Gospel-Homily for Fourth Sunday of Easter (2026)

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All the Doubts Go Away.

I went to the post office to renew my passport. The woman took my old passport, looked at my photo from the 90s, and said, “Oh my, you used to be cute.” So, my question is this. What happened? I will tell you what happened. When I was cute, I started a youth group in the parish. It was good because it took the kids off the streets and kept them out of trouble. Yet, as soon as I started the group, my hair turned gray, and then it started to fall out in clumps. The reason I am telling you this is because in the Book of Revelation, it states that everyone who follows the lamb has a mark. So, when I die, and St. Peter asks, “Can I help you?” I will show him my mark, that is, my receding hairline. When my brother dies, he will show him a scar on his right buttocks for all the times they had to pull out his wallet to pay for the kids’ sporting goods, tuition, and their dental care. I know a religious sister who will show St. Peter the black bags under her eyes for the sleepless nights taking care of patients in Children’s Hospital. When my friend, Damian, dies, he will show the scar on his body that he got when he donated his liver to a dying person. Of course, Jesus has the greatest marks on his body.

When I was growing up, my father was a handshaker. Whenever I did something really well, I got a handshake. When I mowed the lawn for the first time, I got a handshake. When I received a great report card, I got a handshake. When I was ordained a priest, I got a handshake. When I graduated from Princeton, I got a handshake. When I become Pope of the Catholic Church, I will get a handshake. My entire life, full of ups and downs, can be summed up in a handshake. Early on, when I got one of these handshakes, I asked Dad, “Why is your hand so hard? It feels like a rock.”  He explained, “That is because I am a contractor.  I have to lug around heavy icy cold timbers, then I get splinters, and these hard lumps are calluses. And that is why my hands are so hard.” I then responded, “Ohhhhh.” I will tell you this.  If I ever had a doubt that my father didn’t care or if I felt he was too demanding, I would just go up to him and shake his hand. All the doubts would go away. 

Everyone who follows the lamb has a mark. The marks disfigure us, but they are beautiful because when they are seen, an amazing thing happens. All the doubts go away.