What are You Doing Here?

Homily for Wednesday in the 22nd Week of Ordinary, Year I

Given at Saint Thomas Aquinas Chapel, Saint Meinrad Seminary

September 4, 2013 

Introduction to Mass: 

We come to this Eucharistic celebration today perhaps a little confused about who we are, and what we are doing here. May the example of Christ in word and sacrament strengthen us in our doubts for the formation year that lies ahead. 

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Homily:

[In a voice of nervousness:] Oh no, what am I doing here? I’m not sure if I belong here! Preaching, already, and on the first early Mass of the year!? What will I say? Will they even hear? Will they all show up? Even if they do will they even be awake? What am I doing here?

What am I doing here? This question begs a second question: what are you doing here? This is not a redundant question; it is one that the returning guys know will be asked of them numerous times. Vocations directors, formation staff, spiritual directors, that voice inside your head; all will repeatedly ask that question albeit in varying forms: what are you doing here? For all the new guys the rector himself will soon be asking you this question, when he meets with you here in the coming weeks. A word of advice: he’s looking for something more profound than getting some movies in, or catching up with the latest celebrity gossip. We all then have to answer the question what are you doing here?

I’ve had many years here to consider the answer to this question; I’ve been here long enough to see two former fellow seminarians return as formation staff. The question always remains the same even for them, what are you doing back here? It is easy to get caught up in the question itself, while it does need to be asked, sometimes the ‘what are you doing here’ covers up the ‘being here.’ Worry, stress, anxiety, missed opportunities, thoughts of inadequacy, loneliness, thoughts of home; all of these can compound and complicate the question what are you doing here?

Paul certainly gives us an answer to this question worthy of reflection. He says to the Colossians just as in the whole world it, meaning the word of truth, it is bearing fruit and growing, so also among you. You and I have heard that word of truth, here! You and I have the opportunity to grow, here! You and I have the opportunity to bear fruit, here! Throughout this year, when you ask yourselves, and others ask you, what are you doing here; instead of becoming discouraged and hard on yourself, avoid the temptation of thinking you’ve made a mistake. Avoid the temptation of thinking you are wasting your time because no matter what, if you are here and open to the word of truth, you too will grow and bear fruit.

This is not always easy, believe me brothers I know this very well. Sometimes it can all seem like too much. Seminary is difficult, life is difficult, put them both together, and as we say in Pewee Valley, it ain’t no picnic. Sometimes it feels like it would be easier to just stay in bed, possibly stay there till you’re dead. Take Simon’s mother-in-law for example. She was basically done, instead of the seminarian fever however it’s reasonable to believe that she was really sick. Just imagine Jesus walking into this scene:

Healing of Peter's Mother-in-law by John Bridges 

[In Howard’s mother’s voice:] Howard, Simon, whoever you are! What’s that man doing in here? I just knew my daughter would end up marrying a putz like you! Can’t you see I’m dieing here? All I want is to be left alone and here you are with you little friend, Jesus! Hey you! Yeah you! What are you doing here?

What’s more stubborn: a seminarian or a Jewish mother-in-law? This year may bear the answer to that question. With a quick prayer and a hasty rebuke of that fever, however, and Jesus even has this Jewish mother-in-law up, bearing fruit and growing. What can I say, Jesus has that effect on people. Jesus gets people up and moving. Jesus knew why he was in that room because Jesus knew why he had come into the world. He tells us right here that he has come to proclaim the good news. He proclaims it here today at this altar, to all of us wondering why we are here. What will your response be?    

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Intercessions: 

For all Church leaders; the Bishops all the way up to catechists and parents, that they all may gain clarity and perseverance in their role through the certainty that Christ has in his. We pray to the Lord. 

For civil, business, and military leaders; that they may contemplate why they are where they are so that they may go about their duties more reflective of the effects they have on those they lead. We pray to the Lord.

For this community; that we may find a sense of peace in being here, so that we can be about the work of growing as disciples of our Lord Jesus. We pray to the Lord.

For all the lonely and oppressed and for all of those who no longer know why they go on living in this world. That the light of Christ, seen in the joy of his disciples, may brighten their world. We pray to the Lord.

For all the dead, especially the dead that we carry close to our hearts… that they may all one day intercede for us before the face of God. We pray to the Lord.