The Most Holy Trinity (2016)
Silver Anniversary of Ordination Homily
 
10 years ago, I looked up what feast day would fall on this Sunday in May, 2016. Yes, I like to plan ahead. I was hoping it would be Pentecost, maybe Corpus Christi, or even perhaps, the feast of the Ascension. But no. It would fall on Trinity Sunday.
 
And so let me tell you, how difficult it is to prepare a homily on the Trinity and cover 25 years of history in such a way that it will keep Fr. Greg awake.
 
And yet, every year, the Church gives us this day, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, a day on which we gather to acknowledge, give praise to, and worship the incredible God we believe in—Father, Son, and Spirit, “through whom” St. Paul tells us today, “we have gained access by faith…to rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Rom 5:1 [Enough of that.]
 
25 years is a long time: 300 months; 9,125 days; 21,900 hours.
Based on research suggesting that “practice” is the essence of genius, best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell popularized the idea that 10,000 hours of appropriately guided practice was “the magic number of greatness.”

Now, I will not be so arrogant to say that I am “great,” but I am very good. Honestly, I thought I would be a bishop by now [not in this Diocese.] But the Good Lord knows better. A Bishop has to spend too much time socializing with people, and you all know that I’m not very good at that. [cuts in to my TV time].

But God would not allow me to be either too complacent or too comfortable, and every so often, God likes to challenge me. I like to say that the only way to grow in self-confidence is to do things you never thought you could do.

And so God (in order to get me out of my comfort zone) led me to get involved in two ministries that have been both inspiring and rewarding: Catholic Engaged Encounter and Cursillo. The people I have worked with; the lives I have influenced, and the ensuing experiences have enriched my life in so many wonderful ways.

I remember very little of that day, 25 years ago. I was excited to celebrate my first Mass; I was anxious about hearing my first confession; and I was apprehensive about delivering my first homily as a priest.

And today, having done all of those tasks for at least 10,000 hours, I still have those some feelings of excitement, anxiety and apprehension, and yet I am absolutely convinced that those same emotions have kept me going all these years.

I still live by the advice I was given a long time ago: treat every experience as a priest, as it was your first, your last, and your only. And over the years, I discovered why?
Because for someone at some time it will be a first opportunity and an only encounter to nourish a brother with the Bread of Life; to embrace a sister with the mercy of God; to introduce a child to the love of Jesus.

I sometimes think “what if I had not been so fortunate in my ministry over these past 25 years?” 

• What if I served in a land surrounded by forces hostile to Christianity?
• What if I served in a place without all of the comforts that make life so enjoyable?
• What if I had been struck down with some physical disability?
• What if I had not the strength to “glory in the tribulations” St. Paul exhorts us to in today’s reading?

Would I have I have still fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith.”? 2 Tim 4:7
As Deacon Daniel likes to say: “that’s a good question.” No doubt, God has been very good to me. I have been very lucky, very blessed, very fortunate.
 
And as I look back and reflect on what has been the most significant influence on my life as a priest, it is the great fortune of having had three very good pastors. There is absolutely no substitute in the earliest years of a young priest’s life than to have good mentors who will challenge, correct, counsel, and care.

“In good times and in bad…” words exchanged by a bride and groom on their wedding day. And although not included in the rite of ordination, they should be. Because good times become good memories and bad times become good lessons.

The good memories of the last quarter century have so often filled me with the fruits of the Holy Spirit: peace, patience, faithfulness. The bad memories: I have always tried to seize them as opportunities: to learn, to grow, to be challenged, and to change.

As St. Paul reminds us: “Tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character, and character, hope.” Rom 5:3-4

The privilege of being entrusted with the priesthood, which is the power and authority to act in God's name, is a great blessing and an awesome privilege, one that carries with it equally great obligations and responsibilities.

I thank God, my family and friends, colleagues in ministry, my bishop, priests and religious, and all the people whom I have been called to serve over these past 25 years. Thank you for never giving up on me.

And finally, all of you who have worked with me over these many years know that I sometimes like to pretend. I watch way too many episodes of the West Wing, House of Cards, and Madam Secretary. [Better than Star Trek.] And as much as I have tried to get my staff at the end of every meeting to stand up and say “thank you Mr. President.”

Let me conclude, with the words of former President Bill Clinton spoken on the night he accepted the nomination for President in 1992.

“I end here tonight where it all began for me: I still believe in a place called Hope.”