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National Eucharistic Revival 2024 #nec #nationaleucharisticcongress #nec2024

Homily for July 14 2024 Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 104

As you probably know, yesterday, there was an assassination attempt against our former President. It is no secret that our country is divided politically. I have my own political opinions, you likely have yours. I think everyone would agree that an assassination attempt is totally unacceptable. I had a homily prepared for today before this incident occurred. I was going to tell you a couple of stories about my experience as a teacher this past year but I will hold onto those and tell you a different story.

In June of 1979, Pope John Paul II visited his homeland in Poland. His visit has come to be known as “9 days that changed the world.” I’ve heard Cardinal Dolan of New York tell the story in person.

Cardinal Dolan said in a homily:
“John Paul II not once spoke about politics, he didn’t once use the word ‘Communism’ even though it was the Communists who were oppressing his beloved Poland. No - he spoke about God.”
On the last day of JP II’s visit, he said Mass for 2 million people in Warsaw. As he started to preach… something happened. A small group of people began chanting 3 words and it began to spread. What were they chanting? 'Russia go home'? 'Down with Communism'? No – they began to chant… 'We want God!' At first hundreds of people. Then thousands …Soon… 2 million people. 'We want God! We want GOD!' For 17 minutes, 2 million people who had gathered together to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of Mass chanted 'WE WANT GOD!'

Cardinal Dolan went on to say that years later the archives of the KGB became public. In these archives, there was a telegram from the KGB Commandant who was present in Warsaw that day. His telegram ended with another set of three words. “It’s all over.” He was right.

The Kingdom of God had risen up and no human political force could resist it - walls crumbled, power structures collapsed. Ultimately, the USSR broke apart.

If we are taking sides in the struggles of the world and not first seeking the Kingdom of God, regardless of which side we are on, it is the wrong side because we are on that side for the wrong reasons.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus sent the apostles to preach that the Kingdom of God is at hand. He knew that they would be welcomed by some and met with hostility by others. In Matthew’s version of the same story, Jesus said “Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves… You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end* will be saved.”

The problems in our country are just a refection of the spiritual battle which is always raging. The problem is that we are silent in the face of the systematic destruction of the religious backbone of our nation. People of faith are increasingly marginalized and demonized. This can happen only when people of faith stand on the sidelines. It is not enough to shake our heads and say " isn't it terrible?" Yes it is terrible. The question is, “What do you intend to do about it?” The solution is not a secular solution or a political solution. Our response as Christians must be to boldly proclaim the Kingdom of God. Our response has to be “We want God.” And we have to say it loudly and publicly.

In our Old Testament reading, The Prophet Amos said
“I was no prophet, nor have I belonged to a company of prophets; The LORD took me …and said to me, Go, prophesy to my people Israel.”
He was a common man, minding his business, just like most of us. God needed him to do more. So he did it.

What our country needs is not more legislation. What our country needs is more sanctification. Each one of us needs to do our part; the common person must be an Apostle and a Prophet. If every Christian in America were to publicly stand up and state loudly and publicly “We want God!” there would be instantaneous change.

This week I will be attending the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis. It will be the first National Eucharistic Congress in the United States in 83 years. I will be one soul in a football Stadium with a seating capacity of 70,000 people. We are coming from around the country to adore Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. I can think of nothing I would rather do right now than to be with 70,000 people who truly want God. There are ways for you to participate. The website address is eucharisticcongress.org. The Catholic television channel EWTN will be covering the Congress on its YouTube Channel. I’m hoping that this event will come to be known as the Five Days That Changed The World. To think that the world will be changed by politicians alone is a pathetic fantasy. It’s up to ALL of us, to say publicly and loudly, “We want God.”

God bless you and God bless America.