Homily 19th Sunday of Ordinary Time
When I announced my building project a month or so ago, one part I did not mention was that it would mean a step out into the unknown. Like Elijah expected God to appear one way and St Peter thought that walking out on the lake would be an easy thing, so to we all may think that the nofut stg will the Holy Spirit to create something new in Scotia, but like Elijahcome with us as we allow et me wrong, part of the pature will be what the past was. Do we must be open to new things and new approaches. Like Ppped out into what seem imposs.ible, so must we. Trusting in God is what will be on the main steps for useter ste To become a renewed church, we must allow Jesus to lead us to take risks, try new things, revision old things, and never let go of Jesus. It is God who owns this place and God who has made us his people. This radical trust is the place we need to start.
If today was not Sunday, we would be celebrating the memorial of St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. This was her religious name. We know her better as Edith Stein. Born into a Jewish family in Breslau which was under the German empire at that point. During her teen years, she was an agnostic. She had a doctorate in philosophy. She read about Terea of Avila and converted to Catholicism in 1922. She taught philosophy until she was thrown out of her position in 1933 due to the Nazi regime’s anti Semitism. She became a Carmelite sister and was moved to the Netherlands for her safety. In 1942, in response to the Dutch Bishops condemnation of Naziism, the Jewish community was rounded up and sent to Auschwitz. In did not make a difference that she became Catholic, she was still brought to the camp. She was martyred on August 9, 1942, only 84 years ago.
She is the epitome of today’s readings and the model for us to follow She knew God in places of light and in the darkest places, from a convent to a train knowing that the end of the trip would be the end of life, and in the most horrible place of modern history. God was present to her in ways beyond theology or faith formation books. She must have held on to the hand of Jesus so tightly on that final journey. Even if she did let go, Jesus would have reached out and touched and caught her in his loving arms.
Like Teresa Benedicta, Edith Stein, we do not know what awaits us. But, like her, we must step out in trust and faith. Jesus stands in from of us today, as a community and as believers, inviting us to take a step out in faith. Let us grasp the hand of Jesus and not let go. Even if we do, he will pull us into his redeeming arms.
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