Easter Sunday

In the Gospel reading for the Easter Vigil for Year B Mary Magdalene, Mary the Mother of James and Salome bring spices to the tomb in the morning. They wish to fulfill the ritual requirements of Jewish burials. They did not expect to find an empty tomb. Ritual is sometimes derided by people who have a great regard for enthusiasm and novelty. Yet, it is sometimes rituals that keep us putting one foot in front of the other as we have to deal with tragedy and grief. This is often the case when we have a bereavement and our brains struggle to deal with what has happened while our emotions are being overwhelmed. Nevertheless, we hang on in there an do what is asked of us especially when it comes to prayer an the liturgy. The  vigil and the Mass take place as the Church prescribes. It is in this moment however, as it was on that Easter morning, that our God is revealed as being truly the "God of Surprises." It is through the pain, loss an grief that the true value of God's power and risen life in Christ Jesus shines through. 

 

Palm Sunday

One could say about Jesus that he traveled a long way from Nazareth to being King of Heaven and yet that is what we believe: "... so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord , to the glory of God the Father." (Phil 2: 10-11) We are so accustomed to seeing Christ in glory that we can forget he was, to his contemporaries, simply the lowly son of a carpenter (see Mk 6: 3). It is not to be wondered at that so many people struggle today to believe in Christ. What is needed is for them to experience his power and to see that his life endures in the Church. That means that we, like the people with the palms, continue to sing Christ's praises and acclaim him as King.

Easter Triduum Reflections

Easter Triduum Reflections

                                                 

·        The Easter Triduum 

These three days from Holy Thursday the Easter Vigil are the most important days of the Catholic calendar. In them the entire Christian mystery is experienced in a concentrated and powerful way. Our liturgical journey with Jesus from Galilee to Jerusalem reaches its destination and the significance of this reverberates all through Eastertide until we arrive at Pentecost. I cannot overstate how important these days are to our life as Catholics. I encourage all parishioners to attend the ceremonies to deepen their faith and understand better the mysteries we celebrate on Sundays. The Palm Sunday and Chrism Mass celebrations are a fitting lead up to the great feasts.

·        Holy Thursday

Instead of the Institution Narrative at the Last Supper John’s Gospel relates the “washing of the feet” in the context of the Passover meal. Explaining himself Jesus say: “So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.” (Jn 13: 14-15) The gift of the Eucharist, “Do this in remembrance of me” (1 Cor 11: 24) is interpreted in the light of this act of service and self-giving. This is to be imitated by the disciples. St Paul, elsewhere, indicates that we cannot truly and sincerely participate in the Lord’s Supper if we do not, at the same time, treat each other with the respect and dignity that each deserves: “For all who eat and drink without discerning the body [meaning the Church as the Body of Christ], eat and drink judgment against themselves… So then my brothers and sisters, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. If you are hungry, eat at home, so that when you eat together it will not be for your condemnation.” (1 Cor 11: 29, 33-34) Let us therefore be mindful of how we behave in and around our attendance at Mass and our behaviour towards others as fellow disciples and members of the Lord’s body.

·        Good Friday

This commemoration of the Lord’s Passion draws us more deeply into the implications of Jesus’ complete devotion to the will of the Father. His suffering is indeed horrific but that is not the point. Jesus was open to whatever was required from him so that the love of the Father for humanity would be vindicated: “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet not my will but yours be done.” (Lk 22: 42) It is through his obedience that Jesus brings about salvation however, in his case, this was learnt through suffering: “Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.” (Heb 4: 8-9) St Paul saw the obedience of Christ as repairing the relationship with God ruptured by the disobedience of Adam: “For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift of in the grace of one man, Jesus Christ abounded for the many.” (Rom 5: 15) The result of the Cross is that Christ’s obedience frees us from slavery to sin: “But thanks be to God that you, having once been slaves of sin, have become obedient to the form of teaching to which you were entrusted, and that you, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.” (Rom 6: 17-18) Do I live my life as a slave of righteousness or do I hanker after the “flesh pots of Egypt” (see Ex 16: 3): selfishness, grudges, sexual immorality, greed, spite and self-righteousness?

At the conclusion of the liturgy we depart in silence reflecting on what was done. Our solicitude for fellow Christians in the Holy Land suffering under hardship and persecution is manifested in our giving to the collection for the Holy Places Like St Paul taking up the collection for the Christians of Jerusalem we are mindful of our communion throughout the world: “They asked only one thing, that we remember the poor, which was actually what I was eager to do.” (Gal 2: 10)

·        Holy Saturday

This is a day of waiting. No sacraments are celebrated on this day unless in danger of death. We rest with Christ in the darkness of the tomb: “O LORD, God of my salvation, when, at night, I cry out in your presence, let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry. For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol. I am counted among those who go down to the Pit; I am like those who have no help, like those forsaken among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, like those you remember no more, for they are cut off from your hand. You have put me in the depths of the Pit, in the regions dark and deep. Your wrath lies heavy upon me, and you overwhelm me with all your waves.” (Ps 88: 1-7)

This prompts the questions: do I avoid suffering in my life? What is my attitude to the sufferings in my past life? Have I brought them to the Lord to ask for healing? Am I in denial of the harm my sins have caused to myself and to others as well as offending the love of God for me?

·        Easter Vigil

The Easter Vigil is a wonderful celebration of light, joy and faith. The ceremony of light powerfully communicates what Christ’s resurrection means for us. We hear of the history of salvation and the glory of the Resurrection. When adults are baptised, confirmed and receive Eucharist, or are sprinkled with holy water, the whole community is built up and reminded of their own life of faith and their baptismal dignity: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the might acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (1 Pet 2: 9-10)

5th Sunday of Lent

The Greeks wishing to see Jesus is a sign to him that his earthly mission is coming to its climax. What is at stake is nothing less than the re-unification of the human family which was divided by the Fall and exemplified in the building of the Tower of Babel with subsequent confusion and division. Jesus says: "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." (Jn 12: 32) St Paul puts it this way: "For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups [Gentile and Jew] into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. he has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it." (Eph 2: 14-17) The instigator of the previous  sorry state affairs in the world, the Devil, is to be cast out: "Now is the judgement of the world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out." (Jn 12: 31) The expulsion from the garden of Eden has been reversed. As a result, we should know as Christians that the ultimate victory has been won in Christ and we are sharers in that triumph even though we strive to complete that salvation in our own lives. The onus is on the Church to continue and make present this saving and unifying work of Christ.

4th Sunday of Lent

I wonder if Nicodemus felt affronted when, having arrived by night (Jn 3: 2), he is told by Jesus: "For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed." (Jn 3: 22)? Nicodemus is afraid. He is a "leader of the Jews" and his position may be compromised if it is known that he has come to speak to Jesus. Joseph of Arimathea, too, was a secret disciple "because of his fear of the Jews." (Jn 19: 38) Their fear is understandable when we see the fury of the crowd before Pilate as they bayed for Jesus' blood. A sense of preservation is understandable, yet, we are caught by our desire to follow Jesus, since, as Peter says: "Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."  (Jn 6: 68-69) Jesus warns the disciples: "'If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world - therefore the world hates you'." (Jn 15: 18-19) Together, at the Crucifixion, They remove Jesus shattered body from the Cross and place it in the tomb (Jn 19: 38-42) and they then disappear from the written record. They are not mentioned when the Apostles go on trial after the Resurrection rather it is Gamaliel who stands up to speak.(Acts 5: 21-42) It is significant that the two men were able to find courage together. It is difficult to be a disciple alone. We need to stand with each other and support one another in faith if we are to face a sceptical and derisive world as true disciples.

Thought for the Day in Wanganui Chronicle March 19-24

Thought for the Day: March 19-24

March 19

At present many Christians are observing the season of Lent. This is a period of spiritual and physical preparation looking forward to the season of Easter. I wish to reflect not only on the significance of Lent but other seasons in our lives in my Thoughts for the Day. One favourite reading for funerals states: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” (Eccles 3: 1) It continues: “a time to be born, and a time to die.” (Eccles 3: 2)  This can apply to physical living and dying. We are often amazed at the wonder of new life when there is an addition to the family. The time is counted down and there is no stopping the baby when he or she decides to arrive. We wonder what the infant will become with a sense of promise, hope and excitement as we anticipate the future.  Physical death is often more challenging. Early or unnatural death seems to be a violation yet this is not so for the elderly and infirm who feel that their time has come. Such a death is felt to be natural and even welcome even as we, who are left behind, mourn the separation and loss. At funeral services laughter and tears coincide: “… a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance” (Eccles 3: 3-4) More difficult than this, however, can be the birth of my dreams in hope and their death through disappointment.

 

March 20

The death of dreams is associated with middle age when we have already seen many seasons. Having established ourselves through educational attainment and relationships/family we find that we construct only to tear down later on: “… a time to break down, and a time to build up; … a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together.” (Eccles 3: 3, 5) We tell our children to shoot for the stars and that they can fulfill their potential, which is unlimited, but what do we think about ourselves? At the start of Ecclesiastes: “Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What do people gain from all the toil at which they toil under the sun? A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever.” (Eccles 1: 2-4) Surely, life is more than the raising of hopes to have them dashed? We long for eternity and meaning even as we live in a society where, most of the time, it is cheaper to purchase a new object than to have the old one fixed. This is evident in the desire of many people on the internet to have their brief moment of fame or notoriety. I may make a complete idiot of myself but at least I am now famous! It remains that there is “… a time to keep silence, and a time to speak.” (Eccles 3: 3: 7) The answer to our predicament lies not in distraction but reflection.

March 21

The truth of the matter, when it comes to dreams, is that I would be dissatisfied even if they do come true! “Paradise Syndrome,” refers to the deep down dissatisfaction that occurs when I achieve everything I dreamt of. It is associated with Dave Stewart of Eurythmics fame. We intuitively know that we are more than our appetites even as we buy another Lotto ticket. A document of the Catholic Church, written during the 1960s states: “Now, man is not wrong when he regards himself as superior to bodily concerns, and as more than a speck of nature or a nameless constituent of the city of man. For by his interior qualities he outstrips the whole sum of mere things. He plunges into the depths of reality whenever he enters into his own heart; God, Who probes the heart, awaits him there; there he discerns his proper destiny beneath the eyes of God. Thus, when he recognizes in himself a spiritual and immortal soul, he is not being mocked by a fantasy born only of physical or social influences, but is rather laying hold of the proper truth of the matter. (Gaudium et Spes, 14) The season of Lent helps Christians to strip away the harmful habits and distractions which keep us from recognizing what is truly important in our lives: “… a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear and a time to sew.” (Eccles 3: 6-7)

March 22

As a result of looking into the meaning of our existence the conviction grows stronger that what is truly important is what cannot be seen. When people are on mobile phones during disasters or about to die in a mass shooting the only thing they is to communicate is love usually to those to whom they are closest. We cannot see love nor do we have a scientific experiment or mathematic equation to prove love yet it is the most important thing in the world. St Paul wrote: “So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.” (2 Cor 4: 16-18) He also points out: “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person – though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in this that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” (Romans 5: 6-8) The key to our lives lies, therefore, not in our success or lack of it but in God’s love for us and our acceptance of it.

March 23

The previous reflection leads us to the point that the season of Lent is an invitation to purify and magnify love: “… a time for love, and a time for war; a time for war, and a time for peace.” (Eccles 3: 8) We are called to love God and to hate sin. Religion is not about self-absorption but rather to be perfect, merciful and compassionate just as the Father is all of those things. The realization that I am loved by God impels me to love others: “We love because he first loved us. Those who say, ‘I love God,’ and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is his: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.” (1 Jn 4: 19-21) The ashes which are bestowed on believers at the beginning of Lent speak of a desire to turn from worldly futility and see the love of God for what it really is. Our own sufferings and frustrations are not absurd rather they can be offered up as a sign of our identification with Christ and his sufferings: “I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions or the sake of his body, that is, the church.” (Col 1: 24)

March 24

It is sounds wonderful - we should love God and love one another! As you are all aware this is not so easy! The apparent futility of our lives brings us up short as does the accumulated effects of my sin and failures. The hard news is that I need to also come to terms with myself. Jesus summed up the law: “‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength,’ The second is this, ‘’You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12: 29-31) Our Lenten exercises bring us face to face with precisely with our failures and invites us to love ourselves even as we recognise our shortcomings and broken dreams: “… a time to seek, and a time to lose.” (Eccles 3: 6) Jesus tells us: “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’. For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all of these things will be given to you as well.” (Matt 6: 31-33) The providential love of God remains as a source and inspiration in every season of our lives.

3rd Sunday of Lent

St Paul tells us: "For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom." (1 Cor 1: 22) Do I demand anything?Some Catholics have demands because we know that they discontinue their practice of the faith when they are not met. It might be that I demand a parish or church that is free of scandal or a priest who preaches good homilies or a community that accepts my sexual behaviour/orientation or... or... or.... The problem with the Cross is that, by definition, it is something which is inconvenient and painful for us: "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet not my will but yours be done." (Lk 22: 42) Yet, the Cross is the price of true discipleship: "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." (Lk 9: 23) Do I have the right to demand of the Lord? Is my relationship with the Church conditional? It is not only in our theology and preaching but also in the example of our lives and conduct that we must witness to the Cross as the source of salvation and not the moral probity of the members of the Church including ourselves: "but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." (1 Cor 1: 23-24)