … there is life.”

What a joyful day – a day to celebrate our life as Christians and to give thanks for all that God has accomplished in and through this blessed community of believers – yet, a day that also reminds us that the journey of faith is by no means over with the dedication of this church. No, it continues for us all! … While we have much for which to be grateful this day, this church building will only shine forth as a vibrant sign of love and hope to all if you, who have given it life, continue to live your faith in service of the Gospel of Jesus.

So, my brothers and sisters – give thanks – go forth in love – and continue to build CHURCH – the People God has called us to be!

Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L.
HOMILY
Mass of the Holy Spirit for Chancery Staff – September 12, 2017

Some of you may have followed news related to a unique gathering of Catholics earlier this summer in Orlando, Florida.  The Convocation of Catholic Leaders found representatives from most every diocese in the United States, including your truly and a dozen representatives of the Diocese of Scranton, gathered together for four days of prayer, study, reflection and celebration of our faith and our call to missionary discipleship.

Simply put, the gathering focused our attention as representatives of the Church in the United States upon the heart of Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium – which, in so many ways, establishes his vision for the Church of the 21st century.  In his exhortation, in so many homilies and reflections and in the example of his life and ministry, Pope Francis challenges us constantly to be a Church that goes out in service of the people that God places in our care – a Church that encounters Jesus and then takes that experience out into the streets to seek the lost and broken and to encounter Jesus again in those who suffer and who are in need of the love of God.  “This,” the Holy Father has said on so many occasions, “is what Jesus wants today:  missionary disciples.”

Essentially, Pope Francis is hardly taking the Church in a new direction, but rather, building upon the legacy of his predecessors particularly from Blessed Pope Paul VI to Saint John Paul II and to Pope Benedict XVI and inviting the Church to embrace a new evangelization to bring Christ to today’s world.  He’s calling all of us to be missionaries in our own communities and in our own country where so many Catholics, as one American cardinal recently said, “have stormed off, dozed off or simply drifted off from the Church.”

Today’s gospel passage from Saint Luke is a powerful reminder of what you and I, as baptized followers of Jesus, are called to do and to be as missionary disciples.  …  After considerable prayer and reflection, Jesus chose the twelve apostles from among his followers.  And immediately upon calling the apostles, Jesus brought them along as he immersed himself into the midst of a large number of suffering souls from all over the region where he lived and preached.  …  The gospel goes on to tell us that “everyone in the crowd sought to touch him because power came forth from him and healed them all.”

Note this important reality, my friends.  Jesus didn’t bring the newly chosen twelve with him to simply witness all that he could do.  They had already been given glimpses of Jesus’ unique role in salvation history.  No – Jesus brought the twelve with him to teach them what he would expect of them as his followers.  …  “As I have done, so you must do.”

What’s also so significant in today’s gospel is the fact that the twelve did not self-select themselves as Jesus’ apostles.  They were chosen by Jesus – for a purpose.  Recall from Saint John’s gospel these words that Jesus spoke quite forthrightly.  “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you – for a reason – so that you might go and bear fruit-fruit that will last.”

By the grace of God, we have been baptized into the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.  Through the grace of God, we, in turn, have been equipped for mission – to carry the gospel message of life, hope, selfless love and service to the broken, suffering world that makes its way into our lives each day.

As we gather together in prayer this day – and as we particularly pray for all of you who are a part of the diocesan staff of this local Church of Scranton – I can’t help but think of how you respond so generously to Jesus’ mandate to serve your brothers and sisters and all who come into your lives seeking God’s loving presence and care.  Thank you for being who you are and for your willingness to be a part of this wonderful mission of service to the People of God in Scranton.

My friends, may we never underestimate the power of God working within our lives.  And may we never underestimate the blessings that flow from lives of faith-filled service.  While often we can only wonder how and why, God continually calls us – just as he called the twelve apostles in today’s gospel – and God uses our lives and the situations and circumstances that unfold within them to build his kingdom of love and peace.

So, despite the many challenges that unfold around and within us, take consolation from the Word of God proclaimed today.  When we are humble enough to respond to Jesus’ call and to give Jesus room to lead us through our journey of life, God’s grace will take hold of our hearts and God’s peace will reign within them.

Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L.
HOMILY
Charismatic Conference – August 6, 2017
Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord 

Listen once again to the first line of today’s gospel:  “Jesus took Peter, James and his brother John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.”  …  Do you recall when we meet this same trio going apart with Jesus again?  …  Jesus took Peter, James and John with him to the garden of Gethsemane the night before he died.  They who beheld Jesus’ glory in the Transfiguration would also witness his agony in the garden.  And why?  Because to endure the latter, they needed to experience the promise of the former.

Later on in today’s Mass, when the Preface to the Eucharistic Prayer is prayed, this reality will be acknowledged.  Listen carefully for these words:  Jesus “revealed his glory in the presence of chosen witnesses … that the scandal of the Cross might be removed from the hearts of his disciples.”

That makes great sense, doesn’t it?  The disciples saw the transfigured Lord and that experience enabled them to face the harsh reality of his cross with a certain sense of hope.  …  But this does raise a question:  What about us?  It’s good and proper that the apostles had a vision that would sustain them in difficult times.  Yet, again, what about us?  We could put up with a great deal of suffering and uncertainty if we had a “mountain top” experience like that of the disciples – if we had a clear vision of the presence of Jesus reminding us that everything would be OK.

Where’s our vision to hold on to?  So much of our ability to cope is determined by how we view life.  The fact of the matter is that there are all sorts of moments of “transfiguration” all around us.  We sometimes simply fail to notice them.  It’s all a matter of how we look at life and the world around us, isn’t it?

I recall an author telling a story about a personal experience that he had on a New York City subway one Sunday morning.  People were sitting quietly – some were reading the newspaper – some were dozing.  It was a rather peaceful scene until at one stop, a man and his children entered the car.  Soon the children began yelling at each other, throwing things and even grabbing the newspapers.  It was all so disturbing.  And yet, the father sat in that subway car oblivious to what was going on.

The author recalled becoming quite irritated.  How could this father be so insensitive to the other passengers in letting his children wreak havoc on the train?  Everyone was clearly annoyed.  So finally, the author took it upon himself to address with situation with the father.  With great restraint, he said, “Sir, your children really are disturbing many of us.  I wonder if you could control them a bit more.”  …  The man life his gaze as if coming into consciousness and said, “Oh, you’re right.  I’m sorry.  I probably should do something.  We just came from the hospital where there mother died an hour ago.  I don’t know what to think.  I guess my kids don’t know how to handle her death either.”

The author said, “Can you imagine what I felt at that moment?  Suddenly, I saw differently.  I felt differently.  I believed differently.  I felt so sorry for the man.  Nothing changed in that subway.  The same people and the same annoying children remained on that car.  What did change was a way of seeing the situation.”

While I don’t remember the title, do you recall the song that begins with these words, “Open my eyes Lord.  Help me to see your face.  Open my eyes Lord.  Help me to see.”  …  It would be well for us to pause every now and again to carefully look at our world, to peer beneath its surface to see all that really is occurring and to recognize the power and presence of God all around us.  God hasn’t given up on this wonderful creation.  Jesus gave his life for our sake and promised, in the great commissioning of his disciples, “Behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”  …  “Open my eyes Lord.  Help me to see.”

We complain because we don’t see our children as often as we’d like to see them.  We feel cheated and a little bitter that they don’t spend much time with us, despite the fact that they’re working two jobs to provide for their kids and to care for them.  …  Then one day we meet somebody who’s really alone.  No children.  No spouse.  No family.  And yet, that person is grateful and looks at life as a gift.  …  And we wake up and we see life differently.  We see how blessed we are by God to have others in our lives who care.

Or we bemoan the fact that we just can’t seem to make ends meet financially.  We’re going to have to forgo that special item that we’ve wanted to have for a long time.  And we wonder why God won’t let us get ahead.  …  And then one morning, we encounter a street person who sits in the back of the church every day for the early mass.  This poor soul depends on handouts from others for his very livelihood.  And we watch that person take was he was given a few moments earlier and place it in the poor-box for someone apparently more in need than himself.  …  And we see life differently.  We see the selfless face of Jesus in the face of that poor soul who gave from his want and need.

And we say over and over again, “Lord, if only you would show yourself to us, we’d change our lives and we’d have what we need to face this crazy world in which we live.”  …  And we open up our bible and we read those familiar words of Jesus in Matthew’s judgment of the nations, “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers or sisters of mine – the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the ill, the imprisoned – you did for me.”  …  And suddenly, we see life differently, because Jesus is showing himself to us – in the poor, the hungry, the sick – if only if we’re careful enough to pause, to look and to listen and to heed Jesus’ promise and challenge.

Long ago, Jesus came down from the Mount of Transfiguration.  He surrounds us in this world to sustain us in our journey of life and faith just as he promised.  …  His face is familiar.  …  His needs are simple.  …  His consolation is great.  …  Yet, so often our struggle to see Jesus is rooted in the fact that even the best of us at times can become so consumed with ourselves that we don’t always recognize Jesus – we don’t always let him into our lives – and we don’t always don’t always risk saying yes to his message of life, love and service.

May we all have the courage to heed these words of Pope Francis.  “Let the risen Jesus enter your life – welcome him as a friend, with trust:  he is life!  If up till now you have kept him at a distance, step forward.  He will receive you with open arms.  If you have been indifferent, take a risk; you won’t be disappointed.  If following him seems difficult, don’t be afraid.  Trust him, be confident that he is close to you, he is with you, and he will give you the peace you are looking for and the strength to live as he would have you do.”

So, my sisters and brothers, recall once again these words, “Jesus took Peter, James and his brother John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.”  This time, however, let’s not ask, “What about us?”  For without a doubt, Jesus carries us up to that mountaintop more often than we might ever imagine.

Hold on, then, to what the gospels tell us.  If God is revealed in the human face of Jesus, Jesus is revealed in the human faces of those who touch us in love and whom we are privileged to touch in return.  We need only to open our eyes wide enough to see Jesus’ sustaining and reassuring arms wrapped all around us.

Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L.
HOMILY FOR CLOSING OF ST. ANN’S NOVENA
Sirach 44:1, 10-15; Matthew 13:16-17
July 26, 2017 

I am grateful for the presence of Father Bob Joerger, Provincial of the Passionist community, and so thankful to Father Richard Burke, the rector of Saint Ann’s Monastery and the members of the Passionist community as well as to the friends and supporters of Saint Ann’s Monastery for making this incredible time of prayer and worship in honor of Saint Ann available to us all.  I am especially grateful to Father Melvin Shorter and Father Paul Ruttle for preaching this year’s novena.  You have touched this community deeply and on its behalf, I thank you.

Last year I wasn’t able to join you for this closing Mass of the Novena to Saint Ann.  I was in Krakow, Poland, where I was blessed to join with a number of representatives of the Diocese of Scranton and almost two million young men and women from around the world who all gathered with Pope Francis to celebrate World Youth Day and the great mercy and love of God.

That unique gathering in Poland was a sign to me and to all who experienced it of the vibrancy and power of faith within a generation of young people that many have written off as consumed by a material and godless world.  It was also a powerful reminder to me of what I know has been shared with you throughout this year’s novena, namely, that God’s love is woven into the fabric of our lives – as ordinary as they may be – finding its way into every aspect of our being if we are wise enough to open our eyes and faithful enough to believe in God’s presence.

During the ten days that I spent in Krakow, for all of the powerful moments of prayer and worship with that we were privileged share with our Holy Father, one experience stands out in my mind as particularly poignant – for me.  And it didn’t occur in the context of a Mass or a talk.  …  One afternoon when we had some free time, I found myself was sitting on a bench situated along the perimeter of Krakow’s old town square, waiting for some friends.  Throughout the square, young people were singing and chanting and waving the flags of the nations that they represented.  At one point I glanced in the direction of St. Mary’s Church, a magnificent gothic edifice that towers over the square.  By chance, I noticed a cluster of flags in the midst of a large crowd that had gathered in front of the church.  I was struck by a few flags that seemed particularly outstanding – less because of their color and design and more because of the people and the suffering, pain and upheaval that they represented to one degree or another particularly in recent years.   The flags of Syria, Israel, Germany, France and the United States were proudly waving along with the flags of about a dozen other nations.

Yet, what was most striking to me was less the fact that flags of many different nations were being waved side by side.  The far more significant reality was precisely what Pope Francis referred to when he spoke of what young people – or any of us – are capable of when their hearts are touched by Jesus.

In that old town square in Krakow, Poland, young men and women from diverse lands that have not always been able to coexist in peace were joined together as brother and sisters.  The peace that so eludes those who see themselves as the wise, learned and sophisticated of our world was present – at least for a moment – in the lives and hearts of young men and women of faith.  It’s amazing what can occur when we see one another not as adversaries – not as different – not as “the other” – but as brothers and sisters – individuals all made in the image and likeness of one God who calls us together as his children.

I’m not so naïve as to believe that every one of those young people in that picture that I just described reflect perfect souls who would only and ever and always ascribe to the life-giving tenants of the gospel message.  No – they come from the same imperfect world in which you and I were born.  They come from a world in need of redemption – a world very much in need of God.  …  But for me – even if for no one else in that square – that unlikely moment was filled with the presence of God.  For me – God was teaching a lesson about all that is possible when we set aside our selfish, self-centered, self-righteous ways, when we seek to forgive, and when we let Jesus guide us forward.

My friends, every one of us gathered for this Mass today have had moments like I did in Krakow last summer, haven’t you?  …  Every one of us has been and continues to be touched by the presence of God in our lives when we least expect that presence to grasp hold of our hands and hearts, aren’t we?  …  And every one of us can recount a moment in our lives – perhaps even during this treasured novena – in which we were blessed to encounter the presence of God!

Today’s gospel from Saint Matthew, in its two simple verses, reminds us of all that we’ve been given by God.  “Blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears, because they hear.”  …  Jesus proclaims that reality to his disciples after just sharing with them and others the parable of a sower who goes out to sow seeds.  You know it well.  …  While many listeners couldn’t understand what Jesus was talking about, the disciples did.  Because their hearts were open to the power and presence of God, they knew well that Jesus was talking about how crucial it is for all of us to take the gift of faith that we’ve been given, to nurture and care for it, to act upon it and to allow it to bear fruit in our own lives and in the lives of those whom God places within our midst.

“Blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears, because they hear.”  …  Because of Jesus’ incarnation – his birth in time and space – God’s presence is all around us, filling our world with love and mercy – giving us hope in times of struggle and challenge.  We have only to look and listen with care.

We know very little about the two saints whom we honor this night:  Saint Ann and her husband, Saint Joachim.  But we can assume a few things.  …  We can assume from our understanding of the era in which they lived and the holiness of their daughter Mary, that they were simple people with a great deal of faith and hope.  …  And we can assume that they looked carefully at the unfolding of their lives and their world for signs of God’s presence and love.

Writing about Ann and Joachim’s daughter, Mary, in his book Jesus: A Pilgrimage, Jesuit Father James Martin offers his readers some rather profound insight into the nature of Mary’s faith and trust in God – a faith and a trust that obviously emerged from her family experience and roots.  Father Martin states that “Mary was told that her son would be the Son of God, not that he would be tortured, put to death on a cross, and then rise from the dead.”  As a result, “Mary says ‘yes’ to a future that she does not know.”  Imagine that!  “She is an example,” Martin says, “of letting God do God’s work, without trying to figure it out.”  …  And isn’t that a lesson for us all?  Don’t we often spend far too much time trying to figure out life and trying to tell God what to do, instead of trusting that God will work it out – believing that God is present to us in our life’s journey, regardless of where that journey leads?

Perhaps now we begin to understand why God looked to Nazareth, a poor, hostile, outback area of Palestine, in order to find a family in which his son could be born.  …  While the world has long set misguided parameters for greatness, God sees greatness in hearts that are humble enough to acknowledge their need for his mercy and generous enough to extend that mercy to others, despite their own struggles and pain.

This simple reality of God’s plan for creation affirms that God continues to work in my life and yours – if we but open our eyes to see and our hearts to acknowledge God’s presence all around us.  And God continues to use unlikely individuals like Ann and Joachim, like Joseph and Mary, like me and you, to accomplish his purpose in our world – to give hope – and to proclaim a message of life, salvation, mercy and peace.

Take a look around you.  Look at the faces that you see – not just the familiar faces of family members and friends, but faces wounded by pain and grief – faces that are longing to be healed – faces that are grateful for God’s abiding presence in their lives.

This gathering is so powerful and hopeful, isn’t it?  First of all, it reminds us that we are loved – that God hasn’t given up on any of us and never will.  He continually calls us, as we are, to himself.

And this gathering also reminds us that God still chooses to accomplish his great work in the ordinary moments of life – in the simplest and least likely of individuals who open their lives to his.  That was true for Ann and Joachim, for their daughter Mary, and it is true for us – all of us!  …  It is true for the teenager struggling to make sense of life.  …  It is true for parents who seek to confront the uphill battle of instilling Christian values in the lives of their children.  …  It is true for the friend who just can’t seem to forgive and let go of a past hurt.  …  It is true for the gay student trying to find his place in the world.  …  It is true for the immigrant trying to find a home for her family.  …  It is true for the elderly soul homebound by age and frailty.  …  It is true for the alcoholic who thinks that he can never change or, worse yet, be forgiven for the hurt that he caused to those he loves.  …  And it is true for me and for you!

God hasn’t given up on any of us and never will.  And God will continue to use us – as unlikely as we may see ourselves to be – to make his presence and his love known in our world.  …  My brothers and sisters, this isn’t extreme theology – it’s the message of the Gospel.  It’s why we’re here today at this sacred shrine.  It’s what gives us hope in our journey.

As we bring this novena to a close, may we hold within our hearts these words of Pope Francis first shared at the conclusion of the Synod on the Family two years ago.   “Let us follow the path that the Lord desires. Let us ask him to turn to us with his healing and saving gaze.  …  Never allowing ourselves to be tarnished by pessimism or sin, let us seek and look upon the glory of God, which shines forth in us all, men and women who are fully alive through faith.

Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L.
HOMILY
Light the Fire Youth Rally – 2017
Vigil mass for the Solemnity of Saint Peter and Paul  

Have you ever heard of the “If-onlys?”  …  Sure you have.  …  You know them.  We experience them all the time.  …  “If only I charged my phone before I left the house this morning.”  …  “If only I listened to what my parents told me.”  …  “If only I had the chance to take back what I said.”

Life is filled with situations and circumstances that we experience – and particularly choices and decisions that we make – that we often regret or wish we could change.  Some of them are of little consequence and some of them affect us profoundly as we go through life.

And what do we do with these things that reflect our mistakes or miscalculations – our shortcomings – or often, our brokenness and sin?  Since we can’t change the past or pretend that certain things just didn’t happen when they did, the best that we can do is accept them as a part of our lives – learn from them – and then get on with the task of living.

This bit of advice – which I not only share with you but offer for my own consideration all the time – takes on special meaning when we reflect upon it in light of the two saints we honor today on what I’ll term the Catholic Church’s “Founders Day.”

Peter and Paul – one called by Jesus by the Sea of Galilee and the other on the road to Damascus; one a fisherman and the other a scholar – are the founding apostles of the Church.  We celebrate them today much like we celebrate George Washington and Thomas Jefferson on the 4thof July.  And we link them together because the two of them singlehandedly cemented the foundation of the Church and literally bet their lives on its future.

Peter and Paul both journeyed to Rome to take the message of Jesus to the center of civilization at that time in history.  They both preached in Rome and died there as well – giving their lives for Jesus, who gave them life.  Paul was buried beneath a splendid church that bears his name – Saint Paul’s Outside of the Walls of the city of Rome.  Peter, of course, is buried under Saint Peter’s Basilica, where our Holy Father, Pope Francis, like his predecessors, now resides.

Yet, for all of the attention that we give to these two figures in our Church’s history – for all that they’ve taught us in our journey of faith by their words and example – at their core, they were simple men with very human qualities, characteristics and flaws.

They were men who undoubtedly regretted certain choices and decisions that they had made throughout their lives and who, on more than one occasion, likely expressed their own versions of the “if-onlys.”  …  I could imagine Peter thinking aloud: If only I had more of an education and wasn’t just a fisherman, I could do the Lord’s work do much more effectively.  …  If only I wasn’t so stubborn, I’d be able to get along better with people and be more convincing in my preaching.  …  If only I hadn’t denied the Lord as he walked to his death.  …  And Paul would probably offer these reflections:  If only I wasn’t such a hot-head.  …  If only I hadn’t persecuted the followers of Jesus.

In spite of their likely regrets, the Lord nonetheless saw in Peter and Paul two men who – more than anything else – acknowledged their weaknesses and understood their need for and their dependence upon God – a posture that well prepared them to be used as the Lord’s instruments in the building up of his Church.  …  Peter was summoned by Jesus to go beyond his weakness and serve as the “rock” upon which the Church would rest.  Paul was summoned to go beyond his fervor as a persecutor of the early Christian community to become the apostle to the Gentiles and author of a good portion of the entire New Testament.

My brothers and sisters, you and I are no different that Peter and Paul.  Right now, through the power of Jesus at work within our lives and hearts, we’re being given the opportunity to become saints – believe it or not!

You see, what matters most is not our past with its regrets, mistakes and sin – but what we do with all that God continually gives to us now – today!  For all of the potential and hope that resides within each of us through our Baptism, it would be well for us to remember that it matters less what we do with our lives as much as who we are and who we become as members of the Church and followers of Jesus.  Our commitment to the truth – to the values that lie at the heart of the gospel and life of Jesus – and our recognition of the need for God in our lives will make all the difference in our world.  They made a difference for Peter and Paul – and they will for us!

Regardless of our past and present struggles, every one of us – every day – is given the opportunity to do great things.  …  Every one of us – every day – is given the opportunity and the means to support the lives of fellow students, relatives, neighbors, friends who might be confronted with an injustice – because of how they look, how they speak, where they live, or what they don’t have.  …  Everyone of us – every day – is given the opportunity and the means to respect and treasure life – as Jesus did – especially through our concern for the poor, even if “poor” refers to the friend who is burdened with a poverty that emerges from his own lack of self worth.  …  And every one of us – every day – is given the opportunity to work for peace, even if the peace that we seek happens to be needed in the midst of our own family.

Some of you may recall that Pope Francis challenged young people like yourselves at World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland last July to “leave a mark for good in the world” by using generously the gifts that God has given you.  …  The reality of all that we face – every day – in our lives, then, prompts a very important question.  What are we going to do with the gifts that God has given to us?

Not sure about the question?  …  Then let’s go back to who and what we celebrate today in this Liturgy:  Peter and Paul.  …  What was it that made a difference in their lives despite their own personal weaknesses and struggles?  What was it that made them tick?  …  Jesus!  …  So, how can we regain their vision and leave our mark for good in the world with all of our faults and imperfections?  …  Jesus!

This great day of gathering with the young Church of Scranton will bless our lives with meaning and peace IF ONLY we keep Jesus at our center – just as he was for Peter and Paul.  …  That’s a thought to consider, not just at this moment, but every day and in every place and situation where God calls us to be.