Homily: Third Sunday of Easter: 2007

Brothers and sisters, what a treasure we have in today's readings. Mainly I'd like to focus on St. Peter's words in the first reading in answer to the chief priest of the Sanhedrin's accusation that he was clearly violating the law: "We must obey God rather than men." And that is just as true today as it was in the apostles' day. I think we can clearly see this if our civil government issued a restrictive law against people of a certain race or religion -- Jews, for instance -- that we must break the law in order to fulfill the higher. We must obey God rather than men. But what about if you are a doctor -- or other health care professional -- and are called upon to assist at an abortion? Well, you refuse that directive in order to fulfill a higher one. But what if your job is on the line? Well, I think the martyrs who preceded us had a lot more than a JOB on the line. As St. Paul said, "You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood." (Heb 12:4) What if you are a pharmacist called upon to give out contraceptives? Such would enable others to violate the sacred union of unitive and procreative in the marital act. The union, that is, of love (physical love) and life (procreation). Well, you break the law in order to keep the higher law. Or if you are called upon to execute a criminal who is not an escape risk (thus a possible harm to society -- since society does have a right to protect itself)? After all, John Paul II said it is virtually NEVER necessary to inflict capital punishment in modern times. You break the law in order to keep a higher. Or if you are called upon to do something that kills innocent civilians in time of war. You break the law in order to keep the higher. We must obey God rather than man. That doesn't mean we aren't patriotic. We are! But we can say with St. Thomas More: "I am the king's loyal servant, but God's first."

The second reading provides us with (among other things) a peek into heaven. And what does St. John, who had a vision of heaven, say? "I heard every creature . . . cry out, 'To the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor forever." And while this passage has many rich meanings (it's Revelation, after all), it raises the possibility that there will in fact be creatures of all types ("everything") in heaven. "Eye has not seen . . ." of course, but I think we have to at least consider the possibility that creatures other than angels and human souls (and later, humans body and soul) will exist in heaven to the glory of God. As C. S. Lewis said to the woman who wanted to know if her dear little dog would be in heaven, "Everything that will be necessary for our happiness will be in heaven and if your dog is necessary to make you happy, he will be there too." A profound thought.

And finally, I think that Our Lord's acceptance of St. Peter's apology coupled with his prime directive: "Feed my sheep," "Tend my lambs," -- a pastoral imperative, leads to a remarkable not only prophesy but advocacy of following divine will rather than human will. "I tell you most solemnly [always a good point to listen intently when Our Lord prefaces something with those words] when you were young, you fastened your belt and went where you pleased, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands and another will tie you fast and lead you where you would not go." And I think that's an evocative way to explain going along with God's will rather than our own (besides, of course, foretelling the way Peter was going to die, as is glossed in the text itself). It's often not what we want, we are often not in control, it can be full of suffering . . . but it is a "kind of life by which we will glorify God." What does it look like? Well, it's different for each person. For St. Peter it was accepting getting crucified for preaching in Jesus' name. For a priest it is accepting celibacy -- and the sometimes even more rankling obedience to legitimate ecclesial authority. For husbands and wives it means being faithful to each other and being open to children -- and responsible for children once they come. For singles it means being continent and courageous -- open-hearted and giving -- and a sign of contradiction in this wicked world. For all it means avoiding sin and aiding the poor. It means confessing the truth and proclaiming the Faith, even -- maybe even especially -- when it is inconvenient.

Let us now profess our faith . . .