Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Wednesday within the Octave of Easter

(Acts 3:1-10; Lucas 24:13-35)

Twenty-five years ago Christians everywhere marveled at the parable, “Footprints in the Sand.”  The tale tells of a dream which a person has about her life.  It says that the dreamer sees two sets of footprints along most of her life’s trajectory.  She surmises that one set is hers and the other belongs to the Lord whom she has always held as a friend.  At a point of crisis, however, she sees only one set of footprints and worries that the Lord abandoned her in need.  When she asks him why, she learns that he had not abandoned her but had carried her through the trial.  Today’s gospel provides the model for that famous parable.

Two travelers from Jerusalem are bereft with the death and rumored resurrection of Jesus.  Along the road they meet a stranger who elucidates all that is troubling them.  His explanation of the Scriptures makes their hearts burn with love of God.  In a meal at the day’s end they recognize their interlocutor as none other than their risen Lord.

The gospel story helps us appreciate the presence of Christ in both word and sacrament at mass.  We may also understand it as indicating that he accompanies us along the journey of life.  As youth, we find him teaching us to play fairly and to work hard to succeed. In middle age, we meet Jesus forgiving our excesses and strengthening us to carry out his Father’s will.  At life’s end we recognize him as the thread that has held our life together and the hope of an ever more abundant life to come.

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Tuesday within the Octave of Easter

(Acts 2:36-41; John 20:11-18)

The man underwent a horrific experience.  He was exercising on his bicycle when he was hit by a small truck.  He was left for dead but fortunately his head was not injured.  He was treated for weeks in the hospital and then spent months in rehabilitation.  He is still recuperating his strength but does not feel bitter about what had happened.  He says that throughout the painful experience, he felt a closeness to Christ never before known.  The surprise of being so near to the living Christ is similar to what Mary Magdalene experiences in today’s gospel.

Mary was one of Jesus’ closest friends.  She remained with him throughout his crucifixion on Friday.  She also discovered his empty tomb on Sunday morning.  Now she returns to the burial area hoping to find the dead body of her beloved Lord.  She hears someone calling her by name.  She turns to sees him standing there.  There is no dead body to weep over but a live one to adore. 

We too will meet the risen Christ when we assume Mary’s faithfulness.  We will find him as our strength in our darkest moments.  We may even hear his voice calling us by name.  “Carmelo,” he may say, “do not worry so much.  I will help you.”

Monday, March 28, 2016

Monday within the Octave of Easter

(Acts 2:14.22-33; Matthew 28:8-15)

In today’s gospel the Jewish authorities instruct the soldiers to lie about what had taken place the day of Jesus’ resurrection.  Moreover, it indicates that all the Jews believed the fabrication.  Scholars do not doubt that this report exaggerates the cover-up.  It is part of the often vindictive debate that was taking place between Christians and Jews when the gospel was being written.

Matthew begins his gospel with the story of how King Herod the Great tried to squash the coming of Christ to the world.  The king, frustrated by the Magi’s not returning to Jerusalem, orders all infant boys of the region killed.  Now at the end of the gospel the Jewish leaders try to stop news of the resurrection from spreading to the people.  God will frustrate them as well with Jesus’ appearances to the apostles and their proclamation to the world.

We live in a time of similar religious rivalry.  Muslims on one side and Christians and Jews on the other are wary of one another.  As Pope Francis demonstrated when he washed the feet of three Muslims on Holy Thursday, we must not allow this antipathy to spread.  We should never attribute to all Muslims the evil perpetrated by Muslim extremists.   We need to promote positive relations with Muslims because we are followers of Christ who died to show God’s love for all.

Friday, March 25, 2016

Good Friday: Celebration of the Lord’s Passion

(Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Hebrews 4:14-16.5:7-9; John 18:1-19:42)

In 1804 Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led a select group of men across the western half of the American continent.  They explored for the United States government the territory newly purchased from France.  They also established relations with the indigenous peoples of the Northwest.  And they contributed to scientific knowledge by obtaining specimens of the flora and fauna of the vast region.  The Lewis and Clark Expedition, as it has since been called, was one of the most successful missions in American history.  The Passion according to John, which we read every Good Friday, completes the story of an even greater mission.

Hanging on the cross, Jesus’ final words are, “It is finished.”  He is referring to the mission on which his Father sent him.  He brought light to a world of darkness by revealing the depth of God’s love.  His teaching enlightened the peoples’ minds.  His cures reinforced their fledging faith.  In the end he allowed himself to be slaughtered as a sacrifice for their sins.  His mission reestablished the cosmic order that was so disoriented by human pride and covetousness.

Today we can only marvel at God’s love. Tomorrow we will go forth to imitate that love in every aspect of our lives.  But today we cry in repentance, utter prayers of thankfulness, and pledge ourselves unreservedly.  God has set us free.  We owe Him everything we have and are.

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Holy Thursday – Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper

(Exodus 12:1-8.11-14; I Corinthians 15:23-26; John 13:1-15)

At a Jewish Passover meal the youngest at table asks, “Why is tonight different from all other nights?”  We might propose a similar question for our Eucharist this evening. How is this mass different from other masses?  The answer is that in this mass we give particular importance to remembering. 

The word remember literally means to put the component parts or members back together.  When we remember, we recreate a past event in our minds so that its significance may be present to us now.  This evening we remember three events found in Scripture readings.  First, we recall God’s liberating the Israelites from their exile in Egypt.  Second, we reestablish Jesus’ initiation of the Eucharist at the Paschal Supper the night before he died.  And finally, we bring to mind Jesus’ astonishing humility when he washes his disciples’ feet.

The story of Israel’s liberation tells us that God acts to relieve those suffering injustice.  God cares about other peoples as well as those who explicitly follow His Son.  In the commemoration of the Lord’s Supper we are reminded that the Eucharist is both a banquet and a sacrifice.  It should be performed to uplift the body and the soul.  Beautiful music and strong signs will enhance the former dimension.  The final instance of remembrance moves us from ritual to daily practice. Jesus shows us how we are to follow him to eternal life by loving service to others.