Did you see the rainbows
yesterday? There were two of them at the
same time – the very rare double rainbow.
I was especially happy to see the rainbows because in my little mind they
confirmed the direction I was already going in for this homily. When I read today’s Gospel I immediately
thought of the Wizard of Oz. I’m sure you did too. OK, we all know that my mind works in
mysterious ways, so just bear with me for a minute. You remember in the Wizard of Oz how Dorothy just wants to go home. So the Munchkins tell her that she needs to
see the Wizard and to get to him, she has to follow the yellow brick road. Now with this gathering of runners I’m sure
that the thought of a yellow brick road immediately conjures up thoughts of
sprained ankles and plantar fasciitis.
But normal people think of the road to happiness and fulfillment. Dorothy will find her true home by following
the yellow brick road. Now I’ll bet you
see where I’m going with this.
Our Gospel reading is
the wonderful story where Jesus walks with his disciples on the Road to Emmaus,
explaining to them all that was prophesied about him. Don’t think I didn’t think twice about
preaching about the Road to Emmaus in front of two people who were just on it
last week. Anyway, the story is a powerful witness not
only to the Resurrection and to the words of Scripture that foretold his
coming, but also to the important fact that Jesus walks with us on our journey,
filling our hearts and minds with everything we need to make it to our true home.
We’re here this
afternoon to baptize Thomas John. We’re
here to welcome him into our Church family; we’re here to wash away the stain
of original sin; we’re here to set his feet firmly on the road to his true home
and to place his hand firmly in Jesus’ hand, who will walk with him every step
of the way.
Now you may remember that Dorothy needed some help
getting to the Emerald City. Thomas will
need some too – and this is where we all come in. Thomas will need brains – as Pope Saint John
Paul II said, “Faith and reason are like two wings on
which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth.”[1]
We need some smarts to get to our true
home and thank God Thomas has – Amy for that. Thomas will also need courage. Life is tough and we’re often faced with
tough choices. Our minds and consciences
tell us which choice is the right choice, but courage helps us choose right
over wrong, good over evil. Eric, I’ll
give you some credit here – any man who runs the roads of Hunterdon County with
Mike driving them must be pretty brave. Finally Thomas will need love. Love is what ultimately brings us to our true
home; love carries us through difficult times; love conquers all evil and
brings us the perfect happiness that God wants us to have. I don’t need to tell you where Thomas will
find love. I know from my own experience
that there is no shortage of love in your family.
Baptism is just the beginning
of Thomas’ journey of faith. But with
all of your help, he will walk that journey, hand-in-hand with Jesus accompanied
by your brains, your courage and your love.
Follow the link for today' Gospel reading: Luke 24: 13-35
[1]
Pope Saint John Paul II, Fides et Ratio, (Vatican City, Libreria Vaticana,
September 14, 1998) at 1, http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_15101998_fides-et-ratio_en.html.
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