Full Text Of Bishop Charles C Thompson's Homily For The Rejoice! Mass On May 14

Signature Event (Kick-Off)                                                                            Ex 19:3-8, 16-20

Vigil Mass of Pentecost                                                                                  Ps 104

The Ford Center                                                                                             Rom 8:22-27

14 May 2016                                                                                                   John 7:37-39

            In the Church’s Ordo (Latin for “Order”) of Prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours and

Celebration of the Eucharist, the scripture readings for the Vigil Mass of Pentecost are

summarized as follows:  “The Spirit of God, manifested (Ps) to Moses and the Israelites (1b), is

given to us in baptism (3) as the first fruits of our salvation (2).”  That’s not a bad summary. 

Some might suggest that, if I had any sense I would leave it at that and make no attempt to

improve on it.  Few have ever accused me of having good sense.  While making no presumption

on my ability to improve on it, I am obliged to expound upon the scripture and theme of the day,

if not the summary itself. 

            Like the earliest community of believers gathered together on that first Pentecost, so we

gather here as Church, the community of believers in Southwest Indiana.  On this particular

occasion, we gather as more than members of individual parishes.  We gather as a Diocese,

particularly the Diocese of Evansville, created in 1944, comprised of twelve counties and

extending just beyond 5,000 square miles.  The underlying cause for our theme, Rejoice: A

Catholic Community Celebration, is firm belief in God’s merciful gifts.  Instilled with the

abundant outpouring of the Holy Spirit, continuing with us since that very first Pentecost, we

celebrate the beauty, goodness and truth of our Catholic identity, mission and presence as

experienced in and through our lives, relationships, parishes, ministries and services. 

            We do so in accordance with our new Mission Statement: We, the Catholics of the

Diocese of Evansville, are committed to continuing the mission of Jesus Christ in the world today

by joyfully living the gospel, ministering to all in justice and charity, and inviting people into a

personal encounter with the living God through Word, Sacrament and Service.  This is our focus,

our self-awareness from which stems all that we are about as Church.  We rejoice not in our own

merit, but in all that the Holy Trinity—God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit—has accomplished

through us as one, holy, catholic and apostolic church.  We are many parts, we are all one Body

in Christ, continuously drawing breath from the life of the Holy Spirit. 

            The Catholic Church, like practically every institution in the world, has not been immune

to scandal.  Many, both within and outside the Church, have been impacted by sins, harshness

and misunderstandings that have occurred over its 2000 year history.  While not as profoundly

impacted as many dioceses, the Diocese of Evansville has experienced the effects of wounded

humanity among both clergy and laity.  The Church, though not perfect, remains the Bride of

Jesus Christ called to holiness in its members, clerics and laity, and its nature.  We are all sinners

striving to become the saints that God desires for each and every baptized member.  The Catholic

Church remains a leader in outreach to the poor and vulnerable, in education, in healthcare, in

defense of life and family, in care for the environment and as a voice for religious liberty.

            New Evangelization, contrary to some, is not a “dirty word.”  At its very core, as a number

of popes have stressed, is a personal encounter with the person of Jesus Christ.  It is rooted in a

conviction of faith, a life of prayer, both personal and communal, and ongoing conversion.  It is

predicated on the three-fold purpose of the Church, as noted in our Diocesan Mission Statement;

namely, Proclamation of the Word, Celebration of the Sacraments and the Outreach of Service.

            In his Apostolic Exhortation, Amoris Laetitia (“The Joy of Love”), Pope Francis

stipulates that the prevailing mindset of the Church must be “ever ready to understand, forgive,

accompany, hope, and above all integrate.” (A.L. 213)

            The fact that we are kicking off our annual Signature Event in the Jubilee Year of Mercy

is yet further cause for rejoicing.   Seeking to reflect the face of Jesus Christ, the face of the

Father’s mercy, we strive as the community of believers, the Church, the Body of Christ, in

Southwest Indiana, to heal wounds and warm hearts through both spiritual and corporal works of

mercy.  To that end, we dare not look to insulate ourselves from the rest of the world.  The doors

of our churches as well as those of our hearts, as Pope Francis has exhorted, must remain open

for all to enter and encounter the mercy of God.  We are called to welcome, encourage, invite,

bind and lift up all those who are in need of mercy.  This is the very nature of God, and so, the

very nature of what it means to be Catholic.  We are to remain especially attentive to the poor

and vulnerable, leaving no margin of society beyond our care and concern.

            Where do we go from here?  Over the course of the next several years, I hope that we will

be able to gather annually to celebrate some particular aspect of evangelization, continually

being spurred on by the Holy Spirit as celebrated in this Solemnity of Pentecost, in our local

Church…whether that focus might be on vocations, Catholic education, Catholic Charities,

marriage and family, the key principles of Catholic social teaching, youth and young adults,

caring for the environment, lay ministry, catechesis, ecumenism and interreligious dialogue,

Catholic organizations (e.g. Knights of Columbus, St. Vincent de Paul Society), charismatic

renewal, etc. 

There is so much beauty, goodness and truth about our Church that rarely if ever makes it

in any secular social media or popular imagination.             Just to name a few:  We ordained two

seminarians as deacons, just a month ago, to be ordained priests next year.  We are only weeks

away from ordaining two priests and another deacon, to be ordained a priest later this year.  We

continue to celebrate the richness of our unity in diversity from the various peoples and culture

represented in our diocese.  We draw great benefit from the missionary priests who have

come to us from various parts of the world…Nigeria, India, Kenya and Mexico.  Our 26 Catholic

schools provide a wonderful witness to our faith.  Similar to our Fish Fries during Lent, we are

embarking upon yet another summer-long season of “socials,” bringing families and folks

together from all around the diocese and beyond.  Our diocese also can boast of being the

foundation of Catholicism in Indiana, with the Minor Basilica of St. Francis Xavier, the first

cathedral, in Vincennes, also the burial site of the first four bishops of Indiana.  We have just

begun to roll out a new Diocesan Pastoral Plan, and we are committed to strengthening the

spiritual vitality and stewardship of every parish in the diocese.  Thus, we are building upon our

treasured past, celebrating present blessings and looking to the future with great hope.

We have been profoundly blessed by God, and those who are so blessed have an

obligation to share with others.  We must be intentional about our discipleship.  As missionary

disciples, we push forward in the “Joy of the Gospel.”  May we seek always to live in the present

while learning from the past and looking to the future.   Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your

faithful.