BISHOP’S HOMILY - 12TH ROSE MASS (MARCH 1)

Dear Friends and Servants of Human Life -

On this 4th Sunday in Lent, called 'Laetare', we rejoice with an increasing number of Americans in the priceless gift of human life. Recently on January 22, while noting 35 years of 'abortion on demand', legalized by our Supreme Court in 1973, we joined with millions in fervent prayer and in intense resolve to 'stand up for human life'.

At the invitation of the Lansing Guild of the National Catholic Medical Association, we are in Christ the King Church to celebrate 'with HOPE that does not disappoint' our 12th annual Rose Mass.

In the name of our diocese, I cordially welcome the Lansing Guild with your president - Barbara Adams, medical professionals, health care personnel, your families and friends in Christ.

The tense drama in scenes of today's Gospel is the drama of everyman - each of us. That is because the Word of God is 'alive' and 'active'. Remember - what happened then happens now! What Jesus said then, he says now! What Jesus did then, he does now!

No one can avoid the ongoing drama of personal choices about seeing or not seeing to whatever degree - seeing with the eye of the mind - REASON and seeing with the eye of FAITH. John Paul II said clearly in the first line of 'FAITH and REASON' in 1998: "FAITH and REASON are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth".

On the wings of Faith and Reason you in the medical profession are dedicated servants of the full truth about the human person and life. Daily - you are faithful and joyous witnesses to the immense value of each human being, however poor, weak or suffering. You see with awe, the marvels of the Creator toward creation and the marvels of the Redeemer toward those he meets and saves.

Your acceptance of the Spirit is also an acceptance of every human life in generous availability. In his first papal homily, Benedict XVI said: "We are not some casual and meaningless product of evaluation. Each of us is the result of a thought of God. Each of us is willed. Each of us is loved. Each of us necessary".

Chapters 7-8-9 John, occur during the annual Feast of Sukkot. For 8 days the Chosen People celebrated their 40 year journey from slavery to liberation. In a vast tent (Svkka) city they recalled how God cared for them and formed them in faith. WATER kept them alive and on the march. They recalled their never quenched thirst as they put God to the test (Massah) and quarreled (Meribah) in the desert.

On each day of Sukkot, priests drew water from Siloam. It was solemnly carried to the temple and poured on the altar. Jesus was in the temple. On the last day he cried out: "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me. From within him rivers of living water will flow".

He also said: "I am the LIGHT of the world. No follower of mine shall ever walk in darkness, NO, he shall possess the light of life".

They picked up rocks to throw at him, he left the temple and then met the BLIND MAN.

Jesus not only opens his eyes to see light for the first time, the man is gradually led to faith to believe in him and worship him. 'Opening Eyes' occurs 7 times in this drama. The blindman's response to Jesus is - 'he went, he washed, he came back, he saw'.

The cure is not contact with the waters of Siloam but with the 'Sent One' Jesus the living water and light of the world.

The 'Massah' feasting and 'Meribah' quarreling begins. The drama is set in the stark contrast between - light - dark and day - night. Clear choices emerge - seeing - blindness, knowledge - ignorance, and truth - falsehood.

Tragically then and now some choose to limit themselves to a world of appearances and merely subjective experiences.

Our mission never changes. It is rooted in 'I am the light of the World'. The Swiss theologian Van Balthasar says with precision - 'The Church does not HAVE a mission. The Church IS the mission'. Our identity is '‘children of light'. You and I are the mission - LIGHT in the world. We are fully in step with the first generation of children of light - the first Christians of Christ's Church.

The excerpt from Paul's Letter to the Church at Ephesus shows us the identity and mission of these children of light - the first Christians.

During his 3rd Missionary Journey, Paul was in Ephesus for nearly 3 years (54-58 AD). Later, during his first imprisonment in Rome from 61-63 - he wrote to the Ephesians.

Paul calls them and us 'Light in the Lord'. They and we were the sleepers who became 'light' when we were raised from the dead in Baptism.

Paul sets the agenda for them and us to be 'light in Christ'.

- LIVE as children of light

- LEARN what is pleasing to the Lord

- PRODUCE goodness, right and truth

Thus we become more and more 'light in the world'. They and we are separated from darkness - BUT not from the world. The children of light expose the fruitless works of darkness.

In Christ the Light, we too are the light of the world. St. Francis of Assisi said: "Teach always, when necessary use words." St. Catherine of Siera said: "If you are who you should be you will set the world ablaze with light".

Our amiable and zealous witness as 'Light in Christ' to the dignity and value of all human person and their right to life shines the light of truth in the darkness and dispels it. Never forget this from John Paul II - "the Church - we do not impose, the Church proposes".

I salute and thank you for your testimony before the world as 'people of LIFE and for LIFE'. Let us ignite a passion for the cause of the human person and life with great prayer for life.