Tuesday of the Octave of Easter
(Acts 2:36-41; John 20:11-18)
Magdi Allam, an Egyptian-born, Italian journalist, was
baptized by Pope Benedict in the Easter Vigil service five years ago. Recently he announced that he is leaving
Catholicism. Unfortunately, a
significant percentage of Catholics who enter the Church through the RICA similarly
exit. This reality suggests the need of a
strong culture of faith to support perseverance. It also indicates how in the reading from
Acts today the apostles enjoy such phenomenal success in preaching to Jews but eventually
fail in converting the nation.
According to John’s gospel even Jesus has many followers who
eventually leave him (see John 6:60). People
leave for different reasons as the parable of the sower in the synoptic gospels
accounts: some because they do not understand what faith means, others because
they are seduced by worldly concerns, and still others because they do not
nourish their faith with prayer. Faith
in Jesus is appealing to all because it promises eternal life, but it requires
attention and devotion on the part of adherents.
Perhaps we should leave these concerns aside for
now. After all, Easter is the time to
rejoice for the blessing of knowing that our lives have eternal destinies when
we link them to Jesus.’ His graces
abound in the Church community as well as, in northern climes at least, in
nature at this time of year.
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