Fifth Sunday of Easter
Those of you who had reached the age of reason by 1970, perhaps, will remember the small-pox menace. This deadly virus killed hundreds of thousands of people. And finally, in a global attempt, the virus was eradicated from the known world. Fourty years later, though, a huge debate is brewing about the small-pox virus, which is preserved in two laboratories, one in Russia and the other in the United States. Other countries, especially poorer countries are proposing that there is no merit in preserving a virus as destructive as this one. There are others, though, who say that the virus must be preserved for the sake of science. However, as the discussion heats up, we realize that the decision to either destroy or preserve the virus is more about politics than about anything else. There is tremendous fear on behalf of the Russians and the Americans that the virus could be used as a biological weapon and that the side without the virus could end up with a debilitating disadvantage. This is just one example of how the world, as beautiful and delightful as it is, is also beset with problems. The manner in which we go about solving our most complex issues will reveal the character of the people of our time.
Saturday of the Fourth Week of Easter
“All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God,” announces the response of today’s psalm.. We hear these words today immediately after we hear the story of Paul and Barnabas and the great mission to the gentiles. Gentiles, that is non-Jews, were generally regarded by Jews as outside of God’s saving power. Therefore, Jesus’ universal call, including Jews and Gentiles, is one of the most distinctive things about Him. He came from the Jewish tradition and He’s very clearly rooted in it, but His mission is universal.
Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter
An acquaintance of mine, Shane Claibourne, has become a little bit famous recently because he's been writing books about following Jesus. He's got his photo on book covers and he's invited all over the country for speaking engagements. Ironically, just this week I've heard some people denounce him, saying that he's not really following Christ - he's too interested in the glamor of fame.
Thursday of the Fourth Week of Easter
In this 4th Week of Easter, we have been following the story of the early Church. Recent readings have emphasized the importance of the inclusion of the Gentiles. But today we hear Paul preaching in a synagogue, at the invitation of local synagogue officials. How interesting! Christianity was now unambiguously open to Gentiles in the eyes of the early Church, and yet, Paul had not given up on sharing the message of the Jewish Messiah with the Jews. Moreover, Paul and companions remained comfortable in the synagogue, which had been their place of prayer for their entire lives.
Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Easter
Everyone knows that to have a good story you need to start with the words, “Once upon a time...”. The Bible, our collection of stories, has a similar phrase, “In the Beginning…”. This phrase is used to start out the very beginning of the Bible in Genesis and also to start the Gospel of John. On some levels, John calls us to remember Genesis by using these words. Yet where he goes after that can take us off guard. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1) It is this Johannine understanding of the Word which echoed in my heart upon hearing the first reading.
Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Easter
In modern life it is often difficult to remain focused on our task as Christians. This is especially true during those times when we encounter stress, hardship, suffering, struggles, and opposition. At times such as these doubts naturally arise and we may question what the point is of following Jesus. The readings for today help to reinforce the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd in such a way that provides reassurance in times of doubt, suffering, or trouble.
Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter
Happy Easter! Alleluia, Christ is truly risen! We are now in the fourth week of celebrating Easter. In this season, we have been focusing on the joyfulness of Christ’s resurrection. For, while life is not all about joy, Christ’s resurrection is the greatest source of joy we could have. For our church this is so important that the celebration of Easter lasts longer than the penitential season of Lent.
Fourth Sunday of Easter
One of the most vexing questions that I have been asked in the last two weeks has been about the killing of Osama bin Laden. Clearly, there are people who are celebrating this killing and call his death the victory of Good over Evil. They think that justice has been finally been done. Some even carried out wild celebrations at ground zero in New York. The images of these celebrations will be added to other iconic images of our nation such as the landing on the moon and the eventual destruction of the World Trade Centres. And then there are people who feel clearly uncomfortable about such revelry. They are relieved that Bin Laden is no more, but quickly add that celebrating the killing of any person, including a known enemy, is offensive. The Catholic official voice was perhaps lost in the midst of all the political and patriotic claims. I will come to that in a little bit.
Feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle
Today’s scripture readings deal with the need for ministry and are good reminders that every Christian is called both to serve and to love. The First Reading, from the opening chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, is about the selection of St. Matthias, whose feast is celebrated today. According to this passage, Matthias was called to replace Judas Iscariot as the Twelfth Apostle even before the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost. He was one of only two individuals nominated for this position out of all those present from the earliest days of Jesus’ ministry thru His post-resurrection appearances. Yet, in contrast to the careful vetting and nomination process often used for church leaders today, Matthias was ultimately selected through the casting of lots, a practice that allowed God to make the final determination of Matthias’ fitness for this important position.
Friday of the Third Week of Easter
This Easter season, my thoughts keep returning again and again to the women at the tomb who ask each other, “Where is Jesus?” This is such an important question. We find ourselves confronted by a world that is unjust, violent and depressing, so of course we seek Jesus, who has promised us salvation. But where is he to be found?
Thursday of the Third Week of Easter
In today’s reading from the Gospel of John, Jesus continues to emphasize what He has been explaining to the crowd and to His disciples in the Gospel readings this entire week: He is the Bread of Life. Those who followed Moses and who ate the manna in the wilderness all eventually died. Jesus informs His listeners that if they eat of the Bread of Life, i.e. if they eat Jesus, they will not die but have eternal life. Jesus explains that the bread of which He speaks is His flesh.
Wednesday of the Third Week of Easter
One of the more haunting Catholic hymns is “I Am the Bread of Life” by Suzanne Toolan, RSM. Whenever this is sung at Mass, my mind transports me to the profound memory planning my Father’s funeral. I recall singing the songs to decide which ones I would choose. As I read through the lyrics for this song, tears streamed down my face. The tears were not only a product of dealing with my father’s death; they were also from the awe of encountering a song that connected so deeply with my experience and my faith.
Tuesday of the Third Week of Easter
Because the events of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection occurred such a long ago, sometimes it can seem as though they have little to do with our lives today. So much has happened in the mean time, and our world is very different today. In this situation it is natural to become distracted or to lose hope. I find myself having similar thoughts during this Easter season. We have undergone Lent and celebrated at Easter. We are now back to our day to day reality. How can we stay on track during this time?
Monday of the Third Week of Easter
As we begin this Third Week of Easter, we are called to keep in mind the resurrected Lord and continue to live in the Easter joy – the knowledge of our salvation through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. As we have done all Easter season, we continue to follow the stories of the early apostles as contained in the biblical book called the Acts of the Apostles. This is the sequel to our gospel stories, providing us with some kind of sense of how Jesus’ disciples lived the Christian life after Jesus’ death and resurrection. This week Stephen will feature prominently in the narrative contained in Acts.
Third Sunday of Easter
In many ways, this sermon is a continuation of my homily last week. I had said last week that the time after Easter is the most dangerous time for Christians because people give up their spiritual discipline and slip back into their old way of life. On the other hand, I had suggested that somehow, we must find the motivation to keep Christ in focus. No other passage describes this better than that gospel reading about the disciples on the road to Emmaus.
Saturday of the Second Week of Easter
Sandwiched in between two overtly Eucharistic sections of John’s Gospel – the story of the multiplication of the loaves and the Bread of Life discourse – is the story we have in today’s gospel reading of Jesus walking on water. I have found myself wondering on multiple occasions: why? Why would Jesus walk on water? What was He trying to communicate? Aren’t there many other things that would’ve been better uses of His time? Was this a kind of David Blane or Houdini act meant to marvel the disciples?
Friday of the Second Week of Easter
Last year, we visited the Cox Arboretum, which has a butterfly house open from late June to early September. My three-year-old Lucia and I were so mesmerized by the sight of so many different butterflies that we returned three or four times before the end of "butterfly season." In fact, it made such an impact on us that this year we decided to try planting our own butterfly garden with native Ohio plants. Now, to put this scenario in the appropriate context, you should know that up till now, my experience with growing plants has been limited to indoor plants, and I must admit that do not have much of a green thumb. So it is with a sense of improbability, perhaps even futility, that Lucia and I went to the prepared garden plot clutching packages of seeds and putting those seeds into the ground. Isn't it rather strange, when you think about it, that we should presume that the dried up remnants of last year's fruit would start growing again in a pile of mud?
Thursday of the Second Week of Easter
Easter continues, and so does the adventure story of the early Church. In today’s first reading we have an account of Peter and the Apostles being taken in for questioning before a court. Their answer to the court demonstrates the continuing commitment to Jesus and the gospel message: “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). They continue by telling the court that they are witnesses to the resurrection. It is evident that knowing Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection has fundamentally changed their lives. The bumbling Apostles of the gospels – often mistaken, often confused, often “weak in faith,” have become courageous leaders of the Church, finally unwilling to deny Jesus.
Wednesday of the Second Week of Easter
During Easter Season many parishes call on their people to reaffirm their baptismal promises at the Sunday Eucharist. The questions we are asked are based on the Creed. In this profession of faith the question and answer format uses the basic response “I do.” Many of us say it in unison as if we have said it a thousand times before. At Easter Vigil, our elect are invited to make their profession of faith in front of the whole community beside the font. This year what struck me was the response of one of men who was about to be baptized. His answer to the questions was a strong, “I believe.” This young man’s response left few with dry eyes. His journey had brought him a long way and his words came from the heart. My eyes fill with tears just thinking about his passion for what is now our shared faith.
Feast of Saint Philip and Saint James, Apostles
I often hear people saying that they wonder why God doesn’t make his existence more obvious to people. Why is it that God often seems to be hidden from our sight? If God wants to be known, then why is it so hard for people to get to know God and to come to have faith? One of the themes in the gospel reading for today is that God has in fact done a great deal to reveal himself in the person of Jesus Christ.