2 April 2017 - 5th Sunday of Lent - Cycle A - The Raising of Lazarus - John 11:1-45

    We are a week before our entrance to Holy Week. Today, our Lenten journey takes us face to face with Lazarus, a beloved friend of Jesus.  Lazarus had been sealed away in the tomb for 4 days when Jesus arrived in Bethany.  At Jesus’ command, “Come out, Lazarus!”, Lazarus comes out of the tomb, with his hands and feet all tied up with strips of material, with a cloth covering his face.  “Unbind him, let him go free!” Jesus commands.

       We have been journeying with different holy men and women during our Lenten journey.  Sometimes on our journey of faith, we can restricted and bound up just like Lazarus was in the Gospel, waiting for Jesus to bring us new life and set us free. Some of those things that bind us and restrict in life come from external circumstances and the situations that confront us in life, while other times it’s those things that we impose on ourselves.  What is remarkable about the saints and the holy men and women who inspire us on our journey of faith, is that they faced their challenges and difficult circumstances in life with great courage, innovation, and faith.  I am really excited about the holy man who is going to speak to us today on this 5th Sunday of Lent: the Venerable Michael McGivney, a Catholic priest who born to Irish immigrant parents in the state of Connecticut in the years prior to our American Civil War.  

      McGivney was the oldest of 13 children, six of whom died in either infancy or childhood.  He had to leave school at the age of 13 in order to work in a brass factory to help provide for his poor family.  He left the factory at the age of 16 in order to enter seminary.  His father’s death interrupted his studies for a while, but eventually he was able to get through seminary and was ordained a priest.  

      As a young priest, McGiveny noticed several things about the reality of his parishioners.  In those days, many of the men in his parish were veterans of the Civil War.  These men missed the camaraderie that they had as soldiers.  Many secret fraternal societies were forming to meet this social need that the men had, societies that were not in line with the principles and values of the Catholic faith.  In addition, without any social safety net such as social security or health insurance or welfare, many of these families struggled when a crisis hit, or when the patriarch of the family died, leaving behind a widow and children.  McGivney and some of the men of his parish started the Knights of Columbus in response to this need. The guiding principles of unity and charity were stated in the Knights’ charter approved by the Connecticut state legislature in 1882; the principles of patriotism and fraternity were added later.  It was not easy going in the beginning.  The men had a hard time agreeing on a course of action that first year, and it almost dissolved.  But with perseverance and patience, the Knights progressed and developed.  But the time Father McGivney died of pneumonia and tuberculosis at the young age of 38 in 1890, there were 57 councils of the Knights of Columbus in existence.  Today, there are more than 11,000 councils in 13 different countries.  From its very beginnings and from the dream that Father McGivney and the founding members had, the Knight of Columbus have strengthened the faith of its members, provided them means of fortifying their financial security in an often hostile world, and helped them grow in their confidence and self-esteem.  
       How does Father McGivney’s witness speak to us during Lent.  There is a story told of him of how he ministered to a 21-year-old Irish immigrant who had shot and killed a police officer while he was drunk.  The young man was sentenced to death for his crimes.  McGivney was very loyal in ministering to this young man until the day he was put to death. McGivney helped this man repent from his crime and brought him  peace and reconciliation with God.   McGivney cited this experience as being fundamental in shaping his compassion and his outreach to his parishioners in the early years of his priesthood.  McGiveny saw the Church as more than just a place where people came to mass and for the Sacraments.  McGivney saw the Church as being the Church of the people, in helping them in all aspects of their lives.  To me, that is McGivney’s greatest witness, something that speaks to us in the midst of our Lenten journey.  The Church is there for us, and we are to be there for the Church.  We should ask ourselves how we are called to serve, not just how we are called to receive.  The Venerable Michael McGivney and the other holy men and women that we talked about during Lent challenge us to live out our faith in boldness and generosity, in service to God and in service to our brothers and sisters.  As we come near the end of our Lenten journey, may this message enter our hearts.