ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA

Praised be Jesus Christ now and forever!

I mentioned already at the beginning of Mass what a fine view it was from the Archbishop’s chair, but it is an even better view from here in the pulpit! I can see so many of you on this wonderful occasion of Scout Sunday gathered together in the name of Jesus to confirm our young people in their high ideals.

My dear brother Priests—Monsignor Wendrychowicz, Father Rogers, Father McFadden,
Dear Scouts, dear Scouters, dear Leaders who give so much of your time, energy and devotion
for our young people,
Dear Parents, Families and Friends,

It is a great joy to have you here as a part of this celebration. It is pleasing to see so many scouts and scouters, families and friends observing Scout Sunday here in this Cathedral Basilica at Jesus' Eucharistic Sacrifice. This celebration takes on added dimension since we celebrate, here in Philadelphia, our bicentennial as a diocese—the bicentennial of our local Church.

When Bishop Michael Egan arrived in Philadelphia in 1810 to serve as our first bishop—the coming of the Boy Scout movement to America was exactly a hundred years in the future. It was during the episcopate of Archbishop Patrick Ryan that Boy Scouting made its debut in our nation. During the tenure of Cardinal Dennis Dougherty, the first Ad Altare Dei medal was awarded in 1926. In 1934 the Bishops of the United States through the National Catholic Welfare Conference approved a " Plan of Cooperation" with the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America whereby Scouting recognized the Church's interest in the spiritual welfare of Catholic youth, and the Scouting program was recognized as an approved program for youth ministry in the Catholic Church.

I am certain that the scouts and scouters present know the story behind the bringing of the Boy Scout movement from England to the United States, but—for the few who may not—permit me to share with you the abridged version.

It happened many years ago on the foggy streets of London, in England when an American named William D. Boyce lost his way. A boy walked up and asked if he could be of assistance. Mr. Boyce explained where he wished to go. The boy led him to his destination, but when Mr. Boyce offered to give him some money, the boy said: "No, thank you, sir. I am a Scout. I won't take anything for helping."

Scouting came to America because a scout did a Good Turn. And as they say—the rest is history! My brothers and sisters, there is a clear theme running through today's readings and that is the theme of the poor and the needy. "I will leave in your midst a people humble and lowly"—the words from our first reading from the prophet Zephaniah. The Responsorial Psalm repeats: "Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs!" And, in our second reading we hear Saint Paul say: "God chose the foolish...the weak...the lowly and despised of the world in order to confound the wise and the strong." "Blessed are the poor in spirit"—this is so much of what the Gospel is about.

The Prophet Zephaniah, the Psalmist and Saint Paul remind us that while we may not be the most wise, or the most wealthy or the most powerful by human standards, we must still be ever ready to help those in need. We are called to help satisfy the hungers of all people and protect and defend the most vulnerable of our brothers and sisters. In Scouting terms, it means to be always prepared to do a Good Turn.

At this time, I wish to acknowledge and commend the many and various acts of service that you do, dear young people, individually and corporately in your parishes, schools, neighborhoods and in the community at large. During this bicentennial year, I invite you to a heightened level of volunteer service from this moment, especially to the Feast of St. Katharine Drexel on March 3rd. This period of time has been designated as a very special period of time for service in the whole Archdiocese. And how wonderful it is that the scouts and scouters can make their very important contribution. We must never tire of being attentive to the needs of our brothers and sisters. Once again our hearts and consciences are struck by the words of the Master: "Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40).

In the Gospel, Jesus pronounced blessed the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs." Material poverty of itself is no blessing nor does it give the materially poor a free pass to heaven. We are all called to be poor in spirit, that is, to realize that we all are have-nots before God. We all have our needs, our spiritual needs before God our Father. We have no righteousness of our own. In our second reading, Saint Paul points out that Jesus is our wisdom. He is also our righteousness, our redemption, our sanctification. We are totally dependent on Jesus; without Him we can do nothing!

There are many Good Turns, dear friends, but the Best Turn is to lead another person to Jesus, who alone can satisfy the hunger and thirst of the human heart.

The Church is so grateful to the scouting movement, because it is such a fine preparation for our young people. It helps them to be prepared for the great message of Jesus, for His final instructions to us on exactly how to live in so many circumstances. Today we hear Jesus say: "Blessed are the poor in spirit," and "Blessed are the merciful," and "Blessed are the peacemakers." All these instructions of Jesus are very important, teaching us how we are to live. And the whole movement of scouting is a good preparation, with solid ideals, that help prepare our young people to see and accept and further embrace all the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ.

A young scout did a Good Turn seeking no reward, no praise for the good deed he performed. And that's what it means to be a Scout. A disciple of Jesus, young or old, does the Best Turn
seeking no reward, no praise for the good he performs. And that's much of what it means to be a Christian!

All of us today are grateful for our young people. We are grateful that God has given them this opportunity to be filled with these fine principles and to pursue, as Catholics, a greater understanding of the teachings of the Master. They are called to give their very best in every way as scouts and Christians to help others, to uplift people in their needs and to lead so many of their brothers and sisters to our Lord Jesus Christ, who is our Savior and the Light of the world. Amen.