“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day. It is written in the prophets: They shall all be taught by God. Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me.” (Jn 6:44-45)
This year the Archdiocese of New Orleans is celebrating a “Year of Renewal: Offering a Worthy Sacrifice of Praise” at the direction of Archbishop Aymond. As I have written in the last two weeks in the bulletin, the most recent activity of the Year of Renewal is taking place from July 9 to August 26 as we read the “Bread of Life” discourse contained in John 6. The theme that I have been developing through my five homilies is the connection between the Torah (the first five books of the Old Testament) and the five selections from John 6. Since the themes of the Torah are (1) the Divine/human relationship, (2) the Promised Land, and (3) the idea of descendants, I will make that the backbone of each homily.
The first week’s homily was on the book of Numbers. Last week I discussed the Manna from Heaven that the Jewish people ate on their Exodus through the desert. This week the connection is between John’s Gospel and the Book of Deuteronomy. The book of Deuteronomy is made up of the teachings that God gave to Moses, and the secondary teachings that came from the law. This week Jesus says “everyone who listens to my father and learns from him comes to me.” God is speaking directly to the people rather than through a prophet. The Divine/human relationship has become something intimate and personal. Jesus has come to offer the Promised Land of Heaven, and He has declared Himself as the means by which to attain it. And it’s not a place for dead descendants; it’s for the living, because it’s life itself.
I apologize that we had a little technical glitch with recording and posting last week’s homily, but we will correct that this week. The first week is online.
And don’t forget that this Wednesday is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We will have a Vigil Tuesday evening at 4:00pm and Masses at 6:30am at St Henry and noon in St Stephen on Wednesday. Also, this week we welcome back our school teachers and students. With that recommences our Friday school Mass at 8:30am. I’m looking forward to seeing our students after their long summer vacation.
Rev. Msgr. Christopher H. Nalty
msgr.nalty@gmail.com
