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!

 

Betrayal or Denial

 

Tuesday of Holy Week

Isaiah 49:1-6; Psalm 71; John 13:21-33, 36-38

Reclining at table with his disciples, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, “Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, at a loss as to whom he meant.
John 13:21-22

Today’s Gospel juxtaposes Judas and Peter.  One betrayed the Lord.  The other denied Him.  In both cases no one suspected such things would be done.  Perhaps, least of all, those who were doing it. 

Betrayal or denial; which is worse?  Certainly betrayal!  Denial is a momentary lapse of weakness.  Betrayal is premeditated and intentional.  It is notable in today’s Gospel that it records there was a moment for Judas when “Satan entered him.”  Such a thing is not recorded of Peter. 

We deny the Lord when we have momentary lapses of weakness.  We betray the Lord when we know what we are doing and we choose it anyway. 

Betrayal or denial; are either unforgiveable?  No.  Then why does Judas end in suicide and Peter ends in martyrdom as the first Pope?  One simple reason: Judas in despair fled from the Lord.  Peter, in remorse, returned and sought forgiveness.  If Judas had followed the same course as Peter I have no doubt he would have been forgiven, restored, and gone on to do great things in the kingdom just like Peter.

How do we respond to the failings in our life?  Like Peter, or like Judas?  The enemy of our souls will goad you into sinning and then condemn you for doing it.  He will at first whisper the lie that it’s no big deal and other Christians are doing the same.  Then once you have believed the lie and gone into sin he will scream at you that you are no Christian and you should just give up.  I have no doubt that’s exactly what Judas heard.  I suspect it’s what Peter heard as well. 

But our Lord is so merciful that He is willing to forgive all crimes against him, no matter how heinous.  Murder, abortion, adultery, theft, lies, slander, pornography, and a host of others are all forgivable.  The only sin that is not forgivable is the sin that remains unconfessed.  If we choose to flee from the mercy of the Lord and die in a state of mortal sin then we will be lost like Judas.  As long as we draw breath, there is no sin greater than our Lord’s sacrifice to pay for it.  Love conquers sin. 

Today, especially in this holy season, do not allow any sin to remain unconfessed.  Seek out a priest to make confession.  If that is not possible, make a perfect act of contrition, which is to be sorry for your sin not because of its consequences, but because it offends a good and loving God who deserves all our love and devotion. 

He is waiting for you- as surely as He waited for Judas and Peter.  Don’t make the mistake of Judas and flee.  Come like Peter to be forgiven, restored, and filled with grace for the mission for which you were created and called into Christ!