Sister Deborah Troillett, RSM, 50th Anniversary Mass

Published: September 24, 2024

Bishop Anthony B. Taylor preached the following homily at Mount St. Mary Academy in Little Rock on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. It is based on the following readings: Lamentations 3:22-24, Colossians 3:12-17 and John 15;1-12.

Bishop Taylor

In today’s Gospel Jesus tells his disciples that just like branches on the vine, we must remain closely united to him in order to bear fruit, just as he is closely united to his heavenly Father.

And so he invites us to become one with him, saying “Remain in my love!” Contained in those four little words is a “hidden” treasure that anyone who has spent 50 years in religious life can appreciate. I say that these words are a treasure because “remaining” in his love means we are already there, “in his love.”

In fact, we have always been “in his love” from all eternity, even before we were born. Even before we began to discern a call to religious life. Even the worst sinner in the world is still loved by God.

Mother Teresa put it this way: “When we look at the cross, what do we see? We see Jesus’ head bent down to kiss us. Look at his pierced hands, they are saying to us, “I love you. We see his arms stretched out on the cross, as if to embrace us. We see his heart opened wide to receive us.”

In today’s Gospel which Sister Deborah chose for this Mass, Jesus describes how much he loves us by telling us that no one has a greater love than this — to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. And that’s the same type of love Jesus is asking of us when he says, “Remain in my love.” Have a love that doesn’t count the cost. A love that is sacrificial and unconditional — a love that includes everyone, even the most challenging student entrusted to your care.

Is such a love possible for us humans? Jesus says to love each other as he loves each of us. So he apparently thinks this is possible — maybe difficult — but still possible, and he shows us the way. Remember those four little words, where Jesus told us to remain in his love? Those words are the “hidden” treasure I was talking about, the key to loving others as Jesus did. Remaining in Jesus' love means to see others as Jesus sees them. That’s the difficult part of love.

In a few minutes Sister Deborah will come forward to renew her vows in union with the other Sisters of Mercy who are present at this Mass. Together they will commit themselves once again to a life of sacrificial love in union with Jesus: celibate chastity, evangelical poverty, obedience, a life of service through works of mercy, a life as intimately united to Jesus as the branches on the vine we heard about in today’s Gospel.

A life characterized by the virtues listed in our second reading from Colossians: heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. They are virtues which Sister Deborah has developed over 50 years as a teacher, campus minister, principal and president, much of which at the two Mount St. Marys in Oklahoma City during my time right across the street from her and of course here in Little Rock.

By the way, I was quite surprised that Sister Deborah chose for her first reading a passage from the Book of Lamentations. I thought, Lamentations? Is there a secret message there? But when I looked at the passage, I saw that it was perfect for a Sister of Mercy: “The Lord’s acts of mercy are not exhausted, his compassion is not spent; they are renewed each morning — great is your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, I tell myself, therefore I will hope in him.”

So, I would like to leave you with this thought: Some of the words that you and I pray several times every single day are the words: “Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” We pray these words in every Mass, six times in every rosary, during morning prayer and evening prayer, and countless other times as well: “Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

And to what extent is God’s will done in heaven? Completely, right? And the heart of God’s will is love. So, we are praying that God’s will, God’s love, be manifest completely on earth as well, and that is especially the mission of a Sister of Mercy. Sister Deborah, you have journeyed with the Lord for over 50 years of religious life. May all your future years be as fruitful as your first 50 — united to the vine and remaining in God’s love.