October 8, 2023 (Mass of the Holy Spirit)
/by Fr. Xavier Lavagetto, O.P.
[This is the text composed by the homilist prior to delivering the homily. The homily was delivered only at the 9:00am and 9:00pm Masses.]
It was my last year of college. I had planned a great transition. I would team teach two religion classes at St. Mary’s High in Berkeley, take two seminars at St. Mary’s College in Moraga, and enjoy a wine-tasting course. … So cool. … No worries! I already had the units to graduate … and that was the problem ... I was available.
A brother left that December, and the Provincial called and asked me to teach in inner-city Los Angeles. … Those five months were the worst in my life. … It began with an earthquake, then appendicitis sent me twice to the hospital, and an elderly man “totaled” my car with me in it. There were student walkouts, the dean of discipline went schizophrenic, the principal quit out of fear of the students before Easter, and the faculty were at war. I was given seven religion classes spanning all four years, no syllabus, and one Sophomore book that defined that year, “I Never Promised You A Rose Garden.”… The weird part was that I could have said no. My provincial had asked.
Too many think that Jesus promised us a rose garden if we’re just good. I can’t count how many people in hard times have said, Why is God doing this to me?” Jesus instead said: Take up your cross and follow me.”
In the face of hardship, some will say, “I guess it’s my cross. ” as if the cross were merely putting up with something. … Now that cheapens Jesus’ call.
Jesus did not put up with the cross. As the letter to the Hebrew writes, … he embraced the cross for the sake of joy. … He chose the difficult.
This may seem strange, but Jesus would not have become himself without the cross. Only by embracing his life, passion, and death would his humanity fully embrace the very heart of God’s divinity to become self-giving love. Self-giving love is always hard because it puts love and the other at the center instead of ego, ease, and entitlement.
The Triune God invites you into the communion and cauldron of mutual self-giving love, but that journey demands a radical choice. … Choose the challenging, not for the pain it entails, but because it is worthwhile.
It is our nature, it is our very biology, that we become strong through suffering and pain. Becoming demands effort and struggle. No athlete becomes strong apart from the practice field, no musician becomes proficient apart from hours of practice, and no artist develops her art apart from failed attempts. In this case, the frail German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche had it right, “That which does not kill us makes us stronger.” … There is no accomplishing without commitment and repeated effort.
We mark the beginning of the academic year with the Mass of the Holy Spirit. We pray for that outpouring of the Spirit, not to protect us, but to empower us, not to keep risk away, but to guide and strengthen us, not to make life easy, but to make it worth accomplishing—an adventure into God. For God’s sake, don’t pray that God will make your life easy. Pray for the Spirit to lead, enliven, and energize you
That first semester, so long ago, was hell for me, but it made possible what became the happiest decade years of my life. Three lessons:
Life involves suffering. If you choose the easy way, you will suffer the loss of what you might have become. Choose to be challenged.
Choose to suffer for a noble purpose. Embrace the disciplines of practice, learning, and growing that help you to become your best version.
Don’t do it for just a time; commit as Jesus did in his committed love for you. Choose what forms your character. Decide for that which makes you come alive.
High school students always complain. But if were a teacher what kind do you want? Either they will complain now for the work you demand, or they will complain later for not demanding the work that would have made them stronger, better, and wiser.
St. Paul told us today, To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. Discipline takes raw talents and makes them strengths; commitment makes the charisms God gave you to use for others make you God’s gift for them.
Pentecost began with a cacophony of languages, but the Spirit can make it a call and a communion. God acts through you and with you, but he won’t do your work for you. He didn’t promise you a rose garden. Don’t pray for ease; pray for the challenge and the strength to meet it.
Three lessons: (1) life is often painful; do you want the pain of regret or the pain of growth? (2) If you are to suffer, suffer for what is worthwhile. (3) If it is going to have a lasting impact, commit.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and kindle in them the fire of Thy love. Send forth Thy Spirit, and they shall be created. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
