“We are an Easter people and hallelujah is our song.”

“I am trying here to prevent anyone from saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: 'I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God.' That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic—on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God; or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” – (an excerpt from “Mere Christianity” by C.S. Lewis)

(Gospel Text: JN 20:1-9)

On the first day of the week,

Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning,

while it was still dark,

and saw the stone removed from the tomb.

So she ran and went to Simon Peter

and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,

“They have taken the Lord from the tomb,

and we don’t know where they put him.”

So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.

They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter

and arrived at the tomb first;

he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.

When Simon Peter arrived after him,

he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there,

and the cloth that had covered his head,

not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.

Then the other disciple also went in,

the one who had arrived at the tomb first,

and he saw and believed.

For they did not yet understand the Scripture

that he had to rise from the dead.

It is good news to know that Truth is immortal. We can suppress Truth, accuse it of being a lie, condemn it, torture it, kill it, bury it in the grave but on the third day Truth rose again. Remember this and do not give up on Truth even when everybody seems to give up on it. Do not give up on doing what is right. True will always be true. Just will always be just. Right will always be right even when the world around us would have it otherwise. We must learn to believe in the sun even when it is not shining, knowing that by and by it will shine again. It is the end of the story that counts. That is why the church asks us today to rejoice and be glad. Even when we are going through very difficult times: through betrayal, unjust discrimination, lies, misrepresentations; even when the enemy seems to be winning the battle.

Today Christ has won. And we know that in Christ we shall overcome. 

“Rest well, indeed. For tomorrow there is work to be done and a grave to be conquered.”

“To be sure, it was not Easter Sunday but Holy Saturday, but, the more I reflect on it, the more this seems to be fitting for the nature of our human life: we are still awaiting Easter; we are not yet standing in the full light but walking toward it full of trust.”― Pope Benedict XVI

(Scripture Text: ROM 6:3-11)

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.

For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his,

we shall also be united with him in the resurrection.

We know that our old self was crucified with him,

so that our sinful body might be done away with,

that we might no longer be in slavery to sin.

For a dead person has been absolved from sin.

If, then, we have died with Christ,

we believe that we shall also live with him.

We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more;

death no longer has power over him.

As to his death, he died to sin once and for all;

as to his life, he lives for God.

Consequently, you too must think of yourselves as being dead to sin

and living for God in Christ Jesus.

The tragedy of the crucifixion is past but the glories of the resurrection are not yet here. We are neither here nor there. We are stuck in the middle. What was is no more and what will be is not yet clear or known. It feels as if there is no where to go and nothing to do.

Today in the Catholic community, we have no Mass and no Holy Communion until we celebrate the Easter Vigil. It is a most peculiar day during which we identify with Jesus buried in the tomb. "Through baptism into His death we were buried with Him" (Rm 6:4).

Where is Christ on Holy Saturday? Reread the Apostles’ Creed. Remind yourself that on this day “He descended to the dead”.

Holy Saturday is a difficult day. We so much want joy to replace sorrow. That’s not what Jesus does. Instead, sorrow is transformed into joy, the tomb becomes a womb, and death gives birth to new life.

The cross was two pieces of dead wood; and a helpless, unresisting Man was nailed to it; yet it was mightier than the world

‘What is truth?’ So in that drama which decided the whole fate of antiquity, one of the central figures is fixed in what seems the reverse of his true role. Rome was almost another name for responsibility. Yet it stands for ever as a sort of rocking statue of the irresponsible. Man could do no more. Even the practical had become the impracticable. Standing between the pillars of his own judgment-seat, a Roman had washed his hands of the world.” ― G.K. Chesterton (The Everlasting Man)

(Scripture Text: HEB 4:14-16; 5:7-9)

Brothers and sisters:

Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens,

Jesus, the Son of God,

let us hold fast to our confession.

For we do not have a high priest

who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,

but one who has similarly been tested in every way,

yet without sin.

So let us confidently approach the throne of grace

to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.

In the days when Christ was in the flesh,

he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears

to the one who was able to save him from death,

and he was heard because of his reverence.

Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered;

and when he was made perfect,

he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.

Good Friday.  I’ve always thought that was a misnomer.  What is good about the day they crucified the Son of God?  Why was this part of God’s plan?  God’s plan seems painful and perplexing.  Even Jesus asked if there could be another way.  But what if God had changed His plan?  What if there was no crucifixion?  No atoning sacrifice.  No forgiveness.  Would we have a relationship with God?  If yes, I’m betting it would be more about fear than love.  Would we know Jesus?  Would we want to follow him or see him as a model?  What would love mean to me?  Would I even be able to feel love?  Love can be messy. But, boy, without it life would be pretty meaningless.  I guess Good Friday is critical in shaping who we are, how we live our lives, how we relate to God and how we relate to each other. 

Some people reject or do not understand Christ’s sacrifice.  Some do not understand the Catholic faith.  Even I don’t understand it fully.  That said, I recognize a gift from God and I am thankful for it.  I am thankful for the gift of faith.  God’s love, which appears at times to be messy to the human eye.  Confusing and mysterious.  Yet it works for me.

If you give it a chance and open your heart, it will work for you too.

“A living God must be served in a living way.”

The attitude of our littleness bowing down in front of the great is not yet an attitude of humility. It is simply, an attitude to truth. But when the great bows down before our littleness that is true humility - Monsignor Romano Guardini

Gospel text (Jn 13,1-15): It was before the feast of the Passover. Jesus realized that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father, and as He had loved those who were his own in the world, He would love them with perfect love. They were at supper and the devil had already put into the mind of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray. Jesus knew that the Father had entrusted all things to him, and as He had come from God, He was going to God. So He got up from table, removed his garment and taking a towel, wrapped it around his waist. Then He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel He was wearing.

When he came to Simon Peter, Simon said to him, «Why, Lord, you want to wash my feet!». Jesus said, «What I am doing you cannot understand now, but afterwards you will understand it». Peter replied, «You shall never wash my feet». Jesus answered him, «If I do not wash you, you can have no part with me». Then Simon Peter said, «Lord, wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head!». Jesus replied, «Whoever has taken a bath does not need to wash (except the feet), for he is clean all over. You are clean, though not all of you». Jesus knew who was to betray him; because of this he said, «Not all of you are clean».

When Jesus had finished washing their feet, He put on his garment again, went back to the table and said to them, «Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Master and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I, then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you also must wash one another's feet. I have just given you an example that as I have done, you also may do».

The entire meaning of Lent, Holy Thursday, the Easter Triduum, can be summed up in this sentence from the gospel of John, "He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end," since it speaks about the entire content of the life and mission of Jesus Christ; that is, to love his disciples and his brethren -- us, you, me, humanity -- to the very end.

Can we fully understand what this means? I would venture to say that no one can; not here, not at this moment in time. It is certain however that the path to understanding is experience: it is human life lived; it is the gift of self; it is sacrifice for love. In order to progress along that path, we as Catholics must enter into the life of Christ through daily prayer and the Sacraments, as fully and completely as is possible. It is not something accomplished from the outside, looking in from a distance.  It is something we must do for real, now, totally -- it is to be a first-hand and profoundly intimate experience.
 

A Christianity, which is lukewarm, may try to give the impression that Christ has loved us, and now that he has done that, it is over. But it is not over. It is not simply that Christ has loved; it is that he continually, constantly and permanently loves. Christ loves because He Is Love. Jesus heals, because he is the Love Who Heals. He gives himself to us because his love is infinite, and infinite love must by definition overflow all boundaries: it is uncontainable, limitless, fiery and burning and all-encompassing and transforming. No one touched by the love of Christ is ever the same. It changes you. Forever.

This night, our journey toward Calvary begins in earnest. But so does our journey toward Easter. Holy Communion is often referred to as “viaticum,” or food for the journey. Let us prepare to receive that food, so we can begin that journey. A journey of struggle and of faith. It is a journey that a billion others around the world are also undertaking with us on this sacred night. We share it with them for one beautiful and hopeful reason: we do this in remembrance of Him.

“How happy I am to see myself imperfect and be in need of God's mercy.”

Extend your mercy towards others, so that there can be no one in need whom you meet without helping. For what hope is there for us if God should withdraw His Mercy from us? --Saint Vincent de Paul

(Gospel Text: Mt 26:14-25)

One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, 
went to the chief priests and said,
“What are you willing to give me
if I hand him over to you?”
They paid him thirty pieces of silver,
and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread,
the disciples approached Jesus and said,
“Where do you want us to prepare
for you to eat the Passover?”
He said,
“Go into the city to a certain man and tell him,
‘The teacher says, My appointed time draws near; 
in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.”‘“
The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered,
and prepared the Passover.

When it was evening,
he reclined at table with the Twelve.
And while they were eating, he said, 
“Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”
Deeply distressed at this,
they began to say to him one after another,
“Surely it is not I, Lord?”
He said in reply,
“He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me
is the one who will betray me.
The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him,
but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed.
It would be better for that man if he had never been born.”
Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply,
“Surely it is not I, Rabbi?”
He answered, “You have said so.”

I didn't steal any cookies mommy! Says a little boy whose mother asked him if he was hungry, wiping the chocolate chips smear off of his chin.


Judas asked Jesus, after he had just announced to the apostles that one of them would betray him, "surely it is not I, Rabbi?"  To which Jesus replied, "You have said so."

What would have happened if Judas had repented his sins of betraying the Son of God? What if we, despite our sins, go to the confessional and receive the Divine Mercy of Jesus Christ? 

When Christ gazes at us there can be two very different fundamental reactions: Judas or Peter.  Peter repented.  Judas regretted.  Peter hoped.  Judas despaired. We all know the end of the story, so which one would you rather be like: Judas or Peter?

Many Catholics expect to encounter God in his vengeance and justice when they approach him through a priest in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  That could not be farther from the truth. For those who go to Confession regularly (i.e. once a month), they realize God only wishes to build us up, to make us more holy, and for us to grow closer to him.  Instead of meeting God in his wrath, we will see the arms of Jesus Christ wide open and “behold the Heart which has so loved men".  

May Our Lady, who accompanied Jesus in his Sacred Passion, accompany each of us to the mighty mercy of Jesus Christ, whose face is the face of mercy itself.