Like matter itself, we humans have limited capacities including our capacity to cope. We acknowledge as objectively as possible the reality in which we find ourselves and seek to face it courageously.
To the overwhelming numbers who have evacuated here during this crisis, I speak to you here in this cathedral and through all available means of communication on behalf of the local Church of Baton Rouge, and presumptively for the area and region:
We welcome you with open arms, and as far as we are able, with open homes, and definitively and completely with open hearts. It is our ardent desire to extend you full hospitality. We identify with and embrace you. We struggle with and ache with you. And frankly with you we tremble and shed tears. Literally and figuratively we operate in uncharted waters.
On the other hand, this is a graced opportunity. In the midst of this horrendous crisis, we look to God and God's Word.
Almost 1,950 years ago, St. Paul wrote to the Church of Rome. He needed this and other younger local churches to assist the Mother church in Jerusalem, whose resources were strapped. He so powerfully wrote: “I consider the sufferings of the present to nothing as compared to the glory to be revealed for us” (Rom 8:18).
Human suffering is inevitable and inescapable. Last Sunday's Gospel detailed Jesus's rejection of Peter's pledge to preserve Him from suffering. “Get behind Me, you Satan [Tempter]” (Mt 16:23) indicates how much Jesus Himself would have loved to be freed from suffering. Suffering can cleanse and purify, as well as demonstrate love for others. Jesus went on to say: “Whoever wishes to be My follower must deny himself, take us his cross and follow Me” (Mt 16:24). The purpose of enduring suffering is counter-intuitive. We are humanly inclined when we meet a cross to avoid it, deny it, to ignore it, to be distracted from it or to “anesthetize” it. Jesus teaches us and shows us that we are embrace the cross as our path, just as it was His path, to glory.
St. Paul writes: “If we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance” (Rom 8:25). Therefore we must hope with confidence for what will be our future, because God is with us.
1n 1718, Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville, founded a new city in Louisiana which he called New Orléans. Later he designated three first buildings there: the House of God (St. Louis Cathedral) he placed in the center, with the house of Government (the Cabildo) on one side and the house for the Priests (the Presbytère) on the other side. He had his priorities ordered. God was to be the given the prime and choice place. We too must put first things first.
We have experienced an unprecedented flow of wind and water in our region. But we have also experienced an unprecedented flow of human good will and outreach from near and far.
A word of praise and thanks goes out to all governmental, civic and public services personnel, our clergy, religious, seminarians and lay faithful, our diocesan and parish staffs and virtually unlimited volunteers. We appreciate all you have done and continue to do.
Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for one day they will laugh” (Mt 5:4). Lord, hasten that day.
Bishop Robert W. Muench of Baton Rouge preached this homily at a special Mass celebrated on Friday, September 2, 2005, at St. Joseph Cathedral in Baton Rouge. With Archbishop Alfred C. Hughes of New Orleans as principal celebrant, the Eucharist was offered to beg God's blessings upon those victimized by Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath.
