Tuesday, April 26, 2022

 

Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter

 (Acts 4:32-37; John 3:7b-15)

 The idyllic scene described in today’s first reading makes some people despair.  “We could never have this kind of self-sacrifice in today’s world,” they say to themselves.  But the spirit of total sharing does not necessarily last long, even in the Acts of the Apostles.  The very next chapter narrates how a couple tried to deceive the community with their gift.

Today’s gospel suggests an explanation.  “The wind blows where it wills,” it says, “…but you do not know where it comes or where it goes.”  Like the wind, the Holy Spirit works in its own ways.  One cannot possess it so that it obeys one’s will.  Rather, it takes hold of the person who must strive to keep it.  Of course, it is worth the effort.

We become docile to the Holy Spirit when we keep away from people and things that can lead us awry.  One mother became alarmed that her daughter was starting to behave crudely.  Noticing that her new friends were a negative influence, the mother demanded that she not go out with them.  The girl obeyed, found new friends, and grew up responsible and caring.

Moday, April 25, 2022

 

Feast of Saint Mark, evangelist

I Peter 5:5b-14; Mark 16:15-20)

Very few people will claim the Gospel of Mark as their favorite.  It lacks the beautiful parables of Luke, the structured teaching of Matthew, and the personal encounters of John.  Nevertheless, Scripture scholars tend to favor this gospel.  It was most probably the first written and therefore possibly has better historical accuracy.  More than that, it presents Jesus with a variety of emotions which underscore his humanness.

Today’s passage comes at the very end of the gospel.  Most biblical interpreters say that it was attached to the original story to include the tradition of Jesus’ appearances.  After scolding his apostles for not believing Mary Magdalene, he here sends them off to proclaim the gospel.  The commission is interesting.  Throughout Mark’s story, the apostles exhibit severe character flaws.  They don’t understand what Jesus teaches.  They vie for prominence.  Most pitifully, they run away as Jesus’ captors seize him in the garden. 

We can take some solace in Mark’s treatment of the apostles.  We may be as wanting as they are.  Yet Jesus also commissions us to proclaim the gospel.  We should not be afraid to tells others of our belief in Jesus’ promise of eternal life. As the passage declares, we will find signs accompanying our proclamation.  We may not want to pick up snakes, but perhaps we will experience other wonders.  We might learn a new language or see sick people’s health improving after we pray for them.

Sunday, April 24, 2022

 

SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER (DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY), April 24, 2022

(Acts 5:12-16; Revelation 1:9-11.12-13.17-19; John 20:19-31)

Every now and then a person comes to confession who wants to confess a past sin. She says that she had never confessed, although it could have been serious. Obviously, the person feels guilty for the sin buried in the recesses of his conscience. She just remembered it and wants to get rid of it so it doesn't disturb her more. The resurrection of Jesus provides us with the instrument to receive forgiveness for such a sin.

By saying “peace” in his appearance to the disciples, Jesus is not imparting an ordinary greeting. He said at the Last Supper that he gives a peace that the world cannot give. It is the peace that frees the person from all fear and fills the person with love for all. After showing them the wounds from the nails and the spear, he repeats “peace”. This second time indicates that the disciples receive a double portion peace to share with others. Then Jesus gives them the Holy Spirit to forgive sins.

Because of this peace of Christ, we can experience relief from guilt by confessing our sins to a priest. It is not necessary to sacrifice a calf as the Jews did or wonder if we are really forgiven. We just have to find a priest. This is a big part of Divine Mercy. We do not have to go about burdened by sins because God has sent us his Son. Jesus gave his life to take away the sin of the world. He also sent his disciples to reconcile individual Christians.

However, we know that relatively few are taking advantage of the Sacrament of Reconciliation today. Sixty years ago, there were lines outside every confessional for two hours every Saturday afternoon. Today you can usually count on the fingers of two hands all the penitents in an hour of confession. What happened and how can we remedy the situation?

Many do not come to be reconciled because they do not see themselves as sinners. They don't count lies, absence of Sunday mass, even, sometimes. fornication as sins. They are more concerned with offending other people's feelings than with breaking a commandment of God!

Others are hesitant to confess to a priest because they see priests as sinners as great as themselves. Unfortunately, some priests have lost the impulse to live as perfect as Christ. But this corruption does not diminish their authority to forgive other people's sins. Like Thomas in the gospel, we must recognize the presence of something supernatural in reconciliation. Jesus really has risen from the dead. He has really given priests the authority to remove the guilt of another.

One of the most prevalent symbols for Easter is the chick breaking the shell of the egg. It obviously represents Jesus coming out of the tomb. But we can attach another meaning. It can represent us breaking the hardness of our heads. Instead of burying sins in the recesses of our conscience, let us confess them regularly. In this way we show the impulse to live as perfect as Christ. In this way we show the impulse to live like Christ.

Friday, Apil 22, 2022

 Friday within the Octave of Easter

 (Acts 4:1-12; John 21:1-14)

 In every mass this week – actually from Monday to Sunday – the gospel tells of an appearance of the risen Jesus.  Although the accounts bear marks of editorial expansion, they assure readers of the resurrection as a fact of history.  The resurrection is a trans-historical event.  This means that it has never been duplicated in history.  But reliable witnesses testify that Jesus appeared to them in the flesh.  Their stories, especially when considered in total, explain the empty tomb.  Thus the stories go beyond circumstantial evidence for the resurrection.

 Today’s gospel appearance takes place on the Sea of Tiberius.  It may seem strange that Jesus’ disciples would return to their former occupations after seeing Jesus.  After all, he equipped them with the Holy Spirit to forgive sins.  Yet many people who have had profound religious experiences begin to question their beliefs.  Sometimes they become almost indifferent to what happened to them.  Jesus, true to his promise, does not abandon his disciples in their questioning.  Rather, he appears to them again and reissues the mandate to go forth and preach forgiveness.  This is expressed symbolically in today’s passage when he says, “’Cast your net over the right side…’”

 Many people dismiss the gospel accounts of the resurrection appearances.  They see them as fishing stories; that is, exaggerations of wonderful experiences.  These skeptics challenge us believers to explain the possibility of the stories’ ever taking place.  We should respond to the challenge in at least two ways.  First, we need to study the gospel accounts with the help of faithful commentators so that we may provide explanation of their plausibility.  Second, we want to testify to their veracity by living truly changed and holy lives.

 

Thursday, April 21, 2022

 Thursday in the Octave of Easter

(Acts 3:11-26; Luke 24:35-48)

“Ignorance of Scriptures is ignorance of Christ,” St. Jerome wrote.  Jesus verifies this bold statement in today’s gospel.

The disciples have returned from Emmaus to share what happened to them.  When they meet the eleven apostles, they are told that Peter has also seen the risen Lord.  Then Jesus appears among them.  He eats some food to show that his body has truly risen from the dead.  Then he explains how the Scriptures foretold all that happened to him.  He indicates as well that the Scriptures have given his disciples a role in his story.  The Scriptures say that repentance for the forgiveness of sins must be preached in Jesus’ name.

As Jesus’ disciples, we are to preach repentance in his name.  We may ask ourselves what repentance looks like today.  A popular prayer attributed to St. Francis provides a preliminary answer. Repentance is to seek not to be consoled but to console, not to be understood but to understand, not to be loved but to love.