My dear Holy Family family, in today’s Gospel, Jesus shows us something really profound. He shows us how to address the many things that worry us so much these days: riots, family and political instability, the pandemic, our children and grandchildren exposed to 21’st century secularism, the scandals in our church and actually every other earthly problem we have. Jesus shows us we are actually far from helpless bystanders; we have within ourselves all that is needed to address society’s problems.

So let’s dig in: Jesus was picking disciples was to establish His church on earth. Who did Jesus pick? He picked ordinary people - not people with scholarly backgrounds, not royalty, not heroic soldiers but ordinary people. He did not go to the Temple to find them, but the seashore, the marketplaces and wherever ordinary people gathered.

So why did Jesus choose normal people for this most - important job in all of human history? The lesson hidden beneath the text in todays Gospel is that Jesus shows us something we often choose to ignore - if we fully turn ourselves over to Christ so that we want only what HE wants, then we have HIS divine power and not just normal human power. That’s why he could pick normal people like Andrew, John and Peter - he knew they would be up to the task of leading His church on earth. That’s what Jesus teaches us in today’s Gospel - that supernatural power flows when we align our will with God’s will. The lesson’s right here in today’s gospel, hidden in plain sight. And this is how we change the world we live in. Of course, like the disciples, we’re human so there will be mistakes and problems, but that’s OK. Jesus gave us the Sacrament of Reconciliation for a reason!

What keeps us from aligning OUR will with HIS will and changing the world? Fear of embarrassment, humiliation, a destroyed reputation or maybe even a deeply - hidden fear of death itself? What are we really afraid of? Of course, for most of us, it’s death.

Sacred Scripture teaches that the fear of death can hold us in bondage. And it’s true: think about it holds us in bondage compared to previous generations: our parents, grandparents and other relatively recent ancestors went out daily into a world with far greater dangers than COVID 19. They faced smallpox, tuberculosis, polio and other deadly illnesses. Despite this, they went to work every day, many in dangerous and/or unhealthy settings such as mines, mills and factories. They did not have antibiotics or any other of the medicines routinely available today. Yet they went forth.

And so must we. Each of us sitting here in this church-you, you, and you, have been called to THIS time and THIS place. Jesus wills our body and soul to be alive at this particular moment in time to do His will by aligning our will with His. This is how we fix the world we’re in. To waste this opportunity you've been given, to quench what God wants of you, is nothing short of sin. So don’t shirk this opportunity! You were born for this, and God wants you here.

I believe there is no finer time to be a faithful Catholic than today for the very reason that so many people are scared and we live in tumultuous times. We possess the fullness of the faith Jesus gave us. So, no matter what we do in Jesus’ name, no matter how small, we will be successful!

Here are a few concrete actions we can do today to align our will with God’s will and become a super-ordinary person with super - ordinary power:

1. Be not afraid. St. Pope John Paul said “You, too, be courageous! The world needs convinced and fearless witnesses. It is not enough to discuss, it is necessary to act!” St. Pope John Paul II is telling us that actions speak louder than words. So, pick one person who you are worried about. Pray for them and gently let them know what you’re worried about with them. Just plant the seed. Don’t push. Let God do the work.
2. Show your faith in public. Pray before meals if you don’t already. If you already say grace before meals, tell someone on the phone or on social media that you’ll pray for them. Say a protection prayer with your kids or your spouse before you go to bed. Have courage - you can do it!
3. Say the Rosary. The Rosary is our umbilical cord to Our Heavenly Mother and Mary is Queen of Heaven and Earth and the Terror of Demons. If there is anyone who can solve the problems in our families and our society, it’s Mary. The Rosary has long been our faith’s secret weapon. Use it often.

Let us bow our heads in prayer.

Heavenly Father, you called each of us to be alive at this particular time in history, and, just as you chose your disciples from among ordinary people, we know you have called us to do Your will at this moment in time. We ask You to help us have the courage, the faith and the energy to reject inaction and lukewarmness. And we thank you for the graces you bestowed on us, for we know that, as you told St. Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”. Amen.