This homily discusses several key themes: 1) Jesus repeatedly tried to teach the disciples about suffering, death, and resurrection, but they failed to understand. 2) The disciples were focused on prestige and power rather than service, exemplifying a "me first" attitude. 3) Historically, cultures used rites of initiation to teach young people life's hard truths and the importance of service. 4) Pope Francis calls the Church to be a humble, welcoming family and to serve others through love and mercy.

1. 1 Deacon Jim Knipper
18 October 2015 29th
Sunday of Ordinary Time Princeton, NJ
This liturgical year, through most of Ordinary Time, we have been listening to Mark’s Gospel –
believed to have been the first Gospel written. It is short, to the point and thus in order to realize
some of the overall arching themes of the Gospel it really requires you to take a broader view so you
connect the dots of Mark's stories.
Case in point, over the past few weeks, we have been given three Gospel accounts where Jesus
tells his disciples about his pending passion – about the need for suffering – that he will die but three
days later will rise. It would seem that Jesus is keen on teaching them about the pattern of life,
death and resurrection – a pattern that is ever present in our lives.
But remember the responses? The first time Jesus tried, Peter rebuked him. The second time, the
disciples ignored what they heard and went on to argue who was the greatest among them. And
then – as they are walking to Jerusalem – to where Jesus knows he will die, he tells his disciples a
third and final time of what is about to happen. And it is their response which is given to us in
today’s Gospel – with James and John asking if they can be the ones who will sit on his right and left
– can they have the special place of honor – can they be the ones who will bask in the
limelight…which of course just irks the other ten disciples to no end.
Each time the disciples are faced with the reality that part of life is suffering and death...each time
Jesus talks about the need to carry your cross to follow him…each time Jesus talks about serving
others – the disciples focus on what is best for themselves - who is the greatest among them and
how it is all about them gaining power and prestige. It is the first century version of the “me”
generation.
You see, when you tie these Gospel stories together they remind us of this paradoxof life: that
climbing the ladder of personal success really means learning to shed your ego and make your life
all about others.
For centuries and throughout much of civilization this lesson was learned through a prescribed form
of initiation. While each culture had their own rites – the common characteristics usually involved a
young teen boy (girls did not require initiation) being taken by the elders into nature and taught how
to face the dangers of being on his own in the wilderness – of facing his own life and his own death.
Our early Church had its own Rite of Initiation - whereby it would take a person 2 – 3 years of prayer
and study before they were called catechumens – which comes from a Greek word meaning to “re-
echo.” It was during this time where the community strengthened and supported the catechumen by
'reechoing' their faith into the lives of those being initiated. Then, some 8 months or so afterwards,
they were baptized by being fully immersed under water (symbolizing the death to oneself) and
brought out of the waters, reborn in a life focused on discipleship. Many centuries later much of this
got watered down as the focus was on ‘making’ the sacraments and the removal of original sin and
less about personal initiation and learning how to live this life in service as a disciple of Christ.

2. 2 Deacon Jim Knipper
In general, most of civilization has walked away from the practice of initiating their young men – but
just scan the headlines of news and you will know that the need has only grown. And now
sociologists are saying that due to changes in our society some form of initiation it is not just needed
for young men, but also young women...and that, now, more than ever, our generations need to
learn the following five core messages of initiation that had been universally taught throughout time:
Life is hard
You are not that important
You are not in control
You are going to die
Life is not about you – you are about life and about serving others.
For these past months we have been listening to the Gospels as Jesus tries to open the eyes of his
followers to these same messages – to initiate them on how to be human…on how suffering is part
of life…and on how important it is to be servant first and to resist the desire to just feed the ego. But
how much easier is it to be more like the disciples who are looking for the seats of honor and glory –
versus following what we heard in today’s Gospel: that Christ is calling us to a role of servant slave
of all.
I think this is one of the main reasons there is so much universal love across all faiths for our Pope
and his constant demonstration to reach out and include all people. During his visit we got to see up
close his role as a shepherd who tends to everyone and as a true pastor who is focused on being a
servant leader. And just yesterday when addressing the Synod he again reminded the bishops that
those who exercise authority in the church are called “to serve” the people of God; and that he, as
Pope is “the servant of the servants of God.” His persistent plea to the entire Church – both laity and
clergy – is to remember that our call to real discipleship must be rooted in love and mercy.
And during this month in which the Church has been so focused on the family – Pope Francis
reminds us of how the love of the family must be mirrored in the Church when he said: “It is
important that the Church in the United States must also be a humble home, a family fire which
attracts men and women through the attractive light and warmth of love….Only a Church which can
gather around the family fire remains able to attract others.”
And it is this concept of the fiery love within the family as being foundational to a healing, merciful
Church - that Christ was attempting to teach the disciples, which is the same thing Pope Francis
calls us to. But some may say, “How? Our family is so broken how can it be the center of healing?”
Well certainly your presence here today - both father and son - is a gift in so many ways. More than
ever, young men need male role models who, through their words and actions, will walk with them
and mentor them…and teach them how to live and love and forgive and to be present to others.
And truth be told...the Dad's have just as much to learn from their sons - now and in the years
ahead.
So continue to stay connected to each other - make it a priority to spend time together…time to truly
listen to one another - whereby each of you will learn to live a life not focused on power, prestige and
possessions...or even where you sit….but focused on your baptismal commitment of truly living who
you are in Christ – in a daily dance of life, death and resurrection. For in the words of Carl Jung, our
ever-loving God calls us to: “Become who you are. Become all that you are. For there is still so
much more of you – more to be discovered...more to be forgiven...and much more to be loved.”