Gospel-Homily for Fifth Sunday of Easter (2024)

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People May Not Remember You, But They Will Always Remember Who You Represent.

Paul founded a church in Corinth, and there is a reason why he did so. The city is a land bridge. Greece is made up of two large bodies of land, and Corinth connects them both. If you want to go north to south or south to north, you must go through Corinth. That means there is a good chance you will meet a Christina or two. It was all about exposure. The Romans built a major highway from east to west. Paul founded two other churches on that Roman highway. Again, if you are traveling from one end of the Roman empire to the other, you will probably meet a Christian or two. It is clear what Paul wanted to do. He wanted to introduce the world to Christ. And the best way to do that was to meet His representatives.

One day, I walked into a shoe store. A salesman came over and asked, “May I help you?” I replied, “I am looking for a pair of black dress shoes that are well constructed so that they will last. I just bought shoes at Pay Less, and the heel fell off.” He said, “I have a nice pair of black shoes, and they happen to be on sale.” I tried them on, and he asked me how they fit. I answered, “They seem fine.” Bending down, he felt the sides of the shoes and remarked, “They feel a little tight. Let me find something wider.” The second pair felt more comfortable. We went to the cash register, and he asked me, “Do you have our twenty-percent-off coupon?” I replied, “No.” He assured me,

I have an extra one for you.” I had those shoes for seventeen years. I wore them only on special occasions, such as Sunday Mass and weddings. When I finally needed another pair, I wanted to return to the guy who sold me the shoes, but that was long ago. I couldn’t remember his name or what he looked like, but I did remember the name of the company he represented.

Representatives are very important because vines do not bear fruit, but branches do. Holland Bulb Company had a buy-one-get-one-free offer, so I bought four boxes of daffodil and tulip bulbs. I spent three hours planting them outside the church. Nobody approached me and remarked, “Oh, what a nice job you did; it looks so beautiful.” However, six months later, when the branches popped out of the ground and flowered, people noticed. Do you know I am the only homeowner in the Back Bay of Boston who owns a lawnmower and a rake? The church is the only garden people will see as they turn to Fenway Park, which is a great exposure for my bulbs. But it is the branches that expose the glory.

When we live Christ’s life, people may not remember us, but they will never forget the Person Whom we represent.