Greetings on this the Tuesday in the Octave of Easter Readings: Acts 2:36-41; Psalm 33:4-5, 18-19, 20 and 22; John 20:11-18
Summary
The Angels asked:
And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.”
Jesus asked:
Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.”
Reflection
Moved by Grief
Woman, why are you weeping? Tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.
Each of us, reading the heartbreak of grief, the grief of a woman who loved the sinless one.
Moved by Conviction
Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and they asked Peter and the other Apostles, “What are we to do, my brothers?” Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Moved by grief or moved by guilt for the grief?
Each of us must save ourselves from this corrupt generation.
Personal Reflection
I don’t know about you but at times I am Mary Magdalene (reflexive love) and other times receiving the Pentecost truth (conviction and repentance) – this Jesus whom you crucified.
I would like to be like Peter and the other Apostles – living and proclaiming liberty and freedom from this evil generation (meaning: a life wasted without a spiritual dimension). But what I want most of all, is on the lips of Jesus who said, “Mary!” to say “Gerry!“
Greetings on this the Monday in the Octave of Easter Readings: Acts 2:14, 22-33; Psalm 16:1-2a and 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11; Matthew 28:8-15
Summary
Christians, to the Paschal Victim Offer your thankful praises! A Lamb the sheep redeems; Christ, who only is sinless, Reconciles sinners to the Father. Death and life have contended in that combat stupendous: The Prince of life, who died, reigns immortal. Speak, Mary, declaring What you saw, wayfaring. “The tomb of Christ, who is living, The glory of Jesus’ resurrection; bright angels attesting, The shroud and napkin resting. Yes, Christ my hope is arisen; to Galilee he goes before you.” Christ indeed from death is risen, our new life obtaining. Have mercy, victor King, ever reigning! Amen. Alleluia.
Victimae paschali laudes
Reflection
Our sacred readings in the next weeks is the story of the continuous realization (revelation) of what Jesus has accomplished and how wonderful our redeemer is.
Today – our central thought – A Lamb the sheep redeems. Our Brother, he became one of us, is both the sacrificial lamb and a member of the body to be redeemed (without sin but in sympathy). In his resurrection the psalmist promise becomes ours to hold.
Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices, my body, too, abides in confidence; Because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world, nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.
Personal Reflection
We are called to be one with all— in reconciliation, in compassion, in love.
Whatever state of life we encounter— even those we may find difficult or unsettling— is not a barrier to charity.
We are to be with one another, without sin, but never without love.
Greetings on this the Holy Saturday At the Easter Vigil in the Holy Night of Easter Readings: (various)
Summary
Then God said, “Let there be… And so it happened. God looked at everything he had made, and found it very good.
Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth (Ps 104:30). You are my inheritance, O Lord (Ps 16:1). Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory (Ex 15:1b). I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me (Ps 30:2a). You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation (Isa 12:3). Lord, you have the words of everlasting life (Jn 6:68c). Like a deer that longs for running streams, my soul longs for you, my God (Ps 42:2).
Reflection
Brothers and sisters: Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life. (Rm 6:3-4).
Personal Reflection
Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” (Mt 28:10).
The human family struggles even in this hour.
Who am I?
Why am I?
What is my final end?
We men and women of faith say:
God wills you live.
God loves your life.
God wishes to be with us in a holy union forever.
Throughout these difficult days we can recognize the human weakness that brings such ills. In the great mystery, each year we sing it although we barely try to actually understand it nor apply its message. The necessary sin of Adam.
This is the night when Christ broke the prison-bars of death and rose victorious from the underworld.
Our birth would have been no gain, had we not been redeemed. O wonder of your humble care for us! O love, O charity beyond all telling, to ransom a slave you gave away your Son!
O truly necessary sin of Adam, destroyed completely by the Death of Christ!
O happy fault that earned for us so great, so glorious a Redeemer!
O truly blessed night, worthy alone to know the time and hour when Christ rose from the underworld!
Greetings on this the Saturday of the Seventh Week of Easter Readings: Acts 28:16-20, 30-31; Psalm 11:4, 5 and 7; John 21:20-25
Summary
Peter turned and saw the disciple following whom Jesus loved, the one who had also reclined upon his chest during the supper and had said, “Master, who is the one who will betray you?” When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” (Jn 21:20-21).
This is a wonderful insert to the Gospel of John that is out of place in chronological order and yet perfectly placed to encounter the Parousia (the completion of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ) and the divine plan for each and every person (in the ‘now’ of life). If you want to follow the logic the twin sacred readings are John 13 and John 21. Both are in proximity to meals (the institution of the Eucharist (Jn 13) and the seashore meal of fish post-Resurrection (Jn 21)).
There are two questions here and Jesus answers the second question.
Question 1. “Master, who is the one who will betray you?” – this question is answered in the first presentation of the scene in John 13. Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I hand the morsel after I have dipped it.” So he dipped the morsel and [took it and] handed it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot (Jn 13:26).
Question 2. “Lord, what about him?” – asked only in the second recapitulation of the scene. Jesus said to him, “What if I want him to remain until I come (the final completion of the Parousia)? What concern is it of yours? You follow me.” (Jn 21:22).
Reflection
On first encounter one is tempted to only address the future of The Beloved Disciple. “What about”, “What if”.
But the insertion here is the wondering of the future of two men:
Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot.
John, the beloved disciple.
Peter is always ready to give us our deepest questions as the foils of our instinct.
The divine answer is “What if?“. Or said in modern terms, “Why ask?“.
The big difference and the natural disappointment is that this is after Peter is reconciled with Jesus in the “Love me” rehabilitation dialog and Jesus emphasized his [Peter’s] role in the church. But he (God bless my brother, Peter) still instinctually needed to ask “Lord, what about him?”
Personal Reflection
I was going to call this post “Compare and Contrast”. But that is the dead-end logic Jesus wants us to avoid.
After the betrayal (Jn 13) – Jesus gives The New Commandment. After the question about John (Jn 21) – Jesus gives Peter a reminder of his mission. Jesus said to him, “What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours? You follow me (Jn 21:22).
We all share completely the imperative of the New Commandment.
We all share proportionally the institution and purpose of the Rock.
Tomorrow is Pentecost – the Universal gift of the person of God completed (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). You personal mission, my personal mission, is the unique ways I am given to the imperative and the proportional. May the Spirit of God dwell with in you!
It is not for my brain/soul to consider the fate of Judas. It is not for my brain to consider John, the beloved disciple’s death. Their future is known only to God. For me I am to know God and to make his love known. Jesus’ words to Peter are the same words to me (btw, Pope Francis answered correctly – Who am I to judge?):
Mercy is the fullness of Justice – because Justice is ultimately Right Relation.
Greetings on this the Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter Readings: Acts 25:13b-21; Psalm 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20ab; John 21:15-19
Summary
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”* He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” (Jn 21:15).
He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” (Jn 21:15b). He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” (Jn 21:16). [Jesus] said to him, “Feed my sheep (Jn 21:17).
Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” (Jn 21:18).
NABRE Commentary – Originally probably a proverb about old age, now used as a figurative reference to the crucifixion of Peter. [Me again] and for us the hourglass sands reminding us
Reflection
Focus.
Jesus is asking Peter to focus:
Not on his 3x mistake of denial.
Not on power and organization.
Not on self-importance, self-awareness and self-improvement.
Focus instead:
Focus on the sheep.
The people whom God loves.
Love whom I love, says the Lord.
Personal Reflection
When we are young we have a type of reckless abandon in our activities (whether virtuous or otherwise). There is a certain type of power and immortality associated with being young. But now old, I see things much differently. Focus. We need to focus on what we can do and what we use our limited energy for. Not to limit the giving. But to focus the giving in alignment with the gift and the gift giver.
Tend and feed are correlation to protect and guard – a earlier theme of scared readings this week.
Hourglass sands flow – how shall they flow?
The hourglass sands continue to flow. Let them flow in love.
Greetings on this the Memorial of Saint Boniface, Bishop and Martyr Readings: Acts 22:30; 23:6-11; Psalm 16:1-2a and 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11; John 17:20-26
Summary
In today’s sacred reading of the Gospel, we complete the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus.
Father, they are your gift to me (Jn 17:24a).
Gift implies something about the giver and the receiver. In this case, the gift is the entirely of the Father (person and possession – if you will). We know this because we exist in the Father. The inheritance of the Son is the Father himself whom which contains us the children.
I wish that where I am (I AM and where I am, both) they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world (Jn 17:24b).
Jesus continues the gift effect.
And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me (Jn 17:22-23).
Reflection
There are three loves in our life here on Earth that practically every one can relate to, either directly or by proximity.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph
Parents.
Spouse.
Children.
In these loves comes the response of gift awareness. As we mature we begin to understand Jesus’ words more clearly. Spouses gift themselves and the children are living in the gift. Parent and child (we share in rotation, no?), are the evidence of gift and the depth of the gift imparts – self.
You, dear reader, are a gift to me. We know there is little separation between us except which we enforce. Rather we are children of the Creator first and foremost. The final answer of Jesus and his prayer – gift! We are gift!
Personal Reflection
Jesus gives me the divine hope of gift. Generationally, progeny, and the discovery of new love and the living in the giftedness of love. Here I must remember my Mom who taught me gift.
Greetings on this the Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter Readings: Acts 20:28-38; Psalm 68:29-30, 33-35a, 35bc-36ab; John 17:11b-19
Summary
When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me, and I guarded them, and none of them was lost (Jn 17:12).
In this day and age words blend together. I read somewhere that definitions of words are always in a continuous shift from one meaning to another. The shift is usually slight and incremental but over time the effects can be that the words no longer hold to their proper (or formal) meaning but blended together into a near meaningless stewpot of indistinction.
I am really attentive to this question as I am not very good at keeping the crisp meanings as a practice but I do maintain them as a discipline. So, to protect and guard. These are complementary actions. These are both necessary.
To Protect is to have a continuous diligence in maintaining bodily integrity of the subject. For a human this would include a healthy diet and providing wet weather gear as examples.
To Guard is to be prepared to actively repel, deflect or destroy an agent’s action to attempt to harm the subject.
In the spiritual sense of things, the words of Saint Paul’s Farewell speech bring another dimension of understanding.
The Word is to Protect you. And now I commend you to God and to that gracious word of his that can build you up and give you the inheritance among all who are consecrated (Acts 20:32). And to guard you (by the holy Spirit), Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock of which the holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, in which you tend the church of God that he acquired with his own blood (Acts 20:28).
Reflection
In every way I have shown you that by hard work of that sort we must help the weak, and keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus who himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ (Acts 20:35). We are all weak. Everyone of us. Each of us needs to be protected and guarded. First by the Lord and then by each other. As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world (Jn 17:18).
We protect that they may have Joy in Truth. We guard them from that which would harm their innocence.
Personal Reflection
Friends protect and guard each other. Not in an overbearing way but in the nuanced way that does not interfere with their dignity, autonomy, integrity a/k/a self-directedness. It takes wisdom and practice to do it well. Sometimes we fail to get it right. But when directed toward joy and divine presence it is more correct than not.
We must help the weak. Perhaps best understood as to defend people when they are most vulnerable. Since I often write on social justice issues, I must pause to note the wickedness of our immigration policy and deportation madness. I’ll stop there.
On the Trail, I hike with listening ears. Ninety-nine percent of my ministry is listening (silently praying in synch with the dialog – praying to stay open, praying for healing the speaker) and being open to the voice of another. Trusting each other in truth. Crying together. Finding the protection and the guardianship we are given to share.
Greetings on this the Memorial of Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions, Martyrs Readings: Acts 20:17-27; Psalm 68:10-11, 20-21; John 17:1-11a
Summary
The “high priestly prayer” of Jesus is the climax of the effective purpose of his ministry.
I pray for them (Jn 17:9).
Reflection
I will ask the Father and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always (Jn 14:16). The friendship of God is sealed with the Holy Spirit which we celebrate this coming Sunday as Pentecost. Our highest prayer is to ask for these things for all peoples. In imitation of Jesus we ask for the same things by his power and love.
Personal Reflection
My first day back therefore a short reflection on my mission in Christ and on my journey.
The height of the ministry of Jesus is his High Priestly prayer – communion with the Father God – for us:
Keep us safe,
Fill us with Joy,
Consecrate us to truth,
Be all One,
Share the divine glory,
Be with the divine and;
Be loved and live in love forever.
Paul’s Farewell – A Model
Paul’s farewell and my personal wish that on my final day the same can be said:
“But now I know that none of you to whom I preached the kingdom during my travels will ever see my face again. And so I solemnly declare to you this day that I am not responsible for the blood of any of you, for I did not shrink from proclaiming to you the entire plan of God.”
(Acts 20:25-27).
Scripture:
Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are (Jn 17:11b).
I speak this in the world so that they may share my joy completely (Jn 17:13).
Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth (Jn 17:17).
I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you (Jn 17:20-21).
And I have given them the glory you gave me (Jn 17:22).
I wish that where I am they also may be with me (Jn 17:24).
That the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them (Jn 17:26).
