Thursday in the Octave of Easter
Happy Easter! As Christ exclaims in today’s Gospel – peace be with you. In these 50 days of unbridled joy, I pray that God may grant you joy, gratitude and peace –peace in the knowledge that our God is a God who keeps his promises.
Wednesday in the Octave of Easter
How often do we converse or debate with a friend and fail to bring our Christianity into the discussion. By allowing Jesus' to illuminate the discussion then we might recognize his presence in all arenas of our life. Yet often even though we know the good news, we fail to fully accept it. In fact sometimes the good news has little power over our conversations especially with ourselves. Recently I was walking home and really believed that I was alone.
Tuesday in the Octave of Easter
As I sat down to write on today’s readings, I couldn’t help but think, What else is there to say right now? After this weekend, it seems like Easter speaks for itself for awhile. Maybe this is why the Church gives us 50 full days to celebrate: the Resurrection has so much to say to us and we need some time to process it. But today’s gospel reading has something to say to this, I think.
Monday in the Octave of Easter
When a detective interviews various people at a scene of a crime, there are often many different descriptions of what happened. Because each individual has a unique life experience, their perception of an event will be influenced by who they are and how they see the world. When reading the scripture readings today, this seems very evident. The tomb is found empty, but there are many different understandings of what this means. If we are like the apostles and the women, then hopefully when we see the empty tomb we can believe that Jesus is risen from the dead just as they proclaim. Jesus through His life, death and resurrection shows the immense love of God for us and His plan for our salvation. So when you look at the empty tomb and you think about all Jesus has done for you what do you see- What do you believe?
The Resurrection of the Lord
I have asked myself a question often. After his resurrection, why did Jesus only appear to his apostles and a few close disciples? There is a villainous side to me which makes me imagine that if I were Jesus, I would have shown up at Pilate’s bed side when he was fast asleep and tickled him. I would have loved to see his face when I said, “Dude, want to wash your hands?” Or, as the chief priest, Pharisees, scribes, elders and those who had falsely accused gathered for worship, I would slowly slip among the worshippers and land in the front row. Can you imagine their faces? And I would have said, “Now do you believe?” Then I would just vanish from among them.
Holy Saturday
Something strange is happening - there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness. The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. God has died in the flesh and hell trembles with fear.
Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion
A memory I have from my childhood Methodist years is singing Charles Wesley's hymn on Good Friday:Holy Thursday - Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper
I read an article today by the Catholic News Service about Pope Francis recently making a surprise visit to a group of homeless people in the Sistine Chapel while they were enjoying a private visit there. According to the article, the Vatican Museums had closed early to allow these special guests of the papal almoner to have the Sistine Chapel to themselves, accompanied by professional guides. The pope greeted each of these guests who live on the streets around the Vatican, asking them to pray for him and giving them a blessing before they were served dinner in the museum’s cafeteria.
Wednesday of Holy Week
Life is difficult. We all know this truth. Some of the most difficult points in my own life came from suffering inflicted upon me by people who were supposed to be on my team. Betrayals came from people who I thought were my friends. In the same breath I must ask for forgiveness from those for whom I caused suffering or those who I betrayed. Suffering and betrayal are not just parts of the scriptures from a long time ago. They are the scriptures of our own lives.
Tuesday of Holy Week
The difference between what we are called to be and what we actually are can be pretty stark sometimes. In the first reading, we heard what might sound like a coach’s pep talk before a big game. “It’s not enough for you to be my servant. I will make you a light to the nations!” Then in the second reading, Jesus predicts Peter will deny that he even knows our lord, not once, but three times. Peter, the first Pope, leader of the Church, which is a light to the nations! Whose idea was it to put him in charge?
Monday of Holy Week
Today, being Monday of Holy Week, we are anticipating the special liturgies, praying and reflecting on what we have done through these weeks of Lent, and begin preparing for Easter Sunday celebrations with family and friends. While I was reading and reflecting upon today’s Scriptures, I felt like I was looking through the wide angle lens of a camera—they present a much bigger picture than what we may tend to focus on during Holy Week. There are times when we encounter Christ in Scripture and we can experience what may be an amazing glimpse of the ‘big picture’ and it brings everything together in a way only God is capable of doing.
Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion
We are entering Holy Week. On the one hand, Holy Week commemorates the story of Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection. However, if we look deeper, it is also our story. Holy week and the story of Jesus as we heard it in the reading of the passion, dramatizes the stark realities of the human condition. Within the Jesus story we find intense suffering, intrigue, malice, prejudice, hatred, betrayal, bribery, corruption, and bloody murder. Intertwined in this sad story is the life of a man who took the consequences of human sin upon himself and transformed it into love, forgiveness, peace and eternal life. He did so by becoming the “suffering servant” of God – a concept introduced to us both in the first and second readings. By becoming the “suffering servant,” Jesus changed the very meaning of human life. Human quest for permanent happiness and eternal life can only be fulfilled in Jesus.
Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent
In Youth Ministry we are always trying to find new ways to present old truths without compromising on integrity. Some might say it is a byproduct of trying to fit faith into 140 characters and others would say it is just part of making faith manageable in our teens’ busy lives. Whatever the cause might be, it is a challenge of ministry.
Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent
I was talking with my four year old this week about her favorite movie - "Frozen". Perhaps most intriguing about this favorite movie of hers is that while she knows all the songs and states a definite preference for Elsa, she does not EVER, EVER, EVER want to watch the movie. "Why not?" I ask. "Because of all the scary parts." It's a reply that makes some sense, actually. But I tell her, with all my (supposed) adult wisdom: we watch all the scary parts but we know there's a happy ending. Isn't that good? Doesn't that make the scary parts just a bit better. "No!" comes the firm reply.
Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Today’s readings begin with a covenant – a promise made between the Lord and Abram in which Abram’s life is so changed by his “yes” to the Lord that he receives a new name. He becomes a new person in the Lord – no longer Abram but Abraham. We, ourselves, experience this same life-changing covenant in the sacraments. In the sacrament of confirmation we are given a confirmation name. We become a new person in the Lord as we accept the Lord’s call to change our lives and focus on Him, often with the guidance of a saint or holy person. Additionally, in the sacrament of marriage, our name is changed. We take on a new identity as we are united with one another in the Lord. When my sister took her vows as a religious sister she too was given a new name. In each of these moments we make a promise to the Lord, a promise that is so important that our entire identity is changed. Receiving a new name sets us apart as new beings in the Lord, new vessels of the spirit.
Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
As a hospital chaplain, the opportunities for ministry abound. What surprises me is that, while I know I am there as the minister, many times I feel the one ministered too. One of the ways this happens is by the steadfast faith of the people with whom I interact. Recently, a patient had just found out they had pancreatic cancer. It was suggested that with treatment she could extend her life likely by a few months. As she shared her faith journey it became clear to her that she did not want to get treatment. Her decision left me awestruck at the profound trust she had in God. From her deep faith, this woman made it clear, “God’s will be done.” This patient’s prayer came to mind immediately as I reflected on the readings today.
Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Today’s readings are all about vulnerability. We see in all of them—from Numbers, Psalms, and the Gospel of John—the reality of human frailty as well as the power of God. The Israelites, recently liberated from the oppression of the Egyptians, cry out to God and Moses when they are weary in the desert. Their cries are desperate and show their vulnerability. Elsewhere they ask Moses why he didn’t just leave them to die in Egypt.
Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent
When I read the daily news, I am saddened by the name calling, finger pointing, and general hatred that I see among people in our city, our nation, and throughout the world. After reading today’s scripture, I was again struck by Jesus’ words- “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” I know that I can also get caught up in making judgments and blaming others. I believe that Jesus is calling me (and all Christians) to put down our stones! Instead of placing blame and condemning others, Jesus calls us to reach out our hands in fellowship and respect to even those people that we find most difficult to love and accept. Since we have been forgiven, we must also be willing to love and forgive others. Instead of throwing stones, we need to place our stones on the cornerstone-Jesus- so we can begin to build the city of God.
Fifth Sunday of Lent - Year A Scrutinies
At every funeral mass, before I begin the official prayers, I always address the family gathered around the casket. I remind them the death of a loved one is one of those moments when the best thing we can do is to come before God. Death is one of those moments where our best option is to place life in God’s hands. Up until death, we could do everything in our power for those we love. But once someone dies, we are helpless. Our only help from this moment on is, God.
Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent
There are many things that threaten our spiritual life. We can become overly scrupulous – convinced that every little thing is the gravest of sins – or we can have a dull conscience that doesn’t convict us of anything. We can put undue emphasis on material goods or on spiritual goods to the detriment of the other. And the list goes on for a long time. I think one the greatest threats we face is for Christ to become lackluster.