Homily

On a winter Sunday mass,
A new priest greets
The parishioners with a sunny smile.
He reminds everyone
That there's hope--
Even as war rages in Ukraine
Genocide unfolds in Gaza
Wildfires ravage LA
Homelessness spreads
Mass deportations rise
Government layoffs mount
While politicians play golf.

He asks the faithful:
"What happened ninety-five years ago?"
The Great Depression!
And a song emerged, lifting weary hearts...

Stepping down from the pulpit,
He moves to the piano.
His fingers dance a staccato across the keys,
Then, with a rockstar voice, he sings,
"On the Sunny Side of the Street."
The mood shifts.
Hush falls over the church,
Souls move, and spirits lift.
His powerful, upbeat voice
Wakes an old man from his dream,
Heads turned in awe,
The choir's eyes and ears glued on the priest--
Absorbs his powerful, soaring voice.

The song swells,
Washing over the congregation
Sweeping away despair
Filling the room with light
Like it did decades ago.

A crescendo of applause,
Cheers, laughter--
Bursting into the steeple
Echoing through the streets
Spreading joy beyond the church walls.

I, too, was filled with hope,
Invigorated amid a troubled world, and
It reminded me to keep moving forward--
To embrace the sunny side of life.