13th Sunday of Ordinary Time, B June 30, 2024
Fr. Alexander Albert St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette
As pastor here for just over 5 years, it is with great affection that I bid farewell to the community of St. John the Evangelist parish. I’ve tried to prepare y’all for what comes next, offering 3 pieces of parting advice. The first is to trust in Jesus Christ no matter what happens. The second is to avoid treating each other and your new pastor according to the flesh. As St. Paul puts it, “may you excel in this gracious act” of welcoming Fr. Broussard and seeing Christ in him.
For the final piece of parting advice, I offer you the example of the afflicted woman and say this: take ownership of your faith. It is not the skill and holiness of the apostles that heal this woman, but her own faith. To touch Christ with faith is to be healed. We encounter Christ in the sacraments given to us through the Church and through priests. Yet, we priests are the instruments through which your faith comes into contact with Christ… we’re kind of like the hem of Jesus’ garment in this scene. The place of contact, but not the source of power.
As you move forward as individuals and as a community, I urge you to never forget this. Your faith is what’s needed for this parish to flourish and for you to grow in holiness. Every baptized Christian is the one who is most responsible for their own holiness and salvation. Take ownership of that. Find power and comfort in that fact.
So many people have thanked me for the work I’ve done here. I am grateful to God for whatever good he has accomplished through me and despite me. But I must once again point out that it is your response that has made this parish fruitful. I asked for money to pay bills, care for the poor, hire people, and complete projects – y’all gave generously. I proposed an aftercare program, y’all made it happen. I invited the retreat program to our parish, y’all showed up for it and now you run it. I reorganized the catechism program, y’all showed up and participated. I preached, y’all listened. I asked for an intercessory team and one was formed. Then there’s all the things I had nothing to do with, but was simply witness to: the several times this community organized itself to care for a bereaved or sick member, the Christmas lunch proposed by the sisters and executed by y’all despite my doubts, the countless little tasks of repairs and maintenance that I never even asked about, decorating the church and preparing the hall for all kinds of events, the Thanksgiving food drive, the blood drives, the Knights of Columbus and Catholic Daughters, and who knows what else I’ve never noticed.
There is faith here. Even when I first arrived, it was obvious to me how many of you had learned to persevere, to quietly take up your burdens, practice your faith, and look for chances to love and serve others. Your faith is yours. Like the woman in the gospel, do not be too cowed or ashamed to reach out with that faith and grab hold of Jesus no matter what other people are saying or doing.
The book of wisdom reminds us: “God formed man to be imperishable.” As you navigate this next chapter in your lives, let this truth remain rooted in your heart and mind. You are meant to be imperishable and so are your fellow human beings, but nothing else in this world is. Organizations, groups, initiatives, buildings, governments… all these come and go. Even this wonderful Church and this town will one day fade away. But you will not. Your soul, rooted in faith, is meant to be undying. So, do not be surprised when something you’ve come to rely on is stripped away.
Still, I personally do not think St. John’s is in any danger of disappearing soon for two reasons. First and foremost is what I’ve seen in you. I see faith, I see hope, I see love. I see good people – broken, sinful, struggling, yes, but still good people whose faith can heal them and those around them so long as they continue to reach out to Christ.
Secondly, this Church is beautiful and fruitful. From the faith that built this building to the many vocations born here to the effects it has had on my own spiritual life, I sense it is part of a larger tapestry within God’s providence. Beauty is powerful and you have it both in the building and in the souls that occupy it.
I say this, however, with this caveat: this parish needs you, do not abandon her. It would be a lie for me to say I’m unaffected by the compliments I’ve received. It is flattering to think many people feel loyal to me personally, claiming that it is my preaching or my efforts that helped them and so they want to remain close to me. Thank you for your love and gratitude and your loyalty.
Still, it is not me that this parish needs most. It is not a saintly pastor that this parish needs most – though we must always pray for our pastors to become saintly. Your mother church needs you, her dear children more. Whatever happens, try your hardest not to turn away from her. I’m not far away, I know, but please do not follow me. I heartily welcome the occasional visit and will rejoice to see you from time to time, but please keep St. John’s as your home parish if you can. Continue to show up to Mass here, to give here, to volunteer here. The love and loyalty you’ve shown me is appreciated – may God reward you! But the love and loyalty you show to this community is more important. It benefits you to be loyal in the midst of change and it benefits your brothers and sisters in Christ to have your loyalty to them.
I will continue to post my homilies. Hundreds of priests do. It’s always an option to go find preaching that strengthens your faith. I hope some of you did in fact go listen to another homily online on those days when my words maybe weren’t what you needed. It is not a betrayal to seek out good preaching elsewhere, so long as you continue to be present here, to worship and serve here. Just, you know, don’t try to pit priests against each other or tear us down when someone does better elsewhere. Take note of the good you find in your pastor. Give yourself to God in this parish knowing that God cannot be outdone in generosity.
St. John’s has been my home. You have been my family. Despite my struggles and failures and complaints, I thank God. Because of your faith and love, I thank God. Though I am no longer your pastor, I am still your brother in Christ. Let us pray for one another, united in holy communion. God bless you all, and farewell.