WHEN JOHNNY COMES MARCHING HOME
DATE \@ "MMM. d, yy" Mar. 15, 05 Easter Morning Mass (A) John 20:1-9
World War II began on December 7, 1941. I was eight years old. There were many
war movies. But the only one that I remember was entitled: “When Johnny
Comes Marching Home.”
Johnny lived in a small town in the United States. The day after the U.S. was
attacked by Japan at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Johnny enlisted in the Army. Before
he went to the Army Base for training, the town had a parade and party for him.
The school band played. The girls gave him flowers and kisses. The whole town
was so proud of Johnny. And the young boys all wanted to be brave like Johnny.
To his surprise, after finishing basic training Johnny was assigned to an Army
base only a mile from his hometown. He could come home every week. And as the
war years continued, the little boys who worshipped Johnny were themselves fighting
the war. Some had been killed in battle. Others had been wounded. And some had
received medals for their bravery in battle. When these heroes returned home for
a furlough, the town’s people organized a big parade. After the celebrations,
the soldiers gathered together and Johnny joined them. The soldiers shared with
one another their war stories—stories of danger, cold and heat, fleas, tasteless
army food, the fear, the pain of their wounds. Johnny felt he was an outsider
in these conversations because he had not participated in their sufferings.
WORD OF GOD
“You have been raised up in company with Christ.”
Most of you at this Mass are seniors. But, unlike Johnny, many of you have had
and continue to have much suffering on the battleground of life. Alongside the
wrinkles on your faces there also signs of sorrow and disappointments. And although
you would not volunteer to repeat any of these sufferings, these very sufferings
add to the joy of this Easter
During Holy Week 2005, we brought our own sufferings to mix with those of our
Savior. We were Jesus’ companions during his Passion and Death. And this
morning we celebrate the Resurrection—both Jesus’ and ours. We are
survivors, fellow veterans and comrades. We are joyful!
Why are we seniors so joyful this morning? Perhaps during this past year we have
spent time in the hospital and were miserably ill. Or perhaps we have experienced
loneliness. Or we have been worried about some member of our family? Or perhaps
more and more parts of our body are either hurting or no longer work. So why should
we be joyful this Easter Sunday? Paul tells us the reason: He says:
“You have been raised up in company with Christ.” No matter how much
suffering the Christians gathered here this morning have endured we are still
joyful. Indeed it is because the sufferings we have endured these past years--
in company with Christ-- that we are so joyful. By our sufferings we can say:
“I accompanied Jesus in his Passion and death. It was tough but we stood
shoulder to shoulder-with Jesus and my fellow Christians. I fear suffering and
yet I am glad that I was privileged to share Jesus’ Passion.” Otherwise
when at my death I go to meet Jesus, my savior, one of my ancestors might ask:
“Where are your wounds?’
CHURCH TEACHING
But there is MORE! Our Catechism teaches:
“We have already risen with Christ… Christian life is already now
on earth a participation in the death and Resurrection of Christ. In expectation
of that day, the believer’s body and soul already participate in the dignity
of belonging to Christ. So glorify God in your body.” [Emphasis added.]
Paul reminds his early Christians and we at St. Patrick’s that we have already
risen with Christ and that we “belong” to Christ. And at our death
we not only will be complete human beings with both body and soul but our bodies
will be like that of Christ’s glorified body. Our glorified bodies will
not need doctors, hospitals, pills, bedpans, or canes.
RESPONSE
We, seniors, have just heard the message of Easter. Our bodies may be hosting
an army of enemy aliens—illnesses. Each of these aliens is working earnestly
to making our earthly life uncomfortable and eventually ticketing us out of this
world.
But instead we are overjoyed at this Easter’s news: Christ is Risen. And
through our Baptism life’s disappointments, we are already participating
in the Risen life of Christ.
During this Easter season we bask in joy: We bask in joy because each of us in
Church this morning already shares in the life of our Risen Savior.
FINALE
If you will try to be joyful during this Easter season at least once everyday,
please smile.HOMILIES NOTES AND STUFF
DATE \@ "MMM. d, yy" Mar. 15, 05 Easter Morning Mass (A) John 20:1-9
HEARERS OF THE WORD: 7:30 A.M.: Seniors
TEXT:
“Since you have been raised up in company with Christ … After all,
you have died! [In Baptism] your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ
our life appears, then you shall appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3:
1, 3 and 4. [Emphasis added.]
ONE WORD: Resurrection
TWO WORDS: Participation in the Resurrection
TOPIC SENTENCE: Through our Baptism and suffering, we already share Christ’s
resurrected life.
DESIRED RESULT
Thank-you for the Easter homily. I am getting old and I have a variety of bodily
ailments. It gave me a feeling of joy all week that all of me, including my suffering
arthritic body already belongs to the Risen Lord and I am already participating
in the resurrected life of Christ
CHURCH TEACHING
“ …we have already risen with Christ… Christian life is already
on earth a participation in the death and Resurrection of Christ. In expectation
of that day, the believer’s body and soul already participate in the dignity
of belonging to Christ. ‘And God raised us up by his power. …..So
glorify God in your body.’” 1 Cor 6:14-20, Catechism of the Catholic
Church, (Mission Hills, CA: Benziger, 1989) #1002 and #1004, pp. 261-262. [Emphasis
added.]REFERENCES
All biblical citations from (N.Y.: Catholic Book Publishing Co., 1970) unless
otherwise indicated.
TIDBITS
1. (Alternate finale)
I suggest that each of us make a resolution right now: The resolution: “I
solemnly resolve: that during the coming eight days I will not think even once
that my whole self including my body is already participating in the life of the
Risen savior.” Repeat this resolution after me.
If anyone will tell me that they faithfully followed this resolution, I will give
him/her a HK$1000.
[The preacher can’t lose since anyone who asks for the holy card has already
recalled last Sunday’s homily]
Chinese Version Available
Thou Shalt Think and Do: Adventures with the Social Teachings of the Catholic
Church Volume I - Eugene Thalman
In a separate booklet: Facilitator's Notes
This booklet introduces Catholic Social Teachings by using “apparently”
simple stories and anecdotes. The contents are accessible to all from ages 12
to 80. At the same time, they challenge the university graduate who is not familiar
with the Church’s Social Teachings. To insure maximum participation the
method includes written exercises by the individual and followed by group work.
It may be possible for us to arrange seminars or training program in either English
or Chinese or Tagalog.
Blessings,
Fr. Gene Thalman M.M.
Tel: 2338-2992 or ethalman@maryknoll.org
(For enquiries or orders contact:
Asian Center for the Progress of Peoples
52 Princess Margaret Rd.
Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Tel: 2714-5123 Fax: 2712-0152 Email: HYPERLINK "mailto:hotline@acpp.org"
hotline@acpp.org Website <www.acpp.org>
**************************************************************
CHEWING, DIGESTING AND DOING GOD’S WORD
DATE \@ "MMM. d, yy" Mar. 15, 05 Easter Morning Mass (A) John 20:1-9
NAME _______ GRADE _______
Since Johnny was out of danger and was stationed near his loved ones, why should
he have regrets? ________________________________________________
At our final death our Risen person will resemble that of the g________d b___y
of our R_____Savior.___T/F We will have to wait until our death to participate
in the Risen life of Christ.
As a result of today’s celebration, I shall carry throughout the week
a sense of: (choose only one) a. sorrow for sin b. suffering c. joy d. gratitude
(Optional) What is the worst suffering of your life that you would have been
proud to have shared with our Risen Lord?
[Does anyone out there ever use CHEWING, DIGESTING AND DOING GOD’S WORD?
If so how do you use this material? Gene Thalman HYPERLINK "mailto:ethalman@maryknoll.org"
ethalman@maryknoll.org]
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