“Love in the Midst of Suffering” - 5th Sunday of Easter Homily

A theme of the readings is to love in the midst of suffering.

It's not really our go-to when we're hurting.

We will not be inclined to give, but to take for ourselves, or do it ourselves.

Take relief, take pleasure.

Go to Netflix, creature comforts.

I find it doesn't really help overall.

And we might make it worse.

If we're getting so absorbed in ourselves or our issues, it ruminates, we can make it worse.

And often we'll counsel people who are experiencing some kind of depression to come out of yourself and to give to others.

That's what love is.

You give of yourself.

And the Lord is saying when we do that, we glorify God.

Like even coming here tonight, you might not have felt it at all.

Or you're wanting to stay home or to yourself.

But you come out of yourself and you come here, especially if came for the Eucharist, which is true relief, true peace.

But in any way as to come to the Church, it glorifies God when you're suffering.

Now I was researching this, we got Megan from the new Outreach Center here, after mass, to offer you resources for mental health.

I was researching saints who struggle with depression or other mental illnesses.

Amazing, some of the well-known ones suffer from depression.

John of God, for example, he experienced depression, but he gave His life to serving those who are mentally ill.

It's just incredible.

And so our new outreach center is going to downstairs in the lower level starting this summer.

The theme is to serve and be served.

So yes, come out of yourself and to serve others in our community and to be served.

To get help, say, I can't do this myself.

I need help and the Church can help.

There's good resources available.

And the Lord is saying, this is the new order.

This scene is the Last Supper.

Judas is leaving.

And Jesus says, now is the son of man glorified.

Because now His suffering begins.

Now His passion begins and He's going to give.

He's not taking to Himself or hiding Himself.

He's coming out and loving.

And so he gives us this new commandment saying to love one another as I've loved you in suffering.

And this new order is to love when it hurts, that sacrifice, and love when you're hurting.

That's the cross.

And that's what separates us from others.

How they will know you, my disciples, if you have this love for one another when you're suffering.