Of Looking Back... and Forward

 So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter.

2 Thessalonians 2:15

Permit me to be a bit candid and open about some of my thinking.

There have been a number of times when I have thought fondly of my time in Protestant Christianity.  I had many wonderful friends, and, of course, my dear family.  I was an ordained minister and preached the gospel regularly 3 times per week to my congregation.  “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ,” [Phil. 3:7].  I have said before that I did not need to abandon all I learned as a Protestant when I became Catholic.  My Catholic faith simply perfected what I had previously known.  Many elements emphasized among Protestants are part of Catholic Faith and Catholics would do well to take note and begin to emphasize them too; things such as genuine conversion to Christ, a love for Sacred Scripture, a reliance on the power of the Holy Spirit, boldly sharing the love of Christ with others, and a heart set on the holiness of heaven.  But when I am tempted to look back and wonder if the Protestants were right and I was wrong to become Catholic I remember what is written in the passage above.

St. Paul writes to the Thessalonians about our common salvation.  He reminds them that God chose them for salvation [v. 13], and called them to attain “the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ,” [v. 14].  But how do we do it?  How does such a transaction take place?  By holding to the traditions handed on by the apostles.

Before there was a written, collated, and circulated New Testament, the early Christians were taught by the tradition of the Apostles.  That tradition was taken from the teachings of our Lord Himself.  The Scripture itself asserts that not everything that Jesus did was written down [John 21:25], and we know that our Lord taught the Apostles during the 40 days between His resurrection and ascension [Acts 1:3].  What did He tell them?  We don’t know.  But we believe it is encapsulated in what we now call Apostolic Tradition, or simply, Tradition.

Contrary to popular thought, Jesus did not condemn tradition outright, nor did St. Paul.  Rather, it was the traditions of men that were condemned when they had the effect of leading people astray.  The divine tradition- passed on from Jesus to His Apostles, and from them to their successors- has always been highly exalted.  We must listen to, and obey, the Tradition that comes from the Apostles.  This is the same that is taught to this day by the Catholic Church.

Listen again to what St. Paul says: “Hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter.”  That which came “by word of mouth” is what we call Tradition, and that which came by letter is what we now know of as Sacred Scripture.  Both are necessary.  Tradition keeps us in line with what our Lord and the Apostles intended by what was written in Scripture.  Otherwise, everything becomes subject to each individual’s personal interpretation… which is exactly what we see in the many different denominations of Protestantism.  In contrast, St. Peter says, “… no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation,” [2 Pet. 1:20].

In fact, the Protestant doctrine that teaches that the Scripture is the sole authority is contradicted by the Scripture itself here in this passage.  Rather, the Scripture says that we must obey the traditions of the Apostles.

This, among many other things, reminds me that it was indeed the Spirit of our Lord who was leading me to abandon all I had in Protestantism to come to the fullness of Catholic faith.  Herein, I am able to draw closer to the Lord I love and know Him more intimately.  To this I invite all who read this entry.  Come, join me in this place where Christ may be most fully known and all that He taught is kept without any loss or any addition.

 

Pentecost Revisited

 

Pentecost Sunday

Acts 2:1-11; Psalm 104; 1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13; John 20:19-23

… The time for Pentecost was fulfilled…
Acts 2:1

We need another Pentecost!  I don’t mean a rigid re-enactment of the original.  That certainly won’t happen.  But what happened in time to inaugurate the Church must be repeated in the heart and soul of every believer in Jesus Christ.  We must be filled with the Spirit and it must thrust us forth to boldly bear witness to the death and resurrection of Christ.  We need another Pentecost, but I’m not sure we want one.

Pentecost revisited in our own souls and in our own times means the upsetting of everything that we would call “normal”.  The Spirit-filled soul has no taste or tolerance for the passing pleasures of this present world.  All such pastimes are replaced with an increasing, burning desire to be more with Him.  The Church cannot compete with the world when it comes to entertainment.  But the world can never satisfy the soul like the Spirit does.  The world needs amusement because it is sin sick and Spirit deprived.  Not so the soul who has discovered the power of a personal Pentecost! 

Pentecost revisited means purity.  God will not dwell in a messy house.  If we desire the manifest presence of God in our own souls then it’s time to clean house.  Sin must go.  And along with it, everything that leads us to sin.  Here we must be radical.  “If your eye offends you pluck it out.  If your hand offends you cut it off.”  These were no idle words of our Lord.  He certainly does not mean them literally, but their spiritual application must be equally as violent.  There can be no sparing here.  The moment you determine that all sin must go it will begin to appeal to your sentiment.  “Remember all the good times we had!”  Satan will not be easily plundered.  The process will likely be agonizing, but the reward is worth it. 

Pentecost revisited will turn the world around us upside-down.  It will likely mean the loss of friendships; perhaps even of family relations.  Like our Lord, we will find ourselves despised and rejected of men.  What a privilege!  Read the lives of the saints.  Such was routinely their experience.  But we read their biographies because they transformed their world rather than being conformed to it.

Pentecost revisited will mean persecutions.  “All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,” [2 Tim. 3:12].  So said St. Paul.  Why do we think he was either in error or we will be the exception?  If the world does not oppose us it is a certain sign it is because it views us as a friend rather than an enemy or a threat.  Remember the words of the demons confronted by the seven sons of Sceva?  “Jesus I know, and Paul I know…,” [Acts 19:15].  The Spirit-filled soul poses such a threat to the kingdom of darkness that he is on the Devil’s most wanted list. 

Pentecost revisited means power.  While all these things are true and it may not sound like something desirable, we must see the end the Lord has in mind.  Peter, freshly fired by the Holy Spirit boldly preaches only days after he was cowering in fear.  Three thousand souls were baptized as a result.  They were struck to the heart and cried out, “What shall we do?”  Thus, the power of Pentecost.  Later Peter and John, going to the Temple to pray, cure a man lame from birth.  To read the rest of the Acts of the Apostles is to be treated to a smorgasbord of the power of God: the sick are healed, the dead are recalled to life, and the demoniacs are delivered.  Can you for a moment imagine that there would be any “business as usual” after such demonstrations?

Pentecost revisited means sanctity and divine intimacy.  This is the goal.  This is the purpose for which we were created; to have the deepest intimacy with God; to be immersed in the communion of love shared by the Blessed Trinity. 

So ask yourself this day, “What’s holding me back?”  What will keep you from this treasure which has been promised by the Father, purchased by the Son, and pledged by the Holy Spirit?  This is your birthright dear Christian.  Will you be robbed like Esau was robbed by scheming Jacob?

The key to experiencing our own personal Pentecost is twofold.  First, we must divorce ourselves from love of this world.  Then we must reach out to God with the deepest faith and love.  God, who is infinitely loving and merciful yearns for all His children to enter into this blessed experience.  Pentecost is not intended to be a historical memorial, but rather a perpetual reality.

We read today that the time for Pentecost was fulfilled.  There’s no more waiting.  God is most pleased to give us this same fullness of the Holy Spirit.  The way forward for us is the same as it was for them- through protracted prayer.  That is, to pray until we know that it has happened.  When we see that our life is being transformed and a “new normal” dawns, then we know we are indeed experiencing our own Pentecost.

Those first disciples waited ten days.  From the time of our Lord’s Ascension when they were instructed to wait in Jerusalem they waited.  They didn’t know for how long they would wait.  But they were faithful and stayed the course.  How long will it be until we enter upon our own Pentecost?  We don’t know.  But we can be sure the Lord will not be short on His promise.  If we wait upon Him in prayer we will certainly be endued with power. 

We need another Pentecost.  But do we want one?  The time is now.  The Church and the world are waiting.  Open your heart and let Pentecost be fulfilled in you today!

Glory!

 

Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord

Year B

Acts 1:1-11; Psalm 47:2-3, 6-9; Ephesians 1:17-23; Mark 16:15-20

May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in accord with the exercise of his great might, which he worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens, far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come.
Ephesians 1:18-21

One of my pet peeves is when people refer to the last book of the Bible as “Revelations”.  It isn’t.  It isn’t plural; it’s singular.  It’s Revelation.  More specifically, it is The Revelation of Jesus Christ.  Its title is given in the very first sentence.  The book isn’t focused, as many presume, on a series of visions that point to the end of the world.  Rather, it is a singular vision focused on our Lord Jesus Christ in His triumphant glory.

That’s what today’s feast is all about- Jesus in His triumphant glory.  And it’s a shame that this day doesn’t get more attention than it does.  Rather, it is relegated to almost an afterthought.  Perhaps this is because it is missing from some of the Gospel accounts, and even when it is mentioned it is only in passing.  Today’s selection from Mark almost seems to go by it as it says, “So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven.”  Ah, but don’t miss the rest as it concludes, “… and took his seat at the right hand of God.”

The Ascension is not merely a way to get Jesus off the stage in order to continue with the story.  It is the story!  Jesus didn’t rise from the dead only to die at a later time.  He rose victorious and triumphant and then ascended into heaven where He could take His rightful place at the right hand of the Father, there to await the Day of His return in power and glory to judge the living and the dead and to establish His kingdom forever.

In the Acts of the Apostles we get a glimpse into the greatness of this event when we read, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky?  This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.”  Were they looking with longing because Jesus was taken from them?  Or were they looking in awe?  Perhaps both, but certainly the latter.

In St. Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians we have our text.  Paul seems to lose himself in his own writing as he is reflecting on the great mystery of our Lord’s Ascension into glory.  He is far above all other power, both now and forever.  Jesus has the name above every other name and it is His name we magnify. 

Picture a triumphant king returning to his own land after conquering his enemies and arriving amidst a great retinue with the trophies of his triumph.  That is what we are observing.  We’re only seeing it from this side.  But heaven must have seen it the other way.  Here was our Lord returning to His heavenly home to take His rightful place which He had occupied from eternity past.  Only now He comes with souls in tow.  These are the souls rescued by Him from death.  From now on, the heavenly portal remains open to those who put their trust in Him!

Our Lord’s work of salvation is completed.  Now He may sit down and reign until every last enemy is put under His feet. 

Does it seem as if the Lord is reigning?  Has He been reigning over the last year while the world was turned upside down by the pandemic?  Is He reigning now while we, once again, watch the bloody conflict arising in the Middle East?  Has He been reigning while our streets and our nation have been torn apart by racial and political strife?  Does He reign in the midst of poverty, crime, illness, tragedy, and death?  The answer to all these questions is a resounding YES!  But it doesn’t seem that way.  Only those with eyes of faith and hearts of love can see it.

How do we respond to today’s feast?  First, with glorious praise and adoration of our King!  Second, with humble submission to His divine authority.  Third, with joyful proclamation of His victory.  And finally, with eager anticipation of His return in glory.

For those who regularly pray the rosary you will remember that the Second Glorious Mystery is The Ascension and that the virtue we recall is hope.  Hope for what?  Hope for eternal glory!  We look up, just like those first apostles, to recall that our Lord who ascended in glory will return in the same with power.  Our Lord has gone to His heavenly kingdom to prepare a place for us.  Then let us live like those who are heirs to such a kingdom!

Amidst the alarming headlines of the current day it can be easy to lose sight of what this day means.  Don’t let it happen.  As surely as we celebrated Easter joy, let us celebrate Ascension glory.  Our Lord reigns- now and forever!  Now He reigns in the hearts of those who are His.  But someday He will return- just like He left- to reign victorious over the nations.  Oh, what a day that will be!  I want to be part of that celebration.  Don’t you?

Perfecting Sacramental Grace

 

Sixth Sunday of Easter

Year B

Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48; Psalm 98:1-4; 1 John 4:7-10; John 15:9-17

“Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit even as we have?”
Acts 10:47

Tis the season!  No, not Christmas; First Communion!  We see the little girls in the pretty white dresses and veils and the little boys in their suits.  It’s a big deal.  This is a very special occasion.  Why?  Why do we make such a fuss about it?  The majority of those who identify as Catholics do not regularly attend Mass.  Yet, they are careful to be sure their children receive their sacraments.  I’m glad they feel that way.  But there’s a terrible inconsistency in celebrating something that they show by their own example is not very important to them. 

This same attitude carries over with other sacraments.  “Oh, we must have the child baptized; at least for grandma’s sake!”  “Of course, we want our children to receive Confirmation!”  But, again, I ask, “Why?”  Why do we make such a fuss over something that we ourselves are not practicing?  Why do we think it’s so important for the children when we don’t believe it’s important for us?

Now, I realize that are a great many people who are taking this seriously.  They are practicing the Faith and it is for that very reason that it’s so important to them for their children to do the same.  Thank God for every one who lives it out this way.  But they are, unfortunately, in the vast minority.

I propose that for the majority they have adopted a somewhat superstitious, almost pagan view of the sacraments.  They believe that merely to receive them is to place God in the position of being obligated to grant them access to heaven.  This is certainly not the case.  And that is what we are in need of remembering.

Let’s take a look at our first reading from the Acts of the Apostles.  There, we hear the story of St. Peter being the first to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles.  This was huge!  First of all, we find from a few references in Scripture that Peter held a strong and fierce prejudice against Gentiles.  So for Peter to be convinced to go to a Gentile home and offer Baptism really took some doing.

It started with a series of visions in which Peter saw a great sheet lowered from heaven with all manner of unclean animals in it.  A voice from heaven commanded Peter to kill and eat the animals.  Peter refused as he had never done such a thing for these were unclean animals.  But the voice returned, “What God has cleansed you must not call common,” [Acts 10:15].  This happened three times.  Then immediately, three men were at the door asking for Peter.  They wanted him to come to a Gentile home where their master, Cornelius, a Roman centurion, wanted to know more about the Faith.  Peter could see the hand of God in it so he went. 

When he arrived he began to preach to them about Jesus.  Cornelius had called some of his friends and family members to join them.  When they heard Peter preach about Jesus they began to speak in other tongues.

Peter immediately recognized that this was the same phenomena that accompanied the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.  If the Holy Spirit had filled these people then they must have believed in Jesus and that means they needed to be baptized.  And so they were. 

Peter couldn’t have been convinced merely by a good argument, or even a dramatic display of emotion.  Peter saw the real deal and knew it was God at work.

We often use the same terminology but we do not always have the same experience.

We speak of Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and regeneration in Christ.  We speak of Confirmation in which we receive the Holy Spirit in power.  Sacramentally, these things are indeed happening when they are given.  But then what?

Without a firm intention to put into practice the grace we have received we are in danger of losing it; or at least losing its benefit.

God intends that we work out the grace He pours in when we receive the sacraments.  To merely receive a sacrament and experience no change; and worse, return to “normal living” as if nothing had occurred is to sin away the grace almost as soon as we have received it. 

Someone may have a natural gift for playing the piano.  But that alone won’t make him a concert pianist.  He must learn many skills and devote himself to many hours of practice.  Even after he attains concert pianist level he must continue to practice, perhaps even more than he ever did before.

This is how it works in the spiritual life.  God gives us grace in the sacraments.  But then we must practice.  We must learn how to work out this grace.  It needs to permeate our every thought and be expressed in our every word and action.  Even priests or religious are in need of this, perhaps in some cases even more so.

Baptism gives us new life in Christ.  Christ Himself stated that He came to give us “abundant life” [John 10:10].  Are we living life to the full?  Are we filled with the love, joy, and peace of Christ?  This, and so very much more, are what the Sacrament of Baptism brings us.

Confirmation brings us into the Spirit-filled life; a life of love, and power, and deep intimacy with God.  We are empowered to bear courageous witness for Christ.  Are we doing it?  Are we really living that way?

The Holy Eucharist is the very Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.  We receive Him into ourselves.  There’s no more intimate experience.  Our sins are forgiven and we are given the grace to live as Jesus.  In this way we bring Christ into the world.  How are we doing that? 

In each case there is the reception of the sacrament and the grace that is received.  Our lives are changed in the moment.  But as wonderful as that is, it cannot remain there.  We must put into practice the wonderful grace received in those sacraments. 

Today, take some time to reflect on the sacraments you have received.  You may not remember your Baptism, but you were made a child of God there.  Think about your First Holy Communion and your Confirmation.  Think about each time you receive the Lord in the Holy Eucharist, or receive forgiveness in Reconciliation.  Then thank God for His boundless love and mercy in bringing you into this life of Grace.  And finally, determine that with God’s help you will live this out to the glory of God and the service of all others around you!

Two Essentials

 

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Year B

Acts 9:26-31; Psalm 22; 1 John 3:18-24; John 15:1-8

The church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was at peace.  It was being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord, and with the consolation of the Holy Spirit it grew in numbers.
Acts 9:31

“The fear of the Lord, and… the consolation of the Holy Spirit.”  This is the perfect combination for Christian living and making progress in the spiritual life.  As we can see from St. Luke’s inspired commentary, it was a winning combination then as well: “The church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria… grew in numbers.”  Why is it so?  What is meant by these two terms?

The fear of the Lord stands in, not for being afraid of God, or terrorized by God, but rather, to have a deep and abiding reverence for God.  Also implied here is obedience to God’s word.  The fear of the Lord means that the early disciples knew God, loved God, and so desired to offer obedient service to Him.  Very much in view is the notion that all of these things were taught and embodied in our Lord Jesus Christ.

The consolation, or comfort, of the Holy Spirit is the means by which we are reminded that we are the dear children of God and that His love is ever being poured out upon us and into our hearts.  This is how the Holy Spirit is described in St. John’s Gospel when our Lord refers to Him as the Comforter who is to come [John 14:16, 26].  This is His role.  St. Paul teaches us that the Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are God’s children [Romans 8:15, 16].

We need both elements.  Without the fear of the Lord we grow lax and presume on God’s grace.  We exhibit a familiarity with Him that is inappropriate and harmful.  On the other hand, without the consolation of the Holy Spirit we become fixated on rules, forget our roles as sons and daughters, and never progress to the intimacy with God that He intends.  So how do we maintain the proper balance?

Our times of prayer should be rooted in the Sacred Scriptures and the Tradition of the Church.  These will continue to reveal God as He is, and not as we are prone to make Him out to be.  We will encounter a God of love, but also of justice and holiness.  We will be led to see our sins for what they are and to confess them with a firm purpose of amendment.  We will learn to rely on His mercy for forgiveness, and His grace to enable us to live the holy lives to which we are called.  We should often call to mind the greatness of God and allow ourselves to be drawn into the deepest adoration of God because He is worthy of all our praise.

Equally, we should reflect on our position as the adopted sons and daughters of the great King.  Our Papa loves us and longs for us to come to Him willingly, joyfully, trustingly, and lovingly.  The Holy Spirit was given to us, first in Baptism, and more powerfully in Confirmation, that we might know the depths of this intimacy with God. 

As long as we maintain these aspects in balance we can expect to make good progress.  But if we err on one side or the other we can expect difficulties.  If you are experiencing dryness or inconsistencies in your walk with the Lord, check to be sure both of these elements are intact and in balance.

If we continue in this way we can expect the blessing we see in evidence in the Acts of the Apostles today.  We can expect spiritual growth and progress in our own life and fruitfulness as we share these things with others.

So then, let us be careful, this day and every day, to walk in the fear of the Lord and in the consolation of the Holy Spirit.  May God add His grace and blessing as we do so and may we have the joy of seeing the church multiplied!

Of True and False Shepherds

 

Fourth Sunday of Easter

Acts 4:8-12; Psalm 118; 1 John 3:1-2; John 10:11-18

A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them.  This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep.
John 10:12, 13

“It is not pastoral to confirm someone in mortal sin!”  So said then Fr. John Corapi.  Leaving aside the controversy that sprang up around him, the quote still rings true.  It captures in a soundbite what our Lord is teaching us today in the Gospel.

Today we celebrate “Good Shepherd Sunday”, named for our Gospel reading.  This theme is always taken on the Fourth Sunday of Easter.  To say our Lord Jesus is the Good Shepherd is to say many things.  It means that He lovingly watches over us and guides us as a shepherd does with his sheep.  It also means He provides for us and protects us.  It’s this latter part I want to focus on today.

When a true shepherd saw a wolf, a lion, a bear, or marauders coming to steal or kill the sheep the good shepherd would risk his life to do battle and drive away the threat.  As our Lord points out to us today, the false shepherd does the opposite.  He runs when he sees the threat because he is a mere hireling.  He has not taken the sheep to heart.  They are a mere means of his income.  Or, to put it another way, he is only interested in what the sheep can do for him, not what he must do for the sheep.

In our day we are desperately in need of good shepherds, be they parents, teachers, priests, bishops, or theologians.  However, too often we find that the shepherds are not interested in truly caring for the sheep.  They are more interested in their own reputation, their careers, or gain, be it financial, political, or positional.

There are great moral controversies assailing the faithful of our day.  We are in need of our leaders to issue clear, concise, and concrete statements to safely guide us through the moral morass we so often face.  The Catholic Church has repeatedly addressed these issues and her teaching is incapable of changing since it is the truth.  Truth is not up for vote.  It doesn’t waver at the latest release of opinion polls.  It is not molded by time and circumstance.  While it may be applied variously in different contexts and it may be developed into deeper understanding, it cannot possibly become the opposite of what it always has been.  Such moral truths include the following:

- That sexual relations are only blessed by God within a monogamous marriage between a man and a woman.  Everything outside of this is grave sin and becomes mortal to the soul of the individual when they enter into it with full knowledge and willful consent.

- That said married couples are to always be open to life in every sexual encounter.  The use of contraception is also a grave evil.

- That remarriage after divorce constitutes a state of public and perpetual adultery if the previous marriage or marriages were deemed valid in the eyes of the Church and the former spouse[s] remain alive.

- That abortion for any reason is to murder the developing child.  Every Christian and others of good will should work tirelessly for its complete elimination from our laws.

- That those who are struggling with homosexual attractions and gender identity must be told the truth of God’s word, which is that He has created us male and female and that our bodies are part of our identity and God makes no mistakes.  Furthermore, that His love is not diminished for those in these situations and they, along with all other people, continue to reflect the image and likeness of God.  Let us pastorally guide them to chastity and the acceptance of their identity in Christ.

These are some of the most prominent issues facing us today.  We need our clergy and other leaders, especially our bishops, to be plainly outspoken in these areas to provide the encouragement and reinforcement necessary to aid us in living out our calling as a holy people.

Let me pause at this point to address our clergy.  My dear fathers, we need you to be holy; men of God, unfazed and unafraid in the face of these moral controversies.  I plead with you, guide us safely in the footsteps of our Lord.  Are you praying?  St. John Vianney, the patron saint of parish priests, gave himself to hours of prayer and penance for the salvation of his parish.  Are you doing the same?  At a minimum, you have taken vows to pray all of the divine office for the sake of the Church and the world.  Are you continuing in that commitment?  In addition, we need you to undertake a holy hour.  Both Archbishop Fulton Sheen and St. Padre Pio exhort you to this.  Please heed their exhortation.  Remember the priority of the apostles, whose sons in the faith you are- “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.  Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word,” [Acts 6:2-4].  Find deacons or faithful laypeople to handle the administrative duties.  Shed yourselves of the image that you are spiritual CEO’s.  Return to the priority of prayer and the ministry of the word. 

For the rest of us, we must be faithful.  Whether we have good and faithful shepherds or not, we must walk in the way our Lord has given us.  We will be judged on the basis of our own souls, not those who led us.  Be sure that you can give a good account in that day. 

One final note: in our first reading we hear St. Peter state, “There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved.”  Only our Lord Jesus Christ is the way to eternal salvation.  Let us leave to God what may happen with those who did not overtly believe because they lacked sufficient understanding.  For our part, let us be quick and faithful to obey what has been given to us, and let us preach boldly and faithfully this message.  It remains the sure and certain means by which we can be saved.

In the final analysis, each one of us is called to follow our Lord Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, and imitate Him.  We must do so for our own good, but also for the good of others around us, especially those entrusted to our care.  Then be good shepherd my friends!  Fear not the backlash of an angry world.  Their castigations and penalties are momentary… even if they last a lifetime.  In the face of eternity, even one hundred years of life would be a mere blip.  Then steel yourself for the battle and entrust yourself to the true Shepherd of your soul.  You will not be ashamed in the last day.  Instead you will hear the commendation of the Good Shepherd: “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into your rest!”

Easter Joy

 

Third Sunday of Easter

Year B

Acts 3:13-15, 17-19; Psalm 4:2, 4, 7-9; 1 John 2:1-5; Luke 24:35-48

“Why are you troubled?  And why do questions arise in your hearts?”
Luke 24:38

Are you still living in the glow of Easter joy?  Or have the daily routines begun to crowd it out?  I remember thinking this Easter that if what we believe is true- that Jesus has truly risen from the dead- then what could actually trouble me?  What could be too difficult for God?  What would I truly have to worry about or be upset about if this is all true?  And yet, I find that it is easy to return to the “routine” of daily living and essentially forget that Jesus has risen.

I don’t think I’m alone.  Perhaps you’ve been experiencing something similar.  Is it possible even the first disciples had a similar experience?  Perhaps.  But, of course, they still had Jesus physically with them during these days we now call the Easter season.

Our Gospel today comes from Easter evening.  The Eleven have just heard from the two disciples who had been on their way to Emmaus.  Suddenly, Jesus was with them.  Naturally, they were astonished and couldn’t believe their eyes.  Jesus gave them incontrovertible proofs.  He showed them the wounds in His hands and feet.  He allowed them to touch them to see that He was flesh and bones and no mere ghost, or figment of their imagination.  Finally, He ate some food in front of them.  All of these demonstrated that Jesus was physically alive.  Then He began to teach them the scriptures, just as He had done for the two on the road to Emmaus.

It’s here that Luke uses an interesting phrase: “he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.” Many of us have heard the Scriptures.  Some of us have read, or even studied the Scriptures.  But it isn’t until Jesus opens our mind that we really begin to understand them.  Jesus goes on to show how the Scriptures foretold all that happened and then He tells them that, as a result, they need to preach repentance from sin and faith in Him. 

But let me go back to what He said when He first appeared to them. “Why are you troubled?  And why do questions arise in your hearts?”  Doesn’t this also apply to us in our current context?

If Easter joy only lasted for Easter then it is a sign that we are still in need of pondering its message.  If it lasted the week and then faded, we’re further on the road.  If it waned in the last week then this is an excellent time to recall the story.

How do we maintain Easter joy? 

Well, for one, the Church has provided a means by what is offered to us in the lectionary.  Each Sunday we are still considering the resurrection of Jesus or its implications.  Furthermore, our first reading during all of the Easter season comes from the Acts of the Apostles.  There, we are given first hand witness to the power of the resurrection and the way it transformed lives.  The Church intends that we should be encouraged and strengthened by these readings.

But another way we can maintain Easter joy is in prayer.  As we continue to prayerfully reflect and meditate on these things we can be filled with joy.  It also helps to increase our faith.  As I asked at the outset, if Jesus is alive then what is too hard for God? 

Think for a moment, what things are facing us right now that are crowding out Easter joy?  These are the things we need to bring to God in prayer.  And as we do, we need to consider again the impact of the resurrection.

I think in some ways this is scary for us.  What if it isn’t true?   What if there’s some other explanation?  Many critics have proposed such things.  Could they be right? 

These are the things that perhaps go through our minds.  Or maybe it’s just that, while we believe the story of Jesus to be true, we’re not sure that He’s willing to work so powerfully in our lives.

We need to allow the Lord to encourage us in faith.  Again, this takes place in prayer.  As we pray we can hear His gentle voice asking us, as He asked those first disciples, “Why are you troubled?  And why do questions arise in your hearts?”  In those moments, don’t be afraid to open up to what God wants to speak to you or accomplish in your heart.  Allow Him to reassure you, as He did those first witnesses, that He is truly alive and that nothing is impossible to Him.  Listen as He once again invites you to accompany Him on the great adventure of bringing His message into this present world.  Don’t be afraid!  The Lord is truly risen!

Has Easter joy faded?  Read this Gospel again.  Let Jesus show you His proofs for His resurrection.  Then allow yourself to believe.  Rekindle Easter joy and send your fears and worries packing.  It’s not that the Gospel is too good to be true.  It’s that it’s so good it must be true!

Easter Delayed

 

Second Sunday of Easter
Sunday of Divine Mercy

Year B

Acts 4:32-35; Psalm 118; 1 John 5:1-6; John 20:19-31

Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them.
John 20:26

I have been asked all week, “Did you enjoy your Easter?”  My response has been unequivocal.  “I’m still enjoying Easter.”  I’m still enjoying Easter because, of course, it didn’t end with the day but continues through the season.

It’s quite possible the early disciples were having a similar experience.  Basking in the glow of our Lord’s resurrection, they must have had to pinch themselves to be sure it was not a dream.  All of them might very well have been having this experience except one- Thomas.

Thomas was not with them when the Lord appeared to the rest.  And he didn’t believe their report.  One wonders if he wasn’t the least bit curious at seeing the dramatic change in their demeanor.  Deluded men do not have the mark of authenticity.  These men must truly have been transformed by their experience.  Nevertheless, Thomas remains resolute in his skepticism until he can have solid proof for himself.

I think Thomas gets a bad rap as being dubbed, “Doubting Thomas”.  Why isn’t he remembered for anything else he did?  Peter isn’t known as “Denying Peter” and James and John were not always remembered as the “Sons of Thunder”.  The fact is that Thomas manifested heroic loyalty to our Lord before His crucifixion and, once restored to faith in the story before us today, continued in the same vein, most famously taking the Gospel to India where he suffered martyrdom.

I’m thankful for Thomas.  His skepticism echoes that of many through the ages who have asked similar questions.  It’s good to know the whole band didn’t naively go along with the story.  They asked hard questions.  They struggled, and they finally came through to a living faith.  That’s how it is for many of us as well.

Furthermore, who of us wants to throw the first stone at Thomas?  Are we so full of faith that we can’t possibly relate to his position?  I doubt it!  No, rather I believe we can all relate to Thomas in many ways.  We find ourselves in him in his dilemma.  Some of us have walked where he has walked.  We’ve faced trial and tragedy and wondered, “Where is God in all this?”  Our faith has been shaken and we insist on some sign from heaven if we are going to be drawn back into belief.

But having said all that, there’s something that captures my attention in this story.  It’s that Thomas’ Easter was delayed by a week.  What a tragedy!

This Easter was perhaps the best I’ve had since I entered the Church.  Maybe it was even better than that.  What made it so good?  I’m not sure.  But I strongly suspect it had to do with COVID.

When everything shut down a year ago and we were not permitted to celebrate Easter in person, it was as if Lent continued.  And it wasn’t until this Easter that I began to realize that I was living as if Lent had extended all the way to the current moment.  After living more than a year in that state it was almost incredulous to think that we could celebrate as we have this year.  But when we could be in church this year and celebrate the Easter Vigil and watch souls birthed into the kingdom in Baptism as well as others received into the Church it all came alive for me.  The most poignant moment of the Easter Vigil for me was when the Blessed Sacrament was reposed in the tabernacle.  I had this sense of “Ah!  He’s back where He belongs!”  It almost brought me to tears.

I have thoroughly lived this week.  It’s been glorious.  The Easter triumph resounds within my soul.  The thought of having to delay for another week is agonizing.  Yet, this was Thomas’ experience.  He couldn’t begin the celebration until then.

I am mindful of the very real possibility that those reading this, or others close to them, may be in the same situation as Thomas.  We celebrated Easter and we ate the food and visited family and did all the stuff.  But then when it was over we went back to “normal living”.  There was no manifest change in us.  There was no encounter with Jesus.  And here we are a week later and not actually living in the glory of Easter.

If that’s you, my friend, I plead for you to take some time immediately to ponder the glorious truth of the Easter message: Christ is risen!  He is truly risen- just as He said!  If we really believe that then it changes everything and nothing is impossible.

At one point this week while I was in prayer I sensed the Holy Spirit gently chide me, “It’s real, you know.  And if that’s true, then there’s nothing for you to worry about.”  If I have the faith that a Man was raised from the dead, could I really doubt that anything is impossible to God?  I just need to put my Easter into my experience.  I need to live out what I say I believe. 

And the same goes for us all.  If your Easter has been delayed by a week, don’t let it be delayed any longer.  Get alone with God and shut yourself into your room just like those early disciples on the first Easter evening.  Then allow Jesus to enter in and be transformed by His resurrected presence.  Then find the nearest “Thomas” and announce, “We have seen the Lord.”

 

Easter Week and Random Thoughts

 "Christ is risen!"  "And has appeared unto Simon.  Alleluia!"  This is the traditional Easter greeting and response.  It's almost like a code or a secret handshake among Catholics.  Unfortunately, not even a lot of Catholics know about it.  

I'm thoroughly enjoying Easter; even more than I remember in recent years.  I think one of the reasons for it is because COVID deprived us of a genuine Easter last year and it was almost as if Lent extended until this Easter.  Finally being able to be back in person and experience the Easter Vigil and see people baptized and received into the Church was so wonderful!

So in the kindness of my pastor [who is also my boss] we were given today- Easter Monday- as a day off.  This allowed me to randomly do some reading on the internet.  Here are some things I found.

I overheard an excerpt from Pope Francis' Easter Vigil homily on the radio while driving home from Mass this morning.  I wanted to check it out further.  The excerpt that caught my attention was this: "What does it mean “to go to Galilee? To go to Galilee means, first, to begin anew... This is the first Easter message that I would offer you: it is always possible to begin anew, because there is always a new life that God can awaken in us in spite of all our failures." You can read the whole text here: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/full-text-pope-francis-homily-for-easter-vigil-at-the-vatican.

Then I was reading a piece from Jordan Peterson's recent book, Beyond Order: 12 More Rules For Life. He wrote, "Excess sentimentality is an illness, a developmental failure, and a curse to children and others who need our care (but not too much of it)."  I have often thought this, but it helped to have it verified by a professional.  

Along similar lines I came across this from the National Catholic Register article from April 2, 2021 entitled Why the Negative Is a Positive by Donald DeMarco in which he states, "We are confronted with a clash between truth and sentimentality. In a world ruled by sentimentality, everything is “nice.” It is a utopia in which there is no sin and everyone accepts everyone."  

Taking the two quotes together they touch on what to me has been a very disturbing trend and that is that people arrive at what they perceive to be true by their feelings- how it makes them feel- rather than by reason- whether or not a particular premise is logical.  

And that brings me back to the resurrection and Easter.  Christians believe this to be objectively true and that is what engenders the pleasant, joyful, and, indeed, happy feelings that go along with it.

The Wrong Question

 

Holy SaturdayAt the Easter Vigil in the Holy Night of Easter

Genesis 1:1-2:2; 22:1-18; Exodus 14:15-15:1; Isaiah 54:5-14; 55:1-11; Baruch 3:9-15, 32-4:4; Ezekiel 36:16-28; Romans 6:3-11; Psalm 118; Mark 16:1-7

“Who will roll back the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?”
Mark 16:3

At last!  He is risen!  Alleluia!  Let the celebration begin! 

I have had more than one person remark that Lent seemed longer last year.  My response is that it was.  It stretched into May when we were finally able to return to church and receiving the sacraments.  In a way, Lent has stretched all the way from a year ago to this present moment.  Because we weren’t able to be present for Easter last year it has an extra special sense to it this year.  As we reflect back on what we’ve all been through for the last year it gives us a little insight into what the disciples were experiencing from the Friday of our Lord’s crucifixion until early Sunday morning.

One of my favorite characters in the Easter story is Mary Magdalen.  She’s my favorite because she’s so faithful.  She followed the Lord all the way to the cross, watched as He was buried, and then returned early Sunday morning.  None of the apostles were doing that.  But she did.  And for her faithfulness she is rewarded with being the first person to see our Lord alive after His crucifixion.  As such, she became the apostle to the apostles.  She was the one bringing them the good news that He is risen.

But I’m getting ahead of myself.  For there’s something here that bears reflection.  St. Mark records that Mary is accompanied by some other women.  As they are approaching the tomb of our Lord they begin to wonder who will roll back the stone.  None of them are strong enough to do so.  Even all of them put together cannot do it.  It’s as if they realize they’ve had this great idea to come and anoint the body of Jesus but none of them thought about the very practical reality of how they would get into the tomb. 

In St. John’s Gospel it reads a bit different but the general idea is the same.  John only records Mary herself as going to the tomb.  When she arrives she sees that it is open and the body of Jesus is gone.  She naturally suspects the worst and runs to tell the apostles.  Peter and John run to the tomb to find it as she said.  They leave, but Mary remains.  Then she meets someone whom she supposes to be the gardener and assumes he must be responsible for having taken the body.  She asks him to show her where the body is and she will take care of it.  It is only at this point when the man calls her by name that she realizes it is Jesus Himself.

In both renditions Mary has a very natural reaction and quickly searches for an answer.  However, she is only relying on her own understanding and resources.  She is asking the wrong question.  For to the question, “Who will roll away the stone,” the answer is that it has already been rolled away.  God has taken care of it.  To the search for the Lord’s body she need only open her eyes to see that she does not need to solve a riddle or a problem.  The answer literally stands before her.

I think that the Easter story has something to reveal to all of us in this same way.

We come to this day with our own problems.  We naturally search for answers according to our own understanding and resources.  But we haven’t really factored God into the equation.  Even our praying is often rehearsing our own fears, anxieties, or possible solutions.  What we really need to do is simply present the problem to the Lord and then abandon ourselves to His answer.

Sounds simple.  But it’s so very difficult.  Why?  Because we lack faith.  Think about it; if we truly believe that Jesus rose from the dead then why is it such a struggle to believe that He will provide a solution for the things we are facing? 

We have heard the story on this night how God was preparing for this moment since the dawn of time.  God, infinitely wise, knew how it would all come about.  He knows the same for our circumstances and He has been planning for the solution for the same amount of time.  The Easter story reminds us that nothing is impossible for God and that we need to abandon the death and grave of our own mindset to enter into the new resurrection life that He is bringing us.

What “stone” are you fussing over today?  Stop worrying.  The Lord already has a plan in mind.  He will roll away the stone.  And when He does there will not be the stench of death, but the glory of resurrection life!  So go inside.  Take a look around.  “He has been raised; he is not here… He is going before you… there you will see him.”

Caesar or Christ

 

Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion

Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Psalm 31; Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9; John 18:1-19:42

“We have no king but Caesar.”
John 19:15

The Church places the words above on our lips as we read the Passion narrative.  We- the “crowd”- call for the crucifixion of Jesus and then place our allegiance with Caesar rather than with Christ.  I always find it very sobering when we read this portion every Good Friday.

What does it mean to choose Caesar over Christ?  Does there need to be such a stark dichotomy?  Can’t we serve both Caesar and Christ?

In the days of the Roman Empire the Caesar was often given divine status.  Allegiance to him meant more than mere loyalty, respect, or patriotism.  It had that of the religious sense about it.  Christians often found themselves in conflict here.  They could obey Caesar as far as their faith allowed, but they could not pledge allegiance to him.  It was either Caesar or Christ, but not both.  As Jesus taught, “No one can serve two masters,” [Matthew 6:24].  We serve Caesar when we grant varying elements of this world the status that belongs to God alone.

When we place all our hope and trust in government we have no king but Caesar.  Many are putting all their efforts into the political arena.  The Church’s role is to inform politics, not become aligned with politicians or political parties.  To the right we applaud a pro-life, pro-family ethic.  But we advocate for better policies regarding immigration and capital punishment.  To the left we applaud the championing of the working class but we resist all efforts that oppose life, such as abortion, euthanasia, or assisted suicide.

When we place our hope in money and material possessions we have no king but Caesar.  Such things are to be used, not the least of which is for the kingdom and the glory of God.  We regularly fool ourselves.  Ignoring Christ’s words to the rich ruler, we think that we can grow rich in this world and still inherit the kingdom.  True, one could do that- if one was generous with the riches.  But when we heap our goods on ourselves and use our resources only for us we are fooling ourselves if we think we are His disciples.  Our possessions rule us, no matter what we say. 

When we yearn to spend our time in the endless pursuit of pleasure we have no king but Caesar.  It isn’t that God is against us having fun or relaxing, but He is opposed to us always doing so.  Entertainment is a multi-billion dollar industry because too many of us put our priority there. 

On this day when we see our Lord carrying a cross and dying an utterly agonizing and humiliating death on our behalf let us think of the contrast.  If Christ is to be our king it means a cross in this present world.  It means death to the things we’ve mentioned above.  But…

If Christ is to be king it means true peace, joy, and love.  It means the satisfaction of the soul as we find all the things we innately crave.  Why is Jesus enduring such agony?  Because it is the only means to bring us what we truly need- union with Him.

St. Paul wrote, “Far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world,” [Galatians 6:14].  As we consider the contrast between Caesar and Christ today may we be able to say the same. 

 

 

The Sacred Triduum: Holy Thursday

Holy Thursday
Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper

Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14; Psalm 116:12-13, 15-18; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-15

He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end.
John 13:1

We enter into the Sacred Triduum, the most holy three days in the liturgical calendar.  Our preparation in Lent is over.  The Triduum stands as its own season.  In fact, it stands as its own liturgy.  Once we have begun this evening, we will not have a formal closing to the Mass until it is concluded at the Easter Vigil.

It is common for us to think in terms of what we are going to do.  But these three days are not really about us; they’re about Him.  It’s about what He has done, what He is doing, and what He will do.  It’s all about Jesus!  Only as we have that perspective can our own devotions have merit and effect.

St. John tells us that He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end.  He says this at the outset of the events of Holy Thursday.  Our Lord has gathered with His disciples for the Passover meal.  Here, He will institute the Holy Eucharist.  Here, He will also institute the holy priesthood.  But before He does either of these things He does something else.  He washes the feet of the disciples.  We replicate this in our liturgy, but we often miss the meaning of what is happening.

It would be the lowest of servants who would have the job of washing the feet of guests.  When the disciples gathered with their Lord for the Passover there was evidently no servant to wash their feet.  This would have been the proverbial elephant in the room.  Every one of them must have noted the omission of the servant and thought that “someone should do something about that”.  But, of course, no one volunteered.  Then our Lord took on the duty.  He lowered Himself to be the most humble of servants. 

It was fitting that it should be so and one surmises that our Lord knew all along that this would happen.  Note the text.  This doesn’t appear to have caught Him by surprise.  Rather, knowing full well who He is He takes on this duty.  The text reads as if it naturally follows.

In performing this duty our Lord shows in a tangible way what He is about to do- He will not only wash their feet but give His life for their salvation.    

This action also smacks of Baptism: “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.”  Peter innately senses the incongruity of it, but fails to grasp its meaning.  Our Lord wins him over and washes his feet.

These events set the tone for the evening and all of the events that will follow.  Our Lord will be the servant of all to the end.  He will endure the ignominies of the cross and give His life as a ransom for our souls.

As you watch the Lord go through the events during this Sacred Triduum insert yourself into the story.  He is washing your feet.  He is forgiving your denial.  He is dying for your sins.  He gives Himself- willingly and joyfully- for your salvation. You are powerless to save yourself.  You cannot earn His holiness.  You cannot gain merit in His eyes on your own.  But He is most willing to reach out to you and draw you to Himself.  Here, you can be saved, healed, forgiven, restored, and sanctified.  Here, you are loved!

Watch as our Lord’s incomprehensible love is on display in every moment.  Then yield yourself to this love and allow it to flow through you.  “Do you realize what I have done for you?  You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am.  If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet.  I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”

The Cost of Betrayal

 

Wednesday of Holy Week

Isaiah 50:4-9; Psalm 69; Matthew 26:14-25

“What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?”
Matthew 26:15

Spy Wednesday!  Have you heard of it?  Many have not.  It’s what this day was traditionally called.  It is named for the fact that it was on this day that Judas Iscariot went to the Jewish authorities to negotiate a deal to betray Jesus.  Why did he do it?  There have been several speculations.  Some say it was because Judas had zealot leanings and was disillusioned with Jesus’ non-violent approach rather than the military hero for which he hoped.  Others think that it was because Judas was a thief and was more in love with money than his own soul.  Some believe it had something to do with the incident with Mary pouring the expensive oil on Jesus’ feet.  He just didn’t understand Jesus’ perspective.  The scripture is unclear as to motive, but unequivocal as to action.  Whatever the reason, Judas made the decision to betray our Lord. 

Scripture is equally clear about what it cost Judas.  He was paid 30 pieces of silver, which is the price of a slave.  In remorse he returned the money.  Then he went out and hung himself.  Scripture becomes rather graphic on this point.  Now this man bought a field with the reward of his wickedness; and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood, [Acts 1:18, 19].  Perhaps less clear is the pronouncement of his end: … Judas turned aside, to go to his own place, [Acts 1:25].  What is “his own place”?  Is it a reference to hell?  Quite possible.  We cannot be sure.  However, we see that betrayal of the Lord is terribly costly.

It’s the same story from the Garden to the present day.  The Evil One whispers lies in our ears to make sin seem so enticing.  In that moment there’s nothing we want more and all reason flies from us.  But in the end there is remorse and guilt.  If we aren’t careful, we can take the same path as Judas.

Look at Judas’ question again: “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?”  It echoes a question Jesus once asked: “For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life?” [Matthew 16:26].  How much is your soul worth to you?  What is its price?  Can it be easily traded away for temporary pleasure or gain? 

We betray the Lord constantly.  We choose sin over Him.  In so doing we become partners with those who crucified our Lord.  He died for the very sins we are committing.  Perhaps we think that everyone does this, and we can’t help it.  But the truth is that we can do something about it.  We can turn to the Lord in the moment of our temptation and pray for the way of escape which He is willing to provide us.  He will, furthermore, fortify us with all the grace necessary to do battle so that we may be victorious.

The saints stand in stark contrast to Judas.  They chose the hard road of the cross and triumphed.  When we are tempted to walk in the way of Judas; in the way of betrayal, they remind us that we have another option.

We are on the cusp of the Sacred Triduum.  This is the perfect time to make our heart right with God.  Seek Him out.  Hide nothing.  Tell Him freely of all your sins- and your desire to sin.  Allow His mercy to forgive you, His grace to fortify you, and His love to envelope you. 

Rise, dear child of God.  Flee the company of Judas and seek that of the saints.  Let us take up our cross and follow Jesus.  He is going before us to die!