4/28/2017 - homily - Friday of the 2nd week of Easter - Acts 4:34-42

       In our first reading, the apostles rejoice in that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor at the hands of man for the sake of the Gospel and the name of Jesus. The disciples left the Temple area after they had been flogged and ordered by the Sanhedrin to stop preaching the Gospel. However, Peter and the other apostles continued their preaching with even more enthusiasm.  What a great example of faith their witness is for us today.  The apostles rejoice at the dishonor they suffered because they had suffered for the honor they were giving Jesus.  So often, so many of us think that we shouldn’t suffer at all for our faith, that we shouldn’t have to make any sacrifices for the faith.  Some of us may say that we are too busy to fit mass into our busy schedules, even when we have three or four or five different choices to go to mass throughout the weekend.  Some of us get mad if we don’t get our way or when we have to compromise or accommodate the needs of others. We sometimes would rather criticize and complain instead of offering to help. So many of us in the modern world don't want to be inconvenienced or to make a sacrifice. 

      Catherine of Siena lived in the 14th century in Italy. Her feast day will be celebrated this weekend.  She was a lay woman who worked in the Dominican order, but had very little formal education.  Yet, Catherine was considered to be one of the most brilliant theological minds of her day.  There was a lot of problems plaguing the papacy in her day.  Catherine used her skills of persuasion to convince Pope Gregory XI to move back to Rome from his exile in Avignon, France.  Catherine is held in very high esteem in our Church today.  Catherine of Siena and Teresa of Avila were named as the first women as Doctors of the Church in 1970 by Pope Paul VI.  She was named as one of the patrons of Italy along with Francis of Assisi in 1940, and was named as one of Europe’s patron saints by Pope John Paul II in 1999.  This quote of hers reflects her courage and tenacity in living out her faith: “Proclaim the truth and do not be silent through fear.” May none of us be afraid to proclaim the Gospel in our lives.