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<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
I wonder if anyone here
\nhas ever felt under-appreciated, overlooked, or even forgotten.
\nIf so, then this homily is for you.
\nToday we\u2019re going to sing the praises
\nof one of the most under-appreciated
\nand over-looked parts of the Mass.
\nEveryone always talks about how the scripture readings spoke to them,
\nor how great the music is,
\nor even sometimes how the homily touched them.
\nBut no one ever walks out of Mass saying,
\n\u201cWow, that dismissal, it really hit me today.\u201d
\nThe dismissal is often forgotten or just overlooked.<\/p>\n
But today we\u2019re going to honor the dismissal.
\nWe\u2019re going to sing its praises
\nand see that it is as essential as all the other parts,
\nand maybe our entire outlook on the Mass will change.<\/p>\n
We gather here today at Mass as we always do: This is clear even at the very beginning of Jesus\u2019 ministry, He appoints them for two reasons: Those same two reasons show up today, This is the the twofold call of discipleship, In John\u2019s Gospel, Jesus puts it another way, What a privilege and what a responsibility! After the Liturgy of the Word, Think about all the ways we use the word \u201cMass.\u201d When we come here to Mass Here is where the importance of the dismissal comes in again. And while each form of the dismissal has its own focus, I imagine the disciples would have loved to continue sitting So we cannot remain here, isolated and private, This week I invite you to find a quiet spot some time, close your eyes On this Trinity Sunday Mass,
\nto hear the words of Scripture;
\nto receive Christ in the Eucharist.
\nBut also to be sent by Christ<\/em>.
\nJesus is very clear in today\u2019s Gospel:
\n\u201cGo, therefore, and make disciples of all nations.\u201d
\nTo be a Christian is to be sent.<\/p>\n
\nwhere in the early part of Mark\u2019s Gospel we\u2019re told,
\nHe appointed twelve [whom he also named apostles]<\/em>
\nthat they might be with him<\/em>
\nand he might send them forth to preach<\/em>
\nand to have authority to drive out demons\u2026<\/em> (Mark 3:14-15)<\/p>\n
\nTo be with him, and to be sent out.<\/p>\n
\nat the very end of Matthew\u2019s Gospel:
\n\u201cGo\u2026and make disciples of all nations,\u2026<\/em>
\nAnd behold, I am with you always\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
\nand it\u2019s our call as well:
\nto be with Jesus, and to be sent out:
\n\u201cGo,\u201d and \u201cI am with you always.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cAs the Father has sent me, so I send you.\u201d
\nSo much is contained in those little words \u201cas\u201d and \u201cso.”
\nThe \u201cas\u201d and \u201cso\u201d express a deep mystery,
\nthe mystery of the Trinity, which we celebrate today.
\nThe Son comes forth from the Father in the unity of the Spirit,
\nand in that same way, from those same mysterious depths,
\nwe come forth now from the risen Lord
\nand are sent into the world accompanied by the Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n
\nIt\u2019s so important, so crucial,
\nI wonder what part of Mass brings that to life.
\nOh, right, the dismissal!
\nAs the Son was sent from heaven,
\nso we are sent from this heavenly banquet.<\/p>\n
\nafter the Liturgy of the Eucharist,
\nafter the final blessing,
\nthe deacon dismisses the people.
\nIt happens so fast
\nthat we might overlook it.
\nIt\u2019s not simply a good-bye: \u201cWe\u2019re done, you can go home now.\u201d
\nThe dismissal is a formal sending forth
\nand one of the most important elements of the Mass.
\nHow important?
\nWell, the very name \u201cMass\u201d comes from the dismissal.
\nIn Latin, the words for the dismissal are Ite missa est,
\nThat\u2019s where the word Mass comes from.
\nIt\u2019s as if we\u2019re summing up the entire celebration
\nby calling it \u201cThe Sending Forth.\u201d
\nOnce we understand this,
\nMass takes on a whole new dimension.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cGet dressed for Mass.”
\n\u201cWhich Mass are you going to this weekend?\u201d
\n\u201cCome on, we don\u2019t want to be late for Mass.\u201d
\nAnd now, with a little mental adjustment:
\n\u201cGet dressed for The Sending Forth.\u201d
\n\u201cWhich Sending Forth are you going to this weekend?\u201d
\n\u201cCome on, we don\u2019t want to be late for The Sending Forth.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nwe are coming here to respond to that twofold call of discipleship:
\nto be with Jesus and to be Sent Forth.
\nWe are with Jesus in the Eucharist, and we are sent forth in the dismissal.
\nBeing sent is a foundational reality of being a disciple.
\nBeing sent means that someone in authority has chosen you
\nto go somewhere and do something on their behalf.
\nYou have been chosen.
\nGod has chosen you, specifically,
\nto go forth from the Eucharistic banquet and do something.
\nTo do what?<\/p>\n
\nThe various forms of the dismissal tell us what we are sent to do.
\nThe shortest form of the dismissal tells us simply and directly,
\n\u201cGo in peace.\u201d
\nIn other words,
\nwe are being sent to be the peace of Christ to an unsettled world.
\nThe longer form of that dismissal is,
\n\u201cGo in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.\u201d
\nIn other words, we are being sent to live our lives in such a way
\nthat people are drawn to Christ.
\nA third form of the dismissal sends us to
\n\u201cGo and announce the Gospel of the Lord.\u201d
\nThis is what Jesus means when he says,
\n\u201cGo and make disciples of all nations.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nwhat they all have in common is the word, \u201cGo.\u201d
\nGo. You cannot remain here.<\/em>
\nWe might wish that we could stay safe and peaceful
\nwithin our parish family, among those with whom we feel comfortable.
\nBut we can\u2019t.
\nAs the final form of the dismissal says bluntly,
\n\u201cGo forth, the Mass is ended.\u201d
\nThe Mass is ended.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nat the feet of Jesus indefinitely, listening to him teach.
\nBut they were sent.
\nJesus didn\u2019t call them together to create a private little community
\nseparated from the rest of the world.
\nHe commanded them to go and make the entire world his community.
\n\u201cGo and make disciples of all nations\u2026\u201d
\n\u201cAs the Father has sent me, so I send you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nas much as we might like to.
\nWe are called together in order to be sent out.<\/p>\n
\nand imagine yourself with Jesus.
\nImagine Jesus calling you by your first name and saying,
\n\u201cAs the Father has sent me, so I send you.\u201d
\nAnd then just sit with that for a while,
\nresting in the truth that you have been chosen.
\nAnd how will you respond?<\/p>\n
\nthis Trinity Sunday Sending Forth,
\nwe recognize our participation
\nin the work of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
\nAs the Father sent the Son, so we are sent,
\naccompanied by the Holy Spirit.
\nYou might be feeling under-appreciated, overlooked or forgotten,
\nbut Jesus knows you, values you, and loves you.
\nJesus has chosen you
\nto go out and do something on his behalf.
\nWhere is he sending you?
\nAnd what is it that he wants you to do this day,
\nthis week, this month, this lifetime?<\/p>\n