Homily, December 4, 2023
We are happy to celebrate this Eucharist which opens the meeting of the Brothers’ Committee at the General House. During the General Chapter there were many moments when the proposals of this committee were heard and approved. In this meeting we ask the assistance of the Holy Spirit to discover how we can implement these proposals. There were also other moments that make me think with hope that Oblate brothers will help us to be the pilgrims of hope in communion that we dreamed of at the Chapter. Let us dare to dream today and ask God that our dreams may be his dreams and that he may help us to realize them!
In the first reading the Prophet Isaiah dared to dream God’s dreams. Dreams that even today we still tremble: “They shall beat swords into ploughshares, spears into pruning hooks. People shall not lift up sword against people, they shall not train for war”. We too want to dream this dream now, when in so many places the drama and injustice of war cause so much suffering. We remember our brothers and sisters in Ukraine and elsewhere where our brothers and sisters serve the poorest at the risk of their own lives.
The Prophet invites us to walk in the light of the Word of God in order to realise our dreams. I believe that this is the same invitation that is made to us Oblates today: to walk in the light of the Word of God by following our Constitutions and Rules. The first preaching of the missionary is one’s own life and every Oblate is a missionary and a pilgrim of hope in communion when he lives this Gospel which he is called to share with the poor. In this meeting we have to ask ourselves if the proposals we make will help us all to live the Gospel better and to proclaim it to the poorest. Indeed, Jesus comes to us in every poor person we meet and therefore the poor also evangelise us and we have to listen to them.
This is what Jesus did in the Gospel we heard. Jesus listens to someone who was a foreigner, indeed, someone who was a soldier in the invading army. He is asking him to heal his servant. And Jesus will end by praising faith: “I have not found in all Israel anyone with such faith”. The centurion didn’t want Jesus to break with his traditions and enter a pagan house. But he trusted Jesus so much that he believed he could save his servant just by saying a word. That is why Jesus praises his faith. Let’s say that Jesus’ dream of healing everyone without any boundaries of homeland or religion meets the faith of the centurion who dares to dream God’s dream: even my servant can be healed.
Do we have that faith, do we believe that what the Holy Spirit made us dream of at the Chapter will become a reality, do we have faith that the Holy Spirit is moving us to change our swords into ploughshares and our spears into pruning hooks, also to care for our common home? Do we dare to dream with Jesus of a Congregation in which fraternity is at the forefront, in which mission brings us closer to the poorest, in which communities are prophetic signs of hope for the world? Do we dare to dream of new and holy vocations for our family, new vocations of Oblate brothers and a renewal of our consecrated life?
We too can say, Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my house, but one word from you will be enough to heal me. Let us trust in Jesus and let us go on pilgrimage in hope and communion. Let us trust that He will inspire us in this gathering and dare to dream. Perhaps today begins a new era that makes us walk in a synodal Church, a new era for the congregation if we are able to walk synodally. Let each one of us dare to dream and to listen to the Spirit to set out on the way for the good of the Church, for the good of the Congregation, for the good of the poorest.
Among the Blessed Oblates there are three Oblate Brothers who gave their lives to be faithful to Jesus. In the midst of persecution they were able to put themselves at the service of their persecutors and to die forgiving. They have shown that their faith is more powerful than death and that their missionary dreams can come true when we give our lives in oblation. Let us ask for their intercession with the Father that we may be very open to dream God’s dreams. Let us ask for their company at this gathering to help us grow in faith, hope and charity so that we may be leaven of the beatitudes in the heart of the world. With Mary Immaculate, St. Eugene and all the other Blessed Oblates, let us walk in the light of the Lord confident that his word will heal us and lead us to proclaim the coming of Jesus to save us. Amen
Fr. Chicho, OMI
