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Sunday, May 17, 2020: Give 'em a Reason for your Hope

I remember a comment that a parishioner made to me about 10 years ago. You see, she came in to talk with me about some troubling issues in her life . . . family concerns, financial woes, depression (i.e. many hardships that she was facing). And she said, “You know, I finally believe the messages that you have been telling us.” “What do you mean?’ I asked. “Well, for years you keep harping about trust and hope, but I never believed those were true for you, because you always seem so ‘chirper’ all the time and it seems like your life has been pretty easy. But then, with all this stuff that has been targeted toward you lately . . . maybe what you are saying really does have some merit.”

 

For those of you who don’t know, when we merged together 10 years ago on May 15th, it was a rough time. There were some pretty angry people. And I get it, because a big change was to happen, and many of them didn’t like the change, so they were fearful. Fear is powerful. It’s been said that Fear the herald of revolutions and an instructor of great ignorance. So, unfortunately . . . I and many members of our Pastoral Council, our Staff and Merging Team got attacked with vicious emails, letters and brutal gossip because of the merger.

 

You see, Bishop Kinney was looking ahead when we ordered our two parishes of Princeton and Zimmerman to merge together. He did the same thing with the parishes of Becker and Big Lake. But back then, some people didn’t really think that there was a priest shortage. They thought there was lots of clergy available. There wasn’t. This will become more apparent this summer and next for there are 4 priests retiring in June. And maybe 6 next June. But there are only 3 being ordained this year. And 1 next year. So there will be a distinct void.

 

But you know, those tense times where the best thing that could have happened to our parish. For it propelled us to look at who we are and who we wanted to become. Some people left the parish. That was sad, but those who stayed and for the 342 households who have joined since we merged (bringing our total to 1302 households), we decided to be like the people in the first reading: to have great joy. Or as St. Peter wrote it the second reading: let us give them a reason for our hope.

 

For we have decided to be a Vatican II parish . . . one that is welcoming to all. One that tries to share leadership and not just a top-down approach.   One that empowers women more (you see this with Molly Weyrens doing a reflection at the start of Mass, as she did on April 19). One that reaches out with service . . . with our tithing of 5% each month, and our programs like Christmas giving, our relationship to our Sister Parish, St. Mary’s of Red Lake; Our Mission trips, our active Youth Group, our Faith Formation program ministering not just to kids but to adults as well.  

 

We decided to be a parish that trusts the Holy Spirit like Jesus promised in today’s gospel. That passage is a continuation from last Sunday’s gospel. It is part of the Farwell Discourse in John’s gospel depicting a time when Jesus would be leaving . . . for next Sunday, we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension. But Jesus tells the disciples that they won’t be left alone. The Holy Spirit will be with them. Jesus uses two terms to describe the Holy Spirit.

 

One is “Advocate.” This is a term in Jesus’ day for a person of notoriety who would literally stand by a person on trial. And by simple standing next to the person, it often swayed the court . . . for if so-and-so was standing by them, perhaps they have been falsely accused. The Advocate was one known to stand by those in difficulties. And Jesus uses the term to describe how the Spirit will be for us.

 

For, I believe, that was the Holy Spirit’s standing by us, as a community, let helped us through the merger process.   And I believe, that it is the Holy Spirit stands by you as you face the challenges of COVID 19 . . . financially, socially and with your mental and physical health.

 

We kept saying since Bishop Kinney asked us to merge, that we are to trust the Holy Spirit working through leadership of the Diocese. May we keep saying that as we move forward. For the Holy Spirit isn’t done working with us . . . or you.

 

For the second term that Jesus used in the gospel was “Spirit of Truth.” It is this spirit that shows us truth

. . .             that love is more powerful then fear,

            mercy is needed more than judgment

            and inclusion prevails over exclusion.

 

You know, I really miss all of you. I miss soaking you with water during the sprinkling rite of Easter. I miss seeing your smiling faces and good support. But maybe we have things to learn during these shut-down days.

We learn what is most valuable to us.

 

We learn that the simple things are often better than the complicated things. For example, a man told me that he recently saw kids playing in a creek. He hasn’t seen that in decades. Maybe kids are discovering old ways of playing.

 

I hope that we come away from this shut-downs as better people. People who have a better relationship with the earth. About a month was the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. And with the shut-down the air has been cleaner in all parts of the world, water is less polluted, there is less crime and less car accidents.

 

Maybe you will come out of this . . . better. I pray that your financial situation is workable, I pray that the essential workers feel supported and appreciated. I pray that illness and death will be minimal for us. But as we recognize our 10th anniversary as a Parish, we could not have a big party or a big “whoop-to-do” but maybe that’s OK.

 

Maybe, like our beginning (as rough as it was), you are being invited to trust the Holy Spirit in your life. The Spirit to be Advocate and lead you to truth. You be the presence of hope. You be the place, as Jesus said it the gospel, where God’s love can be revealed.

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