Homily: Liturgical Year
“Spiritual Blindness”
by Fr. William Holtzinger
October 28/29, 2006

 
Today we celebrate two events:  Priesthood Sunday and World Youth Day.  These are two things that I would like to bring into focus today.  While I couldn’t possibly tell you what your blindness is, I would like to propose that we might be blind to the youth in our Church.  I’m speaking about our young children to our young adults.  You see, our young people too often go unseen or unnoticed.  They are young and we too often have fallen into thinking that they have nothing to offer.  Before I go further, I would like to reflect on Bartimaeus in our Gospel for today. 
 
The person, Bartimeus is really an unnamed person.  Bartimaeus is actually an identity of an unnamed person, the son of someone named Timaeus.  The name Timaeus comes from the Greek, timao, which means to be of value, one who is highly prized or honored.  Isn’t that us?  Aren’t we the sons and daughters of the one who is of the greatest value and prize?  Yes, we are sons and daughters of God.  So, this story can easily be also about us and our blindness.  So, I ask again, what do you want Jesus to do for you?
 
Like Bartimaeus, many of us are possibly blind to the greatness found in our young people who beg to be loved.  They are not just the Church of tomorrow, but they are the Church of today. We often fail to let our children or young adults know that we feel that way about them.  They are all around us and we become blind to their presence or the influences that surround them.  The antidote?  Our time and attention.  The question I’d like to raise is what kind of time and attention?
 
  My answer is one of faith-filled time and attention.  I say faith-filled for what greater gift can we pass on to our young people than the faith.  That may mean sending them to a Catholic School.  That may mean getting them involved in church-related events such as our Life Teen program or our Newman ministry.  Maybe it means even more than that: getting involved yourself.  As Tania DeSantis, our Coordinator of Youth Ministry, prepares to leave, we are more dependent on the involvement of our parents to be actively involved in the events of our youth program.  This year we have new Newman ministers, James and Nickki Butler, yet we are always hoping for more college-aged students to step up and put their faith into action.  Yet, the adults cannot do everything themselves, our young people must be inspired to step up and take roles within the life of the parish.  Recently, our Newman students have taken an active role in our Sunday Evening Life Teen Mass by serving as lectors, eucharistic ministers and the like.  Many of our teens can do the same.  Our children who are younger can serve as acolytes, sing in the choir, or even help do ushering.
 
This brings me to my own testimony.  It was in the actions of those around me growing up, from grade school all the way through college and beyond that showed me God’s love and his call to the priesthood.  As a youngster, I was blind, in a way, to the greatness that resided in the Church. I found it boring and lifeless.  But, once I had the opportunity to truly spend time reflecting on God’s love on retreats, my faith returned with zeal.  People showed me respect and asked me what I thought.  I felt valued.  I felt loved.  It was from this place of love that I was inspired to seek out the priesthood.  Today, now a priest for six years and a pastor four, I can tell you that I am as happy as I can be.  I have the priviledge to work with loving people who strive to share the message of love that set me on fire.  And I am grateful beyond words.
 
Open your eyes to the youth in our midst.  Maybe they are too small to see.  So, children, please stand up where ever you are.  (wait for them to stand)  Look at our precious jewels!  Children and teens, thank you for being you.  Don’t let anyone tell you that you are no good.  Don’t let anyone tell you that you will never do anything.  God has given you greatness and it is just a matter of time before you can express it to the world.  God has a special plan for each of you.  He wants you to seek Him and ask Him for help.  He will show it to you.  May God bless you with his love.  May you always know of his great compassion and mercy for you.  You are the Church of the future and the Church of today.  Thank you for being you.  (applaud for them)