Homily Easter 4A: "What are we to do, my brothers?" Word and Response

Homily for 4th Sunday of Easter Year A 2017 

Acts 2:14a.36-41; 1 Peter 2:20b-25; John 10:1-10

Introduction 

Every teacher or professor probably wonders if their teaching leaves an impact on any of my students?  Every priest or deacon also wonders to himself: "how many people in the congregation have I touched with my homily?" 

Scripture and Theology 

St. Peter did not have to wait long, to find out the answer.  After his first homily given on Pentecost Day, two things happened: 

• First, the people were so moved by his words, that they asked him and the other eleven apostles: "What are we to do, my brothers?" 
• Secondly, "Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand persons were added that day." 

Imagine just a few weeks before, Peter had denied Jesus three times.  But now he was on fire.  And that is because he had just received the Holy Spirit, which had empowered him to preach.  We heard part of this homily last Sunday and today we have heard the concluding part, in which he preached boldly that Jesus of Nazareth, whom the Jews had crucified, had risen and is Lord and Messiah.  

A few years earlier, we hear a similar question asked in Luke's gospel, when John the Baptist had finished preaching about the coming of Jesus.  The people then also asked him a similar question: “What then should we do?”  John's answer was that they must repent of their evil ways and come to him for a baptism that would prepare them for the coming of the Messiah. 

Now when Peter was asked virtually the same question, his answer was virtually the same as that of John.  He said: "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."  But there is one crucial difference.  John was pointing to the future coming of Jesus, but in Peter’s case, he had already come.  Now Jesus has already brought the Good News of God's Love, suffered and died on the cross to redeem the world, risen from the dead and is now he is seated at the right hand of the Father.  That is why Peter tells the people to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus. 

Moreover, as we heard in the gospel, Jesus called himself the Good Shepherd, whose voice the sheep follow all the way to heaven.  He had also added that he is the gate of the sheepfold, through whom the sheep pass to go out for pasture.  It is by hearing this voice of Jesus, heard through the mouth of Peter and the eleven, that the people now ask the question; "What are we to do, my brothers?" 

This scenario is almost a repeat of what the two disciples did on their way to Emmaus, in last Sunday’s gospel.  If you remember, the disciples recognized Jesus only after he broke open the Scriptures for them and after he broke bread with them. And then they set out to share the Good News with others.  Jesus is to be found in the Word and the Sacraments, which lead to mission. 

Now Peter when they ask him what they are to do, Peter tells his listeners, that they too must do these three things: 

1. They have already listened to the voice of the Shepherd in his Word which has touched them so deeply that "they were cut to the heart;" 

2. Secondly, they must repent and approach the sacraments, doors to God’s grace, will grant them forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

3. And then they must like join the mission of the Church, something that the three thousand did. 

Christian Life 

Jesus is still our Good Shepherd today; his is still the voice we should follow and the gate through which we should enter.  His voice sounds through the successors of Peter and the Eleven, that is today’s Pope and Bishops.  It is to them that we must ask them the question: "What are we to do, my brothers?" 

But for us to even ask of them this question, we must first listen for God's Word, like Peter's congregation did.  Only then shall our hearts be so touched that we are moved to do something. 

Unfortunately for us today, there is a cacophony of voices drawing our attention. 

• How can our hearts be touched by the Lord's voice, when the voices of television, the internet, and print media are screaming ideologies, division, hate, as loud as the Lord's voice or even much louder? 
• How can we be spurred on to action by the Shepherd's voice, when some of our family, co-workers and friends are screaming gossip, slander and even animosity into our ears? 
• A young couple that I know fear to take their young children to the store, because while they are going through the check-out line, one side is full of sweets and the other is full of sleazy magazines.  What are they to do? 

In such a crowded marketplace of voices and ideas, is there any chance that we shall hear the Lord's voice and be so moved to ask the all-important question: "What are we to do, my brothers?" 

And yet there is hope, my friends. The voice of Jesus is still to be found, if we care to really listen, especially in the teaching of the Catholic Church.  The two-thousand year tradition of reading the Bible and reflecting on it under the guidance of the Holy Spirit continues today, in the words of our Pope and Bishops, in the teachings, writings and homilies given throughout the Church. 

For me, one of the reasons I like being Catholic and not Protestant is that I don’t have to do all the heavy lifting by myself.  Yes, there are things for which I have to take personal responsibility, such as believing in Jesus, saying my personal prayers, serving my neighbour.  But for me to do these things, I don’t have to work out every single detail for myself.  I can rely on the authority of those whose job it is, to teach me God’s Word.  Like Peter’s congregation all I need to do is simply ask them the question: "What am I to do, my brothers?" 

About six to eight years ago, 20 young and not-so young men, who are graduating from Notre Dame Seminary where I teach, were inspired to ask that question of the Church’s leaders.  The answer they heard was that they should try out seminary and see if God was calling them to the priesthood.  This Thursday they graduate and go off to do that for which they were called. 

Are you asking the same question: "What am I to do?"  I am no Peter, but I will also say to you: "Consider turning to the Lord, and serving him in some vocation, perhaps the priesthood, the diaconate, religious life, married life, single life!" 

When we ask, “what am I do, brothers?” vocation is not the only answer we shall receive.  The answer might ask us to return to the sacraments, especially penance, confirmation, matrimony.  The answer might ask us to repent of our old habits and addictions.  The answer might ask us to reconcile with family members and friends who have hurt us or whom we have hurt. 

Conclusion 

But first, like the three thousand people who Peter converted, we must ask the question: "What am I do to?"  And if we want to get the right answer, we must direct our question, not to robbers, thieves and strangers who come “only to steal and slaughter and destroy,” but to the Good Shepherd who cares for the welfare of his sheep.  In his name, those who have succeeded Peter and the Eleven are eagerly waiting for you to ask them: “What are we to do, my brothers?”