Gospel-Homily for Seventh Sunday of Easter (2024)

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What It Means to Be Consecrated in the Truth.

Jesus consecrates us in the truth. Let me explain why this is so great. During my time in Rome at the seminary, my parents came to visit me. We took a train north to see the Italian Alps. While we were on the train, my mother handed me a brochure of the hotel where we would stay. It had three pictures. The first picture was of the hotel inside, looking out of a window with a lake in front of snow-capped mountains in the background. There was another picture of a row of windsurfers lying at the shoreline. At the time, Dad and I used to windsurf. Then, there was another picture of a swimming pool with a large slide. I said to Mom: “You found a really nice hotel.” When we arrived in our hotel room, I pulled the curtain open to see the dazzling view, but instead, there was a dumpster in a parking lot. Then Dad and I put on our bathing suits and went to the back of the hotel to the lake.  We didn’t see a row of windsurfers lined up at the shore, so we figured they were still in storage.  We went to the front desk, and the man there said, “We are very sorry; we discontinued that service a year ago.   I told Dad, “Maybe we can go to the pool instead.”  So we followed the signs for the pool and saw a big hole in the ground with a bulldozer in the middle. When I read the sign, “Pardon our Appearance,” I realized that there are two things in life: there is the brochure, and there is the truth.  Needless to say, we were disappointed and returned to our room. We got my mother and went up the gondola to the top of a mountain.  It was an incredible view. We stayed up there and talked. I remember sitting on a rock with my mother, and dad took a picture of us overlooking the beautiful view of snow-topped mountains. I no longer have my mother, but I have the memory. That moment would not have happened if there had been windsurfers or a swimming pool. Truth is always better than the brochure because truth is a path that leads us to where we really want to go.   

            When I decided to join the seminary, the Oblates of the Virgin Mary sent me a brochure. In it were three pictures. There was a picture of a priest saying Mass in a packed church.  There was another picture of the Holy Father, John Paul, laying hands on a priest at his ordination in St. Peter’s. There was another picture of happy students in a philosophy class. They looked as if they were having a good time. I can tell you from experience that it never happens. The first thing I did when I entered the seminary was I threw out the brochure. I knew the road I was on would be long and hard. It was the road I needed to be on if I was going to be a good priest.

Before his death, Jesus met with his disciples. He did not give them a brochure. He promised to consecrate them to the truth. In life, we receive lots of brochures. Always pick the truth because it will lead you on a path that will fulfill you.