7th Sunday in Easter 2008

I am sure you’ve noticed that we seem to be obsessed by packaging. Potatoes and carrots seem better of they are in plastic pokes. Beans seem better of they are in a tin. Soap seems better of it is wrapped in paper. Things catch our notice of they are brightly or distinctly coloured. We are surrounded by packaging. Adverts on TV are just glossy packaging: you’ll be stronger of you buy this product, you’ll be better looking, you’ll get wealthier – you’ll be like your favourite person.

The thing is not wrong in itself because it appeals to human beings. Things that are better presented, that look better are more attractive. We see that in the world of nature animals and human beings use colour and beauty to attract one another. Peacock shows off its fine colours to attract its mate; we wear our best clothes when we want to impress; we want our houses to be as nice as possible. Beauty and colour are things that attract.

There is something of this on this Sunday. The Church wants to present its message better. It wants to use modern means to communicate to modern men and women. Things that will speak to people, ways of communicating that people will listen to. It certainly doesn’t want to trivialise things. It wants people to hear and see things.

All across the world the Church is active on TV, Radio, Newpapers, Internet, websites, podcasts and so on to communicate its message. Its like it needs to take the Gospel into the market place where people are. Of course there always dangers you can trivialise things, think more about the packaging than the thing itself, lose track of what you are doing. But the message at its heart must be taken out, can’t be kept a secret cannot be locked away.

Here is things that I think are essential. 1. We are convinced that the message is essential. 2. We are convinced that it can be communicated to other people. 3. We are convinced that the modern means by which people can communicate can be harnessed to pass on the message 4. We are convinced that God works through the laws of nature and respects them, things that look better, are more attractive will be listened to. 5. That we are not instigators we are co-operators with God’s love, he acts first we follow. 6. We know the limitations of our powers, even if we were absolutely unsuccessful, it is always his work that will bring people to him.

The whole point of the incarnation is that God obeys the laws of the world. He speaks, he acts in time and in the world. In the Gospel he is speaking and we are listening. He teaches and we learn. We see him and follow him. It all works through the laws of nature.

The Church cannot sit back it must work as effectively as it can to use the wonders of creation to announces and proclaim the message. Top Comment on this Homily