27 May 2008

I can remember as a child walking past a toy shop near our house and seeing a chemistry set. It intrigued me, fascinated me – all the different chemicals with strange sounding names and the mysterious glass bottles and instruments. I wanted that Chemistry Set so badly. It was now September or perhaps October. I had had my birthday and Christmas was a long way off. I pleaded with my parents and was getting nowhere. They were convinced I would poison everyone or set the house on fire if they bought such a dangerous present. So I turned to God. He was the point of last appeal. If I got him on my side, then surely I would get my longed for Chemistry set as a Christmas present.

I behaved myself, did all that the law required of me and constantly reminded God and my parents what I wanted for Christmas.

The time came, and I began opening my presents in genuine hope, even certainty that the said Chemistry set would be there. I got loads and loads of presents, everything but a Chemistry set. It took me years to recover faith in God’s word.

We have all been in situations like that, or have had to explain to our children why things have not happened despite their ardent and constant prayers. It takes the edge off faith, though doesn’t it? So that when we hear gospels like today’s, we begin to think of them as poetic expressions rather than sure-founded promises of Jesus.

I would not like to give anyone here today an unrealistic hope or aspiration, but at the same time, I would like to sharpen up our faith and trust in God’s providential love for us.

Let me tell you a story. I have always been a devotee of Lourdes. I used to go as a student for the priesthood and then as a priest. I ended up going with the Leonard Cheshire Homes’ Pilgrimage. One year we had been doing just like you have been doing most of today and everyday on the pilgrimage, helping out as best we could, taking people here there and everywhere. Wheel chairs knew no obstacle with us around – to the Grotto, shopping, for a drink in the bar etc. That particular year there were a lot of visually and auditory impaired pilgrims with us, so we tried to ensure that we described everything that was happening wherever we went. Also there were a couple of us who could use sign language and there was a Sister who did the signing at all the Masses.

That year also there had been a particularly powerful penitential service and you knew that people had come to grips with issues that had been bothering them for a long time; people had genuinely changed.

I suppose you are wondering where all this is going? Well. It was the Mass of the Sick and I found myself preaching. I had tried to prepare my sermon, and I had a thought in my head which I was going to have a try at developing. It was the Gospel we have just heard today at this Mass. As it was being read my eye was caught by this Sister who was translating it into sign language and it suddenly struck me very powerfully; yes, despite everything the deaf are certainly hearing today. Then I thought back to what had been happening all week, wheel-chair no obstacle, taking people to the grotto: if someone wanted to go shopping, then shopping they went. It was certainly true that those who were not normally very mobile were getting just where they wanted – the lame were walking. I then noticed someone standing next to one of the pilgrims who was visually impaired and they were explaining and describing everything that was going on around in such detail – the blind were beginning to see, as it were. Again I looked around the group and I could see people smiling who had come through tremendous problems in their life. Others who had been troubled by something or worried and who had found a great source of new life in the sacrament of reconciliation – it was as if they had been raised from the dead.

It dawned on me that in fact that gospel was being fulfilled as I stood there. It was true. It wasn’t fanciful or poetic. It was really happening just as it has been all through today, all through this week.

The Lord’s promises are always rock solid, they are always guaranteed, but we have to have eyes to see and enough faith to focus our eyes in the right direction. If you look, you will see, if you listen you will hear, and if you expect, miracles will truly happen.

In the splendour of his rising your son conquered suffering and death and bequeathed to us his promise of a new and glorious world where no bodily pain will afflict us and no anguish of spirit.

Through your gift of the Spirit, you bless us even now, with comfort and healing, strength and hope, forgiveness and peace (through Christ, our Healing Lord. Amen).