Friday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

 Lectionary: 447

Accompanying him were the Twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out....

Four priest-friars live here at Saint Anthony Friary, next to the parish church in Clarksville, Indiana. Eyebrows go up when people hear of four priests in a Catholic parish that, nowadays, might be sharing a pastor with one or two other churches. Why this embarrassment of riches?

Three of us are retired, and the fourth is no youngster. Only he is a full time pastor; another is part-time; and the third and fourth live in residence. I free lance in local parishes, hospitals, and funeral homes.

But -- why four priest together? Because we are Franciscans and our most important ministry to the Church is to be a human community. And we are conspicuously human! The band of men and women who followed the Lord in Galilee and Judah were also quite human, as the Gospels attest. If they had any distinct asset among them other than their following the Lord, it was certainly invisible to the world. 

Today's gospel shows that, in communion with the Lord, several people of different genders, ages, races, and political persuasions can live, enjoy, thrive, and praise God together. There are challenges because each one is a sinner; and blessings, because they are God's holy people.

The United States is suffering an epidemic of loneliness which is becoming universal, a planet-wide pandemic. Many people still try to live together as married couples; but often with the proviso that, "If it doesn't work out, we can get divorced." That means they will never fully depend on one another. Their marriage is not built on the rock of faith.  

Sadly, many people choose adulterated forms of marriage that include "openness," homosexuality. childlessness, and abortion. Many people, finding no suitable partner, dote on their dogs and cats. As Paul McCartney sang, 

"All the lonely people; 

where do they all come from? 

All the lonely people; 

where do they all belong?

In communion, friars belong to one another and to God, and invite the world to know and worship God with us. In communion with the Son of Mary we forgive one another seventy-seven times seven times (and then some.) In communion with the Son of God we worship the Father in the Spirit of Jesus and Saint Francis.