Sunday, April 20, 2025

 First Sunday of Easter

(Acts 10:34a, 37-43; Col 3:1-4; Luke 24:1-12)

Today we celebrate the culmination of our faith. Christ has conquered death to reign in glory forever. With his victory, we too hope to overcome death. In the First Letter to the Corinthians, Saint Paul describes death as “the last enemy.” It is seen as “the last” in two senses. It is the only remaining opponent and the most potent. Before looking at the Mass readings, we should examine why death provides such a great challenge.

All things being equal, no one wants to die. It is true that some, because they are in pain, would prefer their lives to end. But we are made not only to exist but to flourish. The fact that we cannot remain forever in this world seems like an affront to us. We look for a way to avoid death. Some focus on living healthily by exercising and eating only the appropriate portions of recommended foods. If this regimen seems harsh, one can simply avoid the thought of death. Many today direct their relatives to organize "celebrations of life" instead of funerals when they die. Until then, they live eating and drinking like the Epicureans of ancient times.

Besides fearing the return to nonexistence, we Christians worry about death for another reason. We wonder about God's judgment of us upon our passing. Will He find us just? All of us have sinned, perhaps grievously. Will we spend eternity mourning our trespasses? The women who visit Jesus' tomb can help us overcome these anxieties.

The women have followed Jesus from Galilee. They have supported his ministry with both resources and presence. On Friday, they saw Jesus die on the cross. They also noticed the place where he was buried. At the moment, there was no time to embalm his body without transgressing the Sabbath law. But as soon as possible on the first day of the week, they come to the tomb with spices. There they find the unexpected. Not only has the stone that closed the tomb been removed, but also Jesus' body is missing. When the angel announces to them that Jesus has risen, the women believe. Their first impulse is to tell the eleven apostles the good news.

The women show us how to live as followers of Jesus Christ. Like them, we must abide by the moral law, even the precepts that do not suit us. More than this, we must render service with works of charity. As Mother Teresa said, the poor are Christ in disguise. We must also accept the resurrection of the Lord Jesus in faith. Although it may seem foolish to some, eyewitnesses gave their lives offering testimony to it. Finally, we must share our faith in Jesus with others. Living this way, we need not fear death or judgment afterward.

The first reading comes from a sermon by Saint Peter. It indicates the dynamic that brought about Jesus' resurrection. God anointed him with His Spirit to heal all those oppressed by the devil. When Jesus was crucified, God acted again. He sent the same Holy Spirit to raise him from the dead. This Spirit will resurrect all of us who follow Jesus Christ in faith and love.

To ensure that we do not stray from Jesus Christ, we have the advice of the second reading. It urges us not to cling to the things of the earth: pleasure, money, fame, and power. Rather, to seek the goods of heaven: love, joy, and peace. By acting in this way, we will manifest the glory of the risen Jesus.  In our present life and in eternity, we will manifest the glory of the resurrection.

Friday, April 18, 2025

 

Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion

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

At the beginning of John’s gospel, John the Baptist refers to Jesus as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”  The description sounded strange then.  It was a prophecy that is fulfilled in the Lord’s Passion.

Jesus died on the cross as the perfect sacrifice offered to the Father for the world’s sins.  It is no accident then that his death sentence comes at noon on Preparation Day of the Passover.  At that moment the lambs are being slaughtered in the Temple precincts for the forgiveness of the people’s sins.  Nor is it coincidental that he is offered a sponge soaked in wine on “a sprig of hyssop.” Hyssop could hardly support a soaked sponge.  But it was the reed used to splash the blood of the Passover lamb on the Hebrew doorposts that made them immune to the pestilence killing the first-born.  John the Evangelist is saying that Jesus’ Passion likewise saves the world from punishment for their sins.

Why then are we so reluctant to admit our sins?  Relatively few people come to confession more than two or three times a year.  Often they come more needing to share with someone about how they have been offended than how they responded to the offenses badly.  Many also overlook the command to keep holy the Lord’s Day.  Even sexual sins – pornography, masturbation, fornication, to say nothing of contraceptives – are sometimes ignored.  We forget that Jesus died on the cross precisely as a sin offering.  Our sins are not forgiven if we do not acknowledge and ask pardon for them.  It is the forgiveness of our sins that makes this Friday “Good.”

Thursday, April 17, 2025

 

Holy Thursday – Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper

(Exodus 12:1-8.11-14; I Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-11)

Washing another person’s feet is a very humble task.  In Jesus’ time it was not even required of Jewish slaves!  Jesus does it to impress upon his disciples the necessity of humbly serving one another.  A former high-ranking government official was admired for serving like Jesus.  When he became president of a high-tech company, Rear Admiral Bobby Inman announced that he would take his turn brewing coffee like the others in the office.

The first two readings this evening concern the origin of the Eucharist.  Exodus gives the roots of the sacrament in Israel’s Passover Supper.  First Corinthians describes the Eucharist’s establishment at Jesus’ final meal with his disciples.  John’s gospel supplies the meaning, the purpose, and the extension of that supper in the Church. 

The Eucharist signifies Jesus’ death on the cross to achieve the forgiveness of human sin.  Christians replicate it not only by celebrating it daily or, at least, weekly.  They also memorialize it by their own humble acts of service.

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

 Wednesday of Holy Week

(Isaiah 50:4-9a; Matthew 26:14-25)

The first reading today is one of the four “Servant Songs” of the Book of Isaiah.  It is unique in that the Servant here speaks for himself.  Just as Christ, the Servant comforts the weary and accepts the disdain of the world, including physical abuse.  Instead of evasion, he entreats his enemies to dialogue with him about their criticisms. Christ would have done the same with Judas.

Judas’ heart has grown bitter toward the Lord.  It has come to hate the one who loves everyone.  Rather than speak with Jesus about his problem, Judas seeks resolution by going to Jesus’ enemies.  He betrays his Lord by delivering him to his executioners!

Hopefully, we will never betray Jesus by giving up faith in him.  Nevertheless, we can act like Judas by not taking our difficulties with living justly and caringly to him in prayer.  He, the Suffering Servant, will comfort us.  He has given us the sacraments that we may experience physically his consolation.  As he is always faithful to us, let us be faithful to him.

Tuesday, April 15, 2025

Tuesday of Holy Week

(Isaiah 49:1-6; John 13:21-33.36-38)

The apocryphal “Gospel of Judas” says that Jesus instructed Judas to betray him.  It sees Judas not only as Jesus’ obedient disciple but the only one who truly understood his teaching.  Early on, the Church recognized this gospel as rubbish.  It seems to have been composed in the late second century when similarly strange ideas were circulating around the Mediterranean area.

The false gospel, however, does raise the question of whether Judas was ever a sincere disciple.  If not, then why did Jesus choose him?  John’s Gospel tells how Jesus all along recognized Judas’ evil nature (6:67-71).  Still, Judas might have shown some promise when Jesus selected him for his inner core of disciples.

We should be careful not to write off anyone as irredeemably good or bad.  All of us are capable of a deed as wicked as Judas’ betrayal.  Conversely, any of us may develop the courage to stand with Jesus at the cross like the beloved disciple.  Prayer to a good extent will determine what kind of acts we shall do and what kind of people we will become.  We want to ask God for a heart that marvels at His generosity to us and takes pity on those who suffer.