May 25, 2025

6^th Sunday of Easter (C)  

Homily by Deacon Kevin O'Boyle      

Good Morning-
 
Decisions, decisions, decisions…they are a quiet yet ever present part not just of our private lives, but often part of the Church itself. A gift of the Church might even be seen in the quiet graces provided to support us in our most private decisions. The closer our decisions reached to moral dimensions, the more relevant the help of the Church. Yet the life and breath of the Church would yield graces to those suffering through difficult decisions. From its earliest days, to the most recent ones, the Church would listen to discern the guidance of the Holy Spirit and announce the decisions meant often to guide the countless members in their own decisions.
 
What a 5 weeks it has been in the Church this spring.  Five weeks ago today was Easter Sunday. The next day, Pope Francis died at a time when most of us hoped the worst of his illness had past. But none the less, his passing, like every passing of a Pope, set into motion ancient mechanisms of the Church that saw deep reliance on the Holy Spirit. Pope Francis was mourned and buried; a conclave summoned for cardinals from throughout the world; the election of Leo XIV shocked many in the world, and he has quietly begun his pontificate.
 
In our highly political world, it seems, for better or worse, that any time the Church releases a new decision or position, there are those that will try to categorize it as conservative or progressive, or some other title.  And, according to their own preferences, these folks would categorize the church’s current existence positively or negatively. I would like to propose that our readings for this 6th Sunday of Easter give us a better way to review and explain Church decisions.
 
In our Gospel story today Jesus promises “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.” So when we look at Church decisions, we can feel confident because Church decisions are not just the result of the minds of men. They are always supported by the idea that the Holy Spirt, the third Person of the Blessed Trinity, properly discerned, aided in the decision.  
 
If you listened to the build up to the conclave earlier this month, you would have heard constant references to the participation of the Holy Spirit in the selection of the next Pope. It should be noted that this did not imply that the cardinals each experienced a secret dream or any other form of visitation from the Holy Spirit.  But nonetheless, the Holy Spirit was present and working among the electors. It was the cardinal’s responsibility to interpret the Holy Spirit’s lead. As in all times of decision in life, they, like all of us, are always called to try to discern God’s will by reading the signs that are presented.
 
Our second reading from Revelation is a small part of another important decision the Church was responsible for in its history. Revelation is a book packed with heavy, difficult to interpret symbolism. And yet, the Church Fathers chose it as sacred scripture and in this reading as an image of the eternity we all look toward. And when it comes to interpreting that difficult symbolism, there is again reliance on discernment of the will of the Holy Spirit.
 
Finally, our First Reading today is an example of the Church relying on the Holy Spirit in early council, in reaching an important decision. Gentiles, meaning those who were not of Jewish descent that probably refers to most of us, would not be required to become Jewish and follow all Jewish laws in order to become Christians. This was a hotly debated topic at the time. The Church, in issuing its decision, credited the Holy Spirit with determining the answer, as quoted in the reading, saying, “It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us”.
 
So what does all this mean to us today, 2000 plus years after Jesus promised us the Holy Spirit. It is no secret today that sometimes many, including sometimes prominent Catholics, perhaps even some in this Church or in our own families, disagree with Church decisions. Maybe these disagreements have even led some close to us to abandon the faith or at least the regular practice of it. One only needs to think about areas, like gay marriage and other sexuality issues, or abortion, and other topics where the Church has a clear historical position and our modern society sometimes seems to go another way. Such vision will reveal places where some Christians may disagree with Church decisions. What we can be assured of, however, by Christ’s own words in our Gospel today, is the constant presence of the Holy Spirit in Church decisions. We have the assurance of knowing that Church decisions are supported not only by 2000 plus years of deep study and tradition, but also the presence of the Holy Spirit—that is the presence and guidance of God, promised to us by Jesus Himself.  So, if we or loved ones have question over a Church position on something, we should have much more reason to follow the Church than some other idea. Some will point to scandal in Church leadership as reason for doubt. Such scandal has sadly always been with us in large or small ways because the people who lead our church are, like each of us, sinners—and as sinners, sometimes have reflected poorly on the Church itself. However, despite this, Church decisions are blessed with the presence of the Holy Spirit. And that presence properly discerned will always lead to the Truth—to Christ Himself. And that is something to remember and remind others of—and something to think about this week. God Bless.