Homily for Tuesday of the 24th Week in Ordinary Time

For daily readings, see http://www.usccb.org/nab/091807.shtml

The reading from first Timothy shows clearly that mandatory celibacy for bishops and priests is not a consistent apostolic tradition, but is a discipline adopted by the Roman Catholic Church in order that her clergy may give witness to the truth of Jesus’ resurrection and may preach about the kingdom of heaven with their entire lives. The Pauline tradition gives us both these words about bishops being married only once, and words concerning the priority given to the celibate vocation (1 Cor 7:32-35). Interestingly, Paul indicates that the same gifts that make one a good husband, father, and provider for his household will make that person a good bishop and/or deacon. This indicates to us clearly that those called to the celibate vocation are not those who have no desire to be a husband or father, but those who are called to sacrifice this desire so as to be married single-heartedly to the Church, as was Christ, and to provide for a family that is destined to inherit new and everlasting life.
In today’s Gospel from Luke we have a resurrection of the only son of the widow from Nain. This resurrection is less famous than the resurrection of Lazarus in Bethany, but serves to reveal Christ’s true identity, while foreshadowing Christ’s own resurrection from the dead. The difference between these two men who were raised and Jesus is that Jesus was raised forever and was no longer subject to death. In the same way, we ask in being joined to Christ’s body in the Eucharist not for an ‘extension’ of our lives on this earth, as great a gift as that would be to receive, but to be joined to Christ’ ultimate and everlasting victory over sin and death.