Homily: Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: 2007

Brothers and sisters, should we pray for the conversion of the Jews? And . . . Do all paths truly lead to God? Well, well, well, let us face head-on the question of religious indifferentism. Let's take the second question first. Let us say unequivocally for the record, "No! All paths do NOT lead to God." Only one sure way leads to God and that is the path He Himself laid out -- the revealed way, who is Jesus the Lord. But let us hasten to add, though not all ways lead to Him, He can find you whatever road you are on. Not all roads lead to Him -- you can't say Jesus is God and Jesus is not God, or infant baptism is good and at the same time is NOT good, that Mohammed is His prophet and he is NOT His prophet, that there are many Gods and there is only one God, that God is immanent and God is transcendent . . . no. Jesus is God, infant baptism is licit and desirable, Mohammed is not His prophet, there is only one God and He is transcendent . . . well, good that we've cleared THAT up. Let us remember that many, even all, may be saved. The Church never says who is not in heaven, who is damned, who is not saved. But she shows us the truth, the path -- the ordinary means of salvation. God can do what He likes.

But let's look at that path. It started out with the Jews, "the first to hear the Word of God," as our own prayers of the faithful on Good Friday attest. And it was already leading in the right direction. So if people are still on it, Jews still following that path faithfully, who are we to pray for their conversion? That's not to say we are not to evangelize them -- not to give them the Good News, the fullness of the truth. Of course we are! But we are not to despair of them. "With sure knowledge of the oaths in which they put their faith, they might have courage." (Wis 18:6).

My brothers and sisters, what is faith? Well, what does it mean to "keep faith"? What does it mean to "be faithful"? It is a response to an invitation, a powerful and holy invitation, not to be taken lightly. It is a response to do what you have promised to do, to forsake all others, and cling to the one who calls you. And when that One is God, you must be sure to keep your promise! What if you have not been called, you say? How can you be so sure you haven't? By virtue of your baptism, brothers, you have been called. By virtue of your Confirmation, you have been called. By virtue of this Eucharist, if you choose to accept it, you have been called. By the grace of the absolution you received in Confession, praise God, you have been called. By the grace of the sacrament of marriage -- or Holy Orders, as the case may be -- you have been called. Be faithful; follow the commandments; obey the precepts of the church; listen to the pope; honor your bishop; cleave to your priest, for he brings you the Holy One of Israel, Jesus, Who is God.