The Most Inclusive Religion

(Homily for Fourth Sunday of Easter - Year B)

Bottom line: Because of Jesus, we belong to the most inclusive religion: reaching not only the most remote corner of the globe, but also the most remote corner of the human heart.

This Sunday Jesus tells us that he is the Good Shepherd who willingly lays down his life for his sheep. Then he adds:

"I have other sheep who do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice and there will be one flock, one shepherd."

Who does Jesus want in his flock? The answer is simple: Everyone! St. Paul states that God "wills everyone to be saved and come to knowledge of the truth." (1 Tim 2:4 NAB)

Christianity came from a Jewish matrix, but rapidly embraced Samaritans, Greeks, Ethiopians, Celts (a.k.a. Galatians), the people of distant India, etc. Each Sunday we profess our belief in the "Catholic Church." "Catholic" means universal, but it means something even more profound. St. Cyril of Jerusalem said that the Church "deserves the title Catholic because it heals and cures unrestrictedly every type of sin that can be committed in soul or in body."

Jesus wants to embrace people not only in the diversity of their cultures, but also in our weaknesses. Jesus and the Church he founded is completely inclusive. Jesus wants everyone - and so do we.

If you were to ask what the most inclusive religion is, the answer would have have to be the religion of Jesus - the Church he founded.

One way we express this inclusiveness, this universality is by a collection we take up each year at this time. It is called the Annual Catholic Appeal and it is our way of reaching out to those all our brothers and sisters: children, youth, married couples, divorced, seniors, street people, the homeless, people struggling with addictions, the imprisoned - no one stands outside the embrace of Jesus. And we want them, we need them as part of Jesus' Body - the Church. Because of Jesus, we belong to the most inclusive religion: reaching not only the most remote corner of the globe, but also the most remote corner of the human heart.

You have probably heard the phrase, "think globally, act locally." We are part of a global Church, but we live that reality locally. To help us understand how the Annual Catholic Appeal relates to our parish, I would like to call forward __________________

************

Versión Castellana

From Archives (Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year B):

2015: Disciple Makers Week 4: Smell of the Sheep & Smile of a Father
2012: The Most Inclusive Religion
2009: Basics of Salvation
2006: The Leaders We Deserve
2003: The Shepherd's Crook
2000: Jesus' Job Description

Where Are the Shepherds? (Columbine Massacre)

1998 Good Shepherd (Alexander the Great, Graham Greene Power and Glory)

Sunday Homilies

Cycle A, Cycle B, Cycle C

Audio Files of Homilies (Simple Catholicism Blog)

Are these homilies a help to you? Please consider making a donation to St. Mary of the Valley Parish.

Fr. Brad's Homilies

Fr. Jim's Homilies

Fr. Michael White's Homilies ("messages")

Bulletin (St. Mary's Parish)

Parish Picture Album

(current)

Parish Picture Album
(April 2012)

Please take time to read what our bishops are saying about Religious Liberty & Conscience Protection

The Archdiocese of Seattle also has helpful resources regarding the defense of marriage and family

Home