Fr Kevin Kilgore

Mark Twain once said, “The two most important days in your life are the day you were born … and the day you know why.”

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Looking back at my time here at Mount Virgin, I’ve grown to understand more of the “why.” I was born to be a parish priest, to minister to God’s people.

I can only begin to tell you how grateful I am for these past two years of ministry. It’s been an immense honor to baptize your children, to celebrate your weddings, to anoint your parents and spouses, and bury your loved ones.

I cannot imagine anything more meaningful in life than this. So from the bottom of my heart, I thank you for being open, for welcoming me into your lives, allowing me to be your servant – and, in many cases, your friend.

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“The two most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you know why.”

Today we celebrate the first of these two days for John the Baptist. We rejoice at his birth, knowing that he will eventually lead thousands of people to Jesus. That is why he was here.

But John reminds us that we all have a destiny, a path marked out for us from our mother’s womb. There is a particular reason why God brought us into this world; we’re unique, called to build up God’s kingdom in different ways.

John was just one builder, one set of hands.

As the Lord says through the prophet Jeremiah, “For I know well the plans I have for you… plans for your welfare, not for evil, to give you a future full of hope… You will find me when you seek me, when you search for me with all of your heart” (Jeremiah 29:11-13).

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Even if we haven’t followed God’s plan to a “t,” even if we’ve made mistakes along the way or followed a path of our own choosing, God is still with us, urging us to start again and follow him.

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“The two most important days – are the day you were born and the day you know why.”

John only came to understand “why” he was born, how he fit into God’s bigger plan, while he was living in the desert. As it says in the Gospel, “The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel” (Luke 1:80).

We might say John remained “hidden” until God called him forth into the light, to begin building up God his kingdom.

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Traditionally, the desert has been seen as a place of isolation, where there is nothing for miles and miles; nothing except you and God.

In fact, some of the very first Christians followed John’s example and moved out of major cities, into the desert alone; like John, they wanted to discern God’s will for their lives without all of the worldly distractions.

We might say these Christians wanted to understand WHY they were here in this world, and how they fit into God’s master plan.

But we all need that – we all need a type of “desert experience,” days or moments when we pray to God alone, asking him to reveal the meaning of our lives and how we fit into his plans.

What, then, is the meaning of my life? Have I found it?

Why am I here?

How am I building up God’s kingdom?

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In my own case, I do that as a parish priest. Thirty-three years ago, while the Lord was knitting me together in my mother’s womb, he was also planting the seed of a calling – a call to love and serve his people.

I’m so glad that call was first spent here, ministering to so many of you.

And in many ways, you’ve equally ministered to me. You’ve washed my feet with your kindness, covered me in prayer, and welcomed me into your homes.

I pray you will be able to do the same for Father Marco as he begins his priestly ministry here next week.

Together, may you continue to build up God’s kingdom, knowing that this young priest still loves you and prays for you.

May God bless you all in the days and years ahead. Amen.

If you only had one week to live, what would you do?

And how would you want to be remembered?

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These are questions that Jesus himself had to wrestle with. He knew his death was coming. But instead of fleeing in fear or changing course, he embraced it head on, making the appropriate preparations.

He spent the final week of his life specifically teaching his disciples to remember him as one who had the power to perform miracles.

On his way to Jerusalem, for example, Jesus hears about the death of his friend, Lazarus, and so travels to the cave where he’s buried.

But instead of going inside, praying over him, or touching him in any way, Jesus simply stands at the entrance of the tomb, commanding him, “Lazarus, come out!” (John 11:43).

Suddenly, the darkness breaks…

A figure wrapped in white bandages wiggles his way to the entrance of the tomb. It’s Lazarus… And he’s alive!

Jesus intentionally performs this miracle a week before his death to remind his disciples that he has the power to do what he says. 

When he speaks… it happens.

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Today we celebrate the feast of Corpus Christi, the truth that Jesus offers his Body and Blood to us under the appearance of bread and wine.

As the Gospel tells us, he took bread and wine and said to them, “This is my body… this is my blood.” (Mark 14:22-24). They ate it and drank it.

Though the disciples must have thought this was strange at the time, they took Jesus at his word. Remember Lazarus. Jesus spoke… it happened.

Still, how many of us are wondering, is it really Jesus?

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Consider it this way. Most, if not all of us, have been to Dunkin’ Donuts. You know the smell. The air is almost damp, soaked in the smell of fresh coffee brewing and bacon searing on the griddle.

And then there’s the donuts.

We’ve all been tempted to order a dozen Boston Creme’s and scarf them down like nobody’s watching.

But if we do, there will be consequences. Those donuts don’t simply disappear; something of them remains in us. The scale tells us so!

In a similar way, there are consequences to consuming the Eucharist. Something of Jesus remains in us, much like a Boston Creme donut.

The only difference is, we don’t gain weight from consuming his Body and Blood… we gain eternal life. As Jesus tells us clearly, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life.” (John 6:54).

And so for 100,000 Sundays, that last miracle of Jesus has been repeated through the hands of a priest.

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So if you had only one week to live, what would you do?

I’d simply ask for the Eucharist.

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“Donut” doubt the resurrection, my friends. “Donut” doubt.

It happened to Jesus… and it will happen to us. The Eucharist is the source of that promise. Thanks be to God!

This is the only encounter in the Gospels between two women… and they’re both carrying secrets.

Both Mary and Elizabeth are holding onto the most intimate secret a woman can physically experience – being pregnant. And why either of them is pregnant is strange, almost unbelievable.

Mary conceived by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit and Elizabeth in her old age.

So instead of celebrating, throwing huge baby showers surrounded by their family and friends, they must celebrate together… quietly, unnoticed by the outside world.

They might not have much … but they have one another. And that’s what counts in the end. In fact, we see just how strong and nourishing their relationship was, as Mary stays with Elizabeth for three full months.

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This encounter between them reminds all of us just how much we need other people – we need friends who bring out the best in us, who encourage us, who nourish our hearts with love, who affirm us in our faith.

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How am I a friend for others? How do I nourish other people with love, much like Elizabeth did for Mary?

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Remember, doing so always comes at a cost.

Elizabeth let Mary stay with her for as long as she needed. She offered Mary the comfort of her home, her food, and above all, her heart.

And that’s what we must all do as Christians – love and support one another as friends, no matter what the cost may be.