Two-Minute Homily by Fr Josh Whitehead for the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 2024.
“We have power to mediate God’s life and love to others who are struggling with the darkness… It is the responsibility of every baptised to actively accompany people to encounter Jesus.”
- Two-Minute Homily Transcript
Two-Minute Homily Transcript
Author: Archdiocese of Brisbane
One of the greatest privileges I experience as a priest is something that has no so much to do with ordained priesthood, as it does with baptismal priesthood something which all baptised people share. Every one or two weeks, sometimes more often, I have the privilege of accompanying a grieving family at the funeral of a loved one. The tremendous privilege I experience is the opportunity to offer the living hope; hope that there is something greater going on in that moment than the finality of death.That, in fact, this is a time for hope in the love, mercy and the healing power of God. Which is mediated through my intention to both accompany them and love them. This weekend’s Gospel which tells the story of the healing of Jarius’ daughter commences with the words which no parent, let alone any living person, wants to hear, “Your daughter is dead.” Now, while we know the end of the story, Jarius’ daughter was raised to life, the Risen Jesus, present in our midst, works in and through us to do the same with and for others.
While we might not have the gift of healing people from death in the same way, we do have power to mediate God’s life and love to others who are struggling with the darkness of death, lack of faith, mental illness, or even addiction. In fact, it is the responsibility of every baptised person to actively accompany people to encounter Jesus. Friends, this accompaniment takes place when we walk with others in their difficulty, allowing our own hearts to break with theirs in the mutual bond of love.