I read a story online of a man named George who worked a demanding job on Wall Street. One evening, rushing home late from the office, he missed a phone call from his younger brother, who left a voicemail: “Hey, I’m in town for just tonight. I would love to talk to you, even briefly. I have not seen you in years. No pressure. Just call me back if you can.” George sighed, looked at the clock, and told himself, “I will call him tomorrow. I am just too tired tonight.” His brother died in a car accident that very night. Tomorrow never came. George said that missed call haunted him for years, not just because of what happened, but because he could have answered the call. He just didn’t. There is always something deeply painful about missed opportunities, especially the ones we know we cannot undo.
Today, the Fourth Sunday of Easter is observed as Good Shepherd Sunday and Vocations Sunday. Today, we pray for all those in various leadership roles, especially in the Church. We thank God for the gift of a new Pope, Leo XIV. God bless our Pope! God bless the Church! We also reflect on the various ways God has called us or is calling us to serve him. We pray for divine grace for those who are experiencing various forms of vocation crisis in the priesthood, in religious life, in single life, and in marriage.
In today’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles 13, we hear a story of opportunity and rejection. This passage reveals the power of the Gospel and the tragedy of missed opportunity. Paul and Barnabas were preaching in the synagogue at Antioch in Pisidia. At first, they got the attention and admiration of their listeners. Some even urged them to return the next Sabbath. But when Paul and Barnabas came back, and the whole city gathered to hear God’s Word, some of the Jewish Elders became jealous. They contradicted Paul and Barnabas and heaped abuses on them. Paul then said to the Jews: “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first, but since you reject it and condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.” And the Gentiles welcomed them with joy, and glorified the word of the Lord. What a contrast! Unlike the Jews, the Gentiles had no religious credentials, no position in the synagogue, but when they heard the Word, they did not miss the opportunity, they received it with joy.
This tragedy does not only apply to the Jews. Many times, when we read about the Jews in the Bible, there is the temptation to find fault with them, and think the fault is unique to them. But the truth is that, whatever we read about the Jews in the Bible is true of every human group: nations, states, tribes, religious groups, and families. In every group on earth, you will always find the good, the bad, and the ugly. So, the tragedy we talk about in today’s first reading is not just about the Jews, but about everyone who has ever missed an opportunity; an opportunity to love, to forgive, and to turn back to God.
God visits us in specific moments and through familiar and unlikely means. Because of various forms of biases, especially against people and places, we miss the blessings of God. We also miss such blessings either because we are distracted and too busy to notice God in people, places and circumstances, or we think we know better, or we sense what God asks of us, but are afraid of what obedience might cost. The tragedy here is when we fail to respond positively to those moments of grace, the blessings of God pass over us to other people, who were not the original targets of the blessings. Those people get the blessings because of their positive dispositions. God does not hide his blessings from us out of punishment; we are the ones who cover our eyes.
My dearly beloved in Christ, like George with his brother in our opening story, we do not always get a second chance. The worst kind of regret is knowing we were given something precious, and we did not respond positively to it. What opportunities has God placed before you today? A broken relationship that needs mending? A quiet invitation from God to return to Church, Prayer, or the Sacraments? A person who needs to hear words of hope and encouragement from you? A sin that has become too comfortable in your life? Scripture says, “Today, if you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” We cannot relive yesterday, and we are not promised tomorrow. But we have now. God visits us now in Word, in the Eucharist, in our Conscience, in our sisters and brothers in need. For the times we failed in the past, let us bring our regrets to the altar at Mass, where mercy meets memory, where Christ makes all things new that we may not have to weep later over what we failed to choose today. May we not look back one day and say, “I missed the moment.” Instead, may we look back and say, “Thank God I said yes.” Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Homily for 4th Sunday of Easter Year C 2025
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