Th-th-th-that's NOT all, folks!

One week ago, we were all rejoicing at the glory of Christ's resurrection.  We recalled His triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  We mourned as we remembered His cruel death.  We waited in silence, as we called to mind His time in the grave.  On Sunday, though, we were full of joy as we relived the discovery of an empty tomb.  There it is.  One more Easter in the books.  Let's move along and bide our time until Memorial Day.  Check off another holiday!

Not so fast!

In the Catholic Church, we celebrate a time known as the Octave of Easter.  Eight days of singing the Gloria! and letting forth a resounding Alleluia!  Today, on the eighth day, we celebrate the Feast of Divine Mercy.  How glorious it is to call to mind the great mercy of God, who sent His Son for our salvation.  Check off another holy day!

Not so fast!

This is just the beginning!  We also celebrate not just one day, but a season of fifty days of Easter!  From Easter Sunday, we spend the next 7 weeks delighting in the goodness of His life, which brings us life.  After 40 days of fasting, alms giving, and prayer, we take this period of time to express our thanks to God.  At the end of these fifty days, we will reach another wonderful time:  Pentecost.

Maybe it's a bit too soon to put away the pastel decorations and toss the Easter lily.

The Lord is risen.  He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!

The World Through My Eyes

As most of my readers are aware, I am a person who struggles with anxiety, worry, and panic attacks.  It is something I've battled most of my life.  When faced with a new, or unfamiliar situation, something builds up inside me.  I can't concentrate on anything but that situation, and how I will solve it or end it.  It has been the shadow that follows me whenever change is about to take place.

One would think, then, that with the worldwide pandemic situation, I would be a mess.  All the usual things should be plaguing me:  Who else is going to contract coronavirus?  How many more people will die?  What if one of my family members shows symptoms?  What if life has changed forever?  What if this quickly-moving virus has stolen everything we thought we knew?

I can honestly say, though, this has not happened to me.  I am naturally concerned.  I do worry some when I feel like people are basically "thumbing their noses" to all the advice given by the medical professionals.  On a GOOD day, washing our hands, covering our coughs, drinking plenty of fluids, etc., is great advice.  These steps help protect us from the common cold, flu, and other viruses.  After having gone through two fairly rough battles with two different strains of influenza, I will testify to the necessity of these basic hygiene steps.  They are a bulwark again any germ that strives to grow

But these are not "good" days in our world, are they?  Millions of people have contracted COVID-19.  Over 100,000 people have died.  Healthcare workers and hospitals are stretched beyond their limits.  Businesses have been shut down.  Unemployment has skyrocketed.  We have learned a new "normal" as we have adapted to social distancing, staying at home, washing and rewashing our hands, sanitizing surfaces repeatedly, and watching the reports to see how the fight against this pandemic is progressing.

But, I'm not worried.  I have had one small panic attack during this entire ordeal, and it wasn't directly related to all of this.  It was just a normal life thing.

How is that possible?!

The answer can be found in today's Gospel reading from Luke 24: 
"While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, 'Peace be with you.'”

The world of Jesus's disciples had been turned upside down.  He had been arrested, crucified, and buried.  The tomb was now empty.  They weren't completely sure what to do or believe.  Then, He came to them.  Knowing the turmoil in their hearts, His first words:  "Peace be with you" spoke to the core of their beings.

The same risen Lord is speaking that to us today as well.  He knows the world is crazy.  He knows there is disease, anxiety, confusion, and despair.  Yet He still speaks those simple words, "Peace be with you."  He has overcome the grave.  We no longer need to fear death.

"Peace be with you!"

The Light Shines in the Darkness

As a continuation of my last post from Holy Saturday...

Everything seemed dark for the followers of Jesus.  It had all come crashing down so suddenly.  The joyful celebration of Palm Sunday had so quickly turned into the frightening, tear-filled night of Holy Thursday.  The ruthless death of crucifixion had taken Him from them.  Three years of learning, growing, sacrificing...and for what?  The future loomed ahead with so many unanswered questions.

Early Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene came to them with the craziest notion:  she had seen the Lord.  Alive.  He spoke to her.  There were angels as well, telling her not to seek the living among the dead.  What was this nonsense?  Peter and John ran to the tomb.  Someone must have stolen the body of Jesus, and was playing some kind of cruel trick.

But stepping into the darkened space, they saw something beyond belief.  There was no longer a body of a dead Man.  There was the simple burial cloth, folded and set aside.  If someone had stolen His body, they wouldn't have taken the time to do that, would they?

So many questions.  Mary's answer didn't seem plausible.  Yet she was so emphatic that she had actually seen Jesus and heard His voice.  Could it be?  How could it be?

Two other disciples showed up with another impossible story.  A man had been walking along the road to Emmaus with them.  When they stopped for their evening meal, they invited the man to stay with them.  As the time approached for the blessing, they asked their visitor to pray.  In His actions, they began to know and truly see.  As soon as He left them (disappeared, they said!), they returned to Jerusalem to tell the eleven disciples.  Is this really happening?  It all seemed too incredible to be true!

And then, in the darkness of their fear, disbelief, and suspicions, He was there.  In the very room where they sat, He suddenly appeared.  The room was immediately filled with a new light!

"Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, 'Peace to you.' But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit. And he said to them, 'Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have.'  And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said to them, 'Have you anything here to eat?' They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them."

As John would later testify, "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—the life was made manifest, and we saw it, and testify to it, and proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you may have fellowship with us; and our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ." 

There would still be doubts and questions in the coming days.  But now they had all seen Him, heard His voice, witnessed His wounds, and observed Him eating a piece of fish.  His light had pierced the darkness of their despair.

Though they had thought His story had ended at the cross, they could now see that it really began at that empty tomb!

"In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."  John 1:4-5

Stunned Silence

As we observe this Holy Week, beginning with Palm Sunday (followed by Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday, Holy Wednesday (Spy Wednesday), Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday), Good Friday (Holy Friday), and Holy Saturday), there is the gamut of emotions. 

Palm Sunday began with the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.  Crowds took up the shouts of “Hosanna to the Son of David”, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming!”, and “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”  Palm branches and garments were strewn across His path.  Such actions were surely in recognition of a king, or maybe…the Messiah?  He was nothing less than a great teacher or prophet, this Nazarene.  Stories of His teachings, His miracles of healing, the multiplying of bread and fish, and even the raising of the dead had circulated throughout the countryside.  The pilgrims were numerous, as they approached the city to celebrate the great Feast of the Passover in the coming days.  The crowds swelled, and the shouts of adoration and honor rang out as this simple, humble Carpenter approached.

The religious leaders recognized the center of attention right away.  They, too, knew the stories of His miracles and teachings.  This was no ordinary man.  Most of the leaders felt threatened by His mere presence.  And here He was, riding on a donkey, and accepting the acclamation given by the people.  They tried to put a stop to it at once.  From Luke 19:39-40:  “And some of the Pharisees in the multitude said to him, ‘Teacher, rebuke your disciples.’ He answered, ‘I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.’”  The mood of the crowd does not appear to have been dampened in the least.

On the following day, Jesus taught in the temple, answered the questions meant to entrap Him, and did not shy away from public attention.  I’m sure many in Jerusalem were further intrigued by the authority of the teachings given by this Man.  He was welcomed into the Holy City with shouts of triumph.  The leaders seemed to be against Him.  And yet, here He was in the temple, teaching publicly.  He even tossed over some tables, and not a finger was laid on Him!  (see Luke 19:45-48)

“Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Laz′arus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.” (John 12:1)  He traveled outside the city to the home of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary—a journey of about 2 miles.  Here, He and His disciples were given a supper.  For all appearances, this did not seem to differ from previous visits.  However, a seemingly small act changed it all.  Mary knelt at the feet of Jesus, and poured costly, perfumed oil on His feet, then wiped His feet with her hair.  In a moment of insight and foreshadowing, the writer notes a comment made by Judas—who would betray Him—that this oil could have been sold, and the money given to the poor.  “This he said, not that he cared for the poor but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box he used to take what was put into it.” (John 12:6)  I can only imagine the puzzled glances as Jesus responded that she was anointing Him for his burial.  (Matthew 26:12)

Judas began showing his true colors over the next few days, as he proceeded back into the city and cut a deal with the chief priests.  “What will you give me if I deliver Him to you?”  That day, thirty pieces of silver became the price of more than one life.

As the Feast of Passover approached, Jesus gave instructions for the celebration of the Seder (a Jewish ritual service and ceremonial dinner).  A room was secured, provisions purchased, and preparations made.  Perhaps they felt a bit of hopefulness in the traditions being practiced.  Surely Jesus was merely tired when He kept speaking of His impending death?  The Passover was a time to rejoice and celebrate the release from captivity.

Jesus began the evening by washing the feet of His disciples.  This was usually the job of the lowest of servants.  Yet here He was on bended knee, washing the dust and filth from their feet, and wiping them dry with a towel.  Obviously, this made His followers very uncomfortable.  Peter even decried the actions.  Jesus made it very clear that this was an important moment, though.  This was an action He wanted them to imitate, as they learned to serve each other as well as any others under their care.

He then spoke of a betrayal that would take place.  No one seemed to see Judas as a suspect, as they all questioned Him, “Is it I?”  Almost immediately after this, Judas went away to fulfill his agreement with the leaders.  Where was Judas going?  Was he taking an offering to the poor in observance of this holy feast?

As the evening wore on, Jesus then altered the ceremony.  As He offered the bread, He called it His own body, which would be given up for them.  Instead of the usual cup blessing, He spoke of it as His blood, which would be poured out for them.  What was this?! Certainly not the traditional words they had spoken since their childhood. 

Following the meal, they went out to the Kidron valley to pray.  There is a garden there, at the foot of the Mount of Olives.  There, Jesus walked away to pray by Himself.  There, He fought the final battle.  Upon His return to His disciples, He found them sleeping.  It had been a long day, filled with the final preparations for their celebration.  Still, could they not pray with Him for even one hour?  Surely they felt embarrassed.

From this point, events began to happen in rapid succession.  The temple guards, led by Judas, came into the garden.  Judas kissed Jesus.  Peter cut off a servant’s ear.  Jesus healed the man.  Then, He was bound and taken away.  The disciples ran, supposing they too could be arrested.  John alone followed at a distance. 

Later, Peter would find his way into the courtyard of the building where Jesus had been taken. 

He would be filled with shame, as, when questioned by others, he would deny even knowing Jesus.

All too soon, morning arrived, and Jesus was taken by the leaders to Pilate, then to Herod, and back again to Pilate.  In an attempt to appease the crowds, yet not condemn an innocent man, Pilate offered to release Jesus.  It was a common act of good will at each year’s Passover.  But the leaders stirred up the crowd, and they shouted, “Away with Him!  Give us Barabbas!”  Upon further insistence of this Man’s innocence, they responded to Pilate with even more vigor, “Crucify Him!”

And so it was.  He was scourged (a horrible, brutal whipping).  He was mocked.  He was crowned with a thorny wreath.  He was spit upon.  His blood oozed from wounds which marred His entire body.  He was given a cross to carry.  His weakened, battered body was given a burden so cruel.  Yet the bigger burden was unseen, for He was carrying the very sin of the world on His shoulders.

In the end, His was a death common to so many others who were crucified.  He was nailed to the crossbeam, both through His hands and feet.  The cross was lifted for all to see.  He was mocked, even by others suffering the same fate.  There was a difference, though.  This Man called out for His Father to forgive his tormentors.  He offered no words of anger or revilement.  There was no response to the accusations of, “He saved others.  Let Him come down from the cross and save Himself.”  He answered not a word. 

With His last breath, He spoke the simple words: “It is finished (accomplished, consummated).”  Then He bowed His head and died. 

Anguish. 

In the moments after His death, Joseph of Arimathea asked for Jesus’s body to be given to him.  The women who were there followed him, and Nicodemus provided the spices and oils to prepare His body for burial.  The religious leaders asked for a guard and a seal for the tomb.

So there they were.  Holy Saturday.  A day of stunned silence.  All the hopes and dreams of the past three years seem to be as dead as the Man who invoked them.  They didn’t know the end of the story.  They only knew what they could observe.  He was dead.  Their lives were more than likely at risk as well.  Judas hanged himself.  All seemed lost.

They hid in stunned silence.

As we have journeyed through this Lent and the COVID-19 situation at the same time, you may be feeling somewhat similar emotions.  Our world has come to an almost standstill.  Our usual preparations for celebrating Easter have been stifled by an invisible, yet very real enemy.  Our hopes may seem as buried in despair as the hopes of the disciples almost 2,000 years ago.  Have you experienced the gamut of emotions they felt during that first Holy Week?  Are you feeling that stunned silence?  

Have great hope, my friends.  He has promised a resurrection.  Not just His own, but ours as well.

It may seem like a silent, Holy Saturday.  But Sunday is most assuredly on the way!