Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Wednesday of the First Week of Easter

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

Today’s gospel is different from other accounts of Christ appearances after his resurrection.  Its length and its motion distinguish it from his appearances near his tomb, in the locked room, and even by the seashore.  Perhaps it is because of these differences that it has become the favorite appearance account among Christians.

In many ways the narrative resembles the Christian experience of the Eucharist.  It takes place on the first day of the week.  Jesus is present but cannot be seen by the travelers.  The Old Testament is explained in homiletic fashion.  Most of all, it ends with a blessing of bread and recognition of Christ’s physical presence.

Once in a while during Sunday mass we feel like the disciples on the road to Emmaus.  “Our hearts burn(ing) within us” perhaps because the homily is especially insightful or a hymn resonates with our lives.  Or maybe it is the presence of other people who have been nurtured by faith to a particular greatness.  In any case, we find in this gospel passage valuable instruction.  It teaches us how to experience the risen Lord every time we gather for Mass.

Tuesday, April 23, 2019

Tuesday of Easter Week

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

When I am with children whose names I do not know, I will call them “son” or “sweetheart.”  On a couple occasions boys have responded, “I’m not your son.  Why do you call me that?”  I am not sure whether they are confused, defiant, or just playing with me.  In any case Jesus in today’s gospel is ready to make his disciples sons of his Father. 

Jesus meets Mary at the tomb.  He may want to console her, but he definitely will give her a mission.  But first he tells her not to cling to him because he is about to ascend to heaven.  There his humanity will be glorified so that he might impart the Holy Spirit on whomever he pleases.  The Spirit makes those who receive it daughters and sons of the Father.  As Jesus indicates in the passage, his disciples then become his brothers and sisters. Mary is to let the other disciples know of this wondrous eventuality.

Do all humans have God as their “Father”?  Certainly John the Evangelist does not think so.  For him that distinction is reserved for those who have been “born from above” (John 3:3).  For this reason we should hold a special affection for other Christians, especially those who partake of the same Eucharist.  Nevertheless, we are to love everyone.  John also says that “God so loved the world…”  Because we are God’s daughters and sons, we must love the world’s inhabitants as well.

Monday, April 22, 2019

Monday within the Octave of Easter

(Acts 2:24.22-23; Matthew 28:8-15)

One of the inmates at the federal prison came to the chapel every Sunday for mass.  He sat their quietly not calling attention to himself or giving his attention to anything but the Lord.  He apparently had lived a somewhat loose life.  His marriage ended, and then he had trouble with the law.  But he learned his lesson.  Repenting of his sins, he received a share of the Holy Spirit’s grace.  Now he was to be released.  He would live outside of prison with the same discipline that he was showing inside. 

The most dramatic blessing of Easter is the gift of the Holy Spirit.  It not only will bring the dead to life but renews the lives of the living.  The first reading today makes this clear.  Peter testifies that Jesus once raised from the dead pours forth the Holy Spirit upon his followers.  Indeed by means of this Spirit Peter is preaching fearlessly to the people of Jerusalem.

We also qualify as followers of Jesus.  He pours his Spirit upon us as well.  We too can go out and proclaim Jesus risen from the dead.  Because we may find cool reception to our words, we will probably show that Jesus has risen by gracious care for others. In any case, people will know that we have the Spirit because of our love for others.

Friday, April 19, 2019

Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion

(Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9; John 18:1-19:42)

In some places on Good Friday preachers give a long sermon on the Seven Last Words of Jesus.  Actually these are not single words but seven statements taken from the four gospels.  If the preachers’ remarks are perceptive, they show how the statements conform to each evangelist’s vision of Jesus.  In the Passion according to John, which we just read, Jesus’ last words portray him as the royal Son of God.

In John Jesus does not so much suffer on the cross as reign from it.  He indirectly told Pilate that he is a king; now he gathers all people to himself on Calvary as a king his subjects (John 12:32).  Close to him, as if it were his royal court, stand his mother and best loved disciple.  Also, a sign proclaiming him king in three languages is tacked to the cross.  No one mocks Jesus on the cross; rather, all listen to his royal decrees.

The first words Jesus utters present his mother to his disciple and his disciple to his mother.  The purpose of this exchange goes beyond a dutiful son providing for an aged parent.  Jesus is establishing his church with the two people who have shown the greatest faith in him.  Then Jesus says, “I thirst.”  The narrator has pointed out that he speaks these words to fulfill the Scripture.  References may be found to Jesus’ thirst in both Psalms 22 and 69.  More importantly, however, Jesus is showing kingly control over all that happens.  He thirsts because his Father ordained it.  Finally, Jesus pronounces his last words, “It is finished.”  He dies when he is ready and his work is done. No one or nothing has power over him. Jesus shows himself here as king not only of the Jews or of the world but of time and all creation as well. 

John’s consistent perspective of Jesus as king serves us well.  Some days things seem to fall apart.  We may be suffering great pain or feeling under pressure to do something very wrong.  We can look at Jesus reigning from the cross to find support.  Like him we know that worldly powers do not have control over us.  Because we stand with him, we have power to resist evil.  We know as well that we are destined to reign with him in glory.

Thursday, April 18, 2019

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 pose a similar question for our Eucharist this evening. How is this mass different from other masses?  A fitting answer would be that in this mass we emphasize the act of remembering. 

The word remember literally means to put component parts or members back together.  When we remember we recreate what existed in the past to make it present to us now.  This evening we remember three events found in the Scripture readings.  First, we recall God’s liberating the Israelites from their exile in Egypt.  Second, we reestablish Jesus’ initiation of the Eucharist on the night before he died.  Finally, we bring to mind Jesus’ astonishing demonstration of service as he washes his disciples’ feet.

Dogs can remember in a sense, and we regularly pay a compliment to computers by speaking of their memory.  We must distinguish human remembering from the trivial memories attributed to animals and machines.  When we remember, we assign to a past event a meaning that shapes our lives.  In remembering the liberation of the Israelites we think of our deliverance from sin.  The Father has sent the Son to die and rise so that our chain of selfishness may be broken.  Remembrance of the first Eucharist allows us to imagine the celestial banquet in which we hope to participate.  We believe that our following Jesus will bring us to full union with him and all the saints in eternity.  Our final instance of remembering shows us Jesus’ way.  Moved by the Holy Spirit, we render loving service to one another. Now we can look forward to glory.