Snowshoe Tracks: May we not have come to God's House in vain!

+ J. M. J. +

Homily for the 100th Anniversary of the Consecration of Immaculate Conception Church
(Readings from the Common for the Dedication of a Church:

Ezekiel 47: 1-2, 8-9, 12; Psalm 122; 1 Corinthians 3: 9c-11, 16-17; Luke 19:1-10)

Original St. Joseph Church

“Wonderful are you, O God in your holy place.” With these words of the Entrance Antiphon we began our Mass today. It is wonderful to be here with all of you in this holy place of God, our Immaculate Conception Church. 100 years ago to the day, on Sept. 1, 1913, Bishop Eis, the fourth bishop of our diocese, consecrated this new church to the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Masses had been celebrated in Wakefield for some 25

St. Joseph Church after the 1909 fire

years or more before that day, and the previous parish church dedicated to St. Joseph had served for 18 years before it burned in 1909. For four years the parish labored to rebuild, and 100 years ago today their efforts were consecrated and blessed! For 100 years this building has been a house of God, a school of prayer, and the beating heart of the Catholic community in Wakefield.

Immaculate Conception Church, consecrated 1913

The Anniversary of the Dedication of a Church is always a solemn feast day for a parish community, all the more when it is the centennial. The Church gives us special readings and prayers for our feast, and the Church considers this annual celebration so important that it actually takes the place of our normal Sunday readings and prayers when it falls on Sunday. We express our joy and gratitude in our use of all liturgical solemnity and beauty!

In our first reading the prophet Ezekiel has a beautiful vision

Bishop Eis

of the temple in Jerusalem… sweet fresh water is flowing from the temple into the desert land. Wherever that good water flows it brings health, fruitfulness, healing, and abundant harvests. Even the Dead See is made fresh and filled with life. The people of Israel went up the Jerusalem Temple because within was found the Ark of the Covenant which contained the tablets upon which God gave Moses the Ten Commandments. Even more important, they went up to the temple because they knew that God was present there in a special way!

In our Gospel, God comes to dwell in another house… not the temple this time, but the house of a rich man named Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus was a tax collector, and so he was hated. Zacchaeus was a very short man, and so he was mocked. Nonetheless, in his heart their burned a desire to see Jesus, a curiousity about this man of whom he had heard so much. So he takes the rather unusual step of climbing a tree to see over the crowd! Jesus sees him there, and even more importantly, he sees the desire and openness in Zacchaeus’ heart. Jesus sees that Zacchaeus is ready to receive him, to welcome him, to hear his voice. With Jesus in his home, Zacchaeus commits himself to a whole new way of life, to healing and reconciliation.

For the Jews there was one temple, but for us a Christians there are many! Jesus dwells in each heart where He is welcomed, and He dwells in each family home where He is honored. Jesus comes to stay with us Eucharistically in every consecrated church and chapel. When our parish church here was consecrated 100 years ago by the bishop, a successor to the apostles, it was set aside and dedicated for holy purposes alone. The church is not an all purpose room, it is not simply a community hall… it is the dwelling place of God in our midst. There is a steeple pointing to heaven, there is a cross reminding us of Calvary, there is a bell which calls us to prayer. As we enter, we bless ourselves with the holy water that reminds us of our baptism. When we enter our pew, we genuflect as we recognize and honor Jesus present in the tabernacle. Our vigil lamp burns brightly day and night as a sign of that presence. All of these signs teach us and help us to remember that God is uniquely present here, under the appearance of bread, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.

Our parish church, then, is a holy place, a godly place, a place of grace, a place of conversion. However… the church building, with all of its dignity and worth, is not an end in itself. Jesus didn’t come to build churches, but He did come to build the Church. We are the living stones, laid upon the foundation of Christ and His apostles. We are the living stones, held in place by Christ who is the cornerstone, the capstone, the keystone. This building is of no avail if we do not enter. Christ is present here, but He will be present in our community, in our homes, in our offices, and in our hearts if we welcome Him, and if we bring Him with us. St. Paul tells us, “Brothers and sisters: You are God’s building…. Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” We come to this temple to be renewed as God’s dwelling places. We receive the Lord’s Body and Blood, and Christ dwells in us. There is always the temptation to compartmentalize our lives and our hearts… one attitude, one way of being and speaking at church, and another at home, another at the office, and so forth. It is always good to come to church, in our weakness, in our brokenness. It is truly a hospital for sinners, and I am with you in need of God’s tender care. We are always welcome here whatever we have done. But we must not come here merely as custom, we must not leave here as we have come. Jesus goes to Zacchaeus house, and people are surprised because Zacchaeus is a sinner. But notice that once Jesus has arrived, things begin to change!

I began with Ezekiel’s image of the water flowing out from the temple… this is an image of God’s grace, an image of God’s people. If we are to truly appreciate the gift of our parish church, we must respond to the grace we are offered here, we must struggle with God’s help to receive the healing and conversion He desires for us. We must imitate Zacchaeus’ zeal, and joy, and urgency to receive the Lord and to act on His word. Without this the gift of God is offered, but it is not received.

On this great feast of the dedication of our church, our hearts are filled with joy, and gratitude, and many holy memories. We have come rejoicing to the house of God, and rightly so. May we not have come in vain today, may we leave here once again changed and empowered and more converted to Christ. May we not leave here empty-handed… may we not leave here leaving Jesus behind in the tabernacle, rather may we leave here with Jesus in our hearts, and in our minds, and on our lips, in everything that we do, and in everything that we say. In this temple of God, may we become temples of God, and may God dwell in us, and may we become holy!