Daily Mass Homily: Wednesday, October 24th, 2012 (School Mass)

            We heard an important line in our readings this morning which was read so nicely by N.  “…the mystery was made known to me by revelation.”  But I need a hand with a couple of words in this line.

            First, what is a mystery?  [First grader says]  “Something you can’t quite figure out.”  Yep, good thought.  Anyone else?  [Third grader says]  “Like when you’ve lost something and can’t find it.”  Another good example.  I have many mysteries in my life, then, because I lose everything!  So a mystery, then, is something we know a little bit about but not everything.  And in this part of the Bible, what is the mystery we are talking about?  [Kindergartener says]  “Jesus.”  Yep, exactly!  Jesus Christ is the greatest mystery that has been made known to us.

            Jesus was made known by revelation.  What is revelation?  [Fourth grader says]  “When God shows something or reveals something, especially about Jesus.”  Very good.  God has revealed to us His Son and Himself. 

God does this in a special way.  Who has God used to help reveal Himself?  [First grader says]  “God.”  Yep.  And who did God use to help Him with this?  [Fifth grader says]  “The authors of the Bible.”  Bingo!  Just what I was looking for.  The authors of the Bible are also known as evangelists (evangelist actually means “Good News,” which is what they shared).  Does anyone know of an evangelist by name? 

[Third grader says]  “St. John the Evangelist!”  Excellent.  St. John the Evangelist, the one for whom we are named at our parish.  What reminds us of St. John the Evangelist here in Church?  [Kindergarten student points up front and says]  “Is that statue?” [referring to the icon of St. John the Evangelist]  You mean that statue wearing the green vestments who looks like he’s asleep?  [Referring to Fr. Rich!]  You mean that icon?  Yep, that is an icon of St. John the Evangelist.  Anything else?  [Third grader says]  “The new stained glass window!”  Very good.  Yes, we just had a new stained glass window of St. John the Evangelist put by the main doors.  Anything else?  [First grader points to the ambo and says]  “Up there.”  Another good one.  Here we see the symbol of St. John the Evangelist—the eagle.  The eagle represents how he soared in the heights of spiritually to make the mystery of Jesus made known.  Anyone else?  [Fourth grader points behind him at the blue stained glass window and says]  “The eagle in the blue window.”  Awesome.  Once more we see a symbol to remind us of our patron at Church.

As we come to Mass once more, we gather to remember the great mystery, Jesus Christ, which has been made known to us by God’s revelation.  Our patron has helped make this known and so we ask, St. John the Evangelist, pray for us.