Memorial Day 2011, May 30. Our Lady of Grace 9AM. Acts 16:11-15.  John. 15:26-16:4a

Our ancestors all came from someplace else.  Even the Native American community crossed from Asia into the vast continents of North and South America.  We are a part of a living human community and a tradition that came from many places to build and shape our American culture and heritage.  On Memorial Day we pause to remember the courageous men and women who gave us the way of life that we cherish.  As Americans we stand on the shoulders of millions of men and women who went before us.  We do not know the names or the contributions of most of them.  Yet if it were not for those who first planted the American dream in our land and those who came later to clarify and refine that dream we would not be the land of freedom, faith and opportunity that we have grown to be.  We pause on Memorial Day to remember these great and courageous people.  We gather in to thank them.  We ask God to reward them.

Nothing good and lasting happens without effort and struggle.  Many sacrificed their lives in battles of freedom and liberation in this land and around the world.  We honor them today.  Others poured out their lives in building up the structures of a democratic society, a vibrant church community and a strong and struggling economy concerned about all the people of our land from the lowest to the most powerful.  We thank them today.  We honor our relatives and friends for blessing our lives with goodness.

Jesus said to his disciples, “When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the father, he will testify to me.  And you also testify to me, because you have been with me from the beginning… They will expel you from the synagogues; in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God.  They will do this because they have not known either the Father or me.  I have told you this so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you.”  Our world-wide Church was founded in the midst of adversity.  Our great land was founded in a revolutionary war, cleansed in a civil war and protected in battles for freedom around the world.  Both our Church and our nation have had to struggle for the freedom and opportunity we enjoy.  The struggle is not over yet.  The path of faith, freedom and prosperity still stretches out before us.

Blessed Pope John Paul talked about the importance of culture in strengthening and renewing our society.  Culture teaches us when no one seems to be teaching.  Culture strengthens us inwardly when we are lost and alone.  The evangelization of our culture is the challenge in our day.  Pope John Paul quoted Pope Paul VI who said, “the split between the Gospel and culture is undoubtedly the drama of our time.” Pope John Paul went on, “the new evangelization calls for a clearly conceived, serious and well organized effort to evangelize culture … For this to happen, it is necessary to inculturate preaching in such a way that the Gospel is proclaimed in the language and in the culture of its hearers. At the same time, however, it must not be forgotten that the Paschal Mystery of Christ, the supreme manifestation of the infinite God within the finitude of history, is the only valid point of reference for all of humanity on its pilgrimage in search of authentic unity and true peace.”   Our culture teaches us and forms us.  The movies, the music, the TV, the political debates, business, schools, colleges and universities, and many other manifestations of our culture are our challenge and our responsibility in building up our great land and the world beyond.  May the Holy Spirit be our guide in continuing the work of building a culture of faith, justice, unity, prosperity and peace.