St. Ignatius Martyr Parish

In my homily for Easter, I spoke about new life and future hope, all of which are given to us through Jesus' resurrection. I also spoke of Jesus' command to go and give witness to others that he is truly risen and alive and living in us. The way we express that Jesus is truly risen and alive and living in us is by how we live every day.

Today's first reading from Acts gives a wonderful example of how Christ's resurrection gave new life to the first Christians: "They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to communal life, to breaking of the bread (Eucharist) and to prayers. All who believed... had all things in common; they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one's needs."

Luke writes this to show how Jesus' resurrection had opened the eyes of these first believers to that which mattered: breaking of the bread, prayer and community. They were enthusiastic about their faith in Jesus and his teaching. They showed their faith in Jesus' teaching by actually putting it into practice. Jesus had offered his body and blood as food and drink and they saw the need to come together to share what Jesus had given them. They also saw the need to pray together just as Jesus had prayed with his disciples.

The people had not been too generous with their possessions; but with Jesus' resurrection to new life, they threw off their chains of dependence on money and possessions and began to share with others. For them a relationship with Jesus was more precious than silver and gold and many possessions. They also heard about how he cared for others and his teaching about caring for one another, no matter how insignificant they were.

We, too, have received new life as a result of Jesus' resurrection. How has this new life begun to change us? How important is it for us to gather as a community to break bread and to pray? In what ways are we following Jesus' example to give ourselves for others and to look out for others' needs?

If we are on fire with this new life and future hope of eternal life, allow this life of Christ to direct us and have the same enthusiasm as these first Christians, we are ready to change our lives and be Christ to all. We will also come to experience a peace the world cannot give, a peace that comes from our faith in the resurrection and our hope of eternal life. This inner peace that comes from our faith in Jesus' resurrection, will maintain our hope in the Easter promise.

It is our faith in Jesus' resurrection that offers us hope to change how we live. Faith in Jesus causes us to be born again of God and transformed into conquerors of death because we believe in the risen Lord. We make the resurrection of the Lord believable through our own signs of life towards others. Thus we need to decide what signs of new life we wish to show. If we do, we show that the resurrection has meaning for us and that our faith in Jesus goes beyond mere words, for we have allowed that faith in Jesus' resurrection to transform our lives into action.

OTHER ITEMS: 1) Back in January, I asked for someone to chair this year's Fall Fest. To date no one has come forward. Thus, I will continue as chairperson until someone comes forward. It is not a position I wish to have. I prefer to do my priestly duties. 2) We need ten men to catch those who may faint after being healed by Alan Ames. If interested, please let me know. 3) Thank you to all who helped in any way to serve the homeless families we hosted last week. 4) Our desire is to visit every parishioner who is sick at home, nursing home or hospital, so please let us know if you are interested so that we may visit and bring them communion. 5) I leave town this Friday and return to the office next Friday. 6) Please welcome Fr. Jayme Mathias who is with us the weekend to preach at all the Masses.

Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Joe