Notes from the Pastor

What gives us joy? The beauties of nature, surely! And children. How Jesus rejoiced when little children climbed onto his lap! “Let the little children come to me,” he said. And what joy he must have felt when he brought physical and spiritual healing to people. The deepest source of Jesus’ joy, however, was his loving relationship with his heavenly Father, his Abba. Jesus tells us that wherever he might go, whatever he might do, he remains in his Father’s loving embrace.

Despite any illusions that we are “self-sufficient,” if we are truly honest, we must admit that we cannot “do it all” by ourselves. We will not be useful, productive, or successful unless we go about our tasks and accomplish our mission in and through the power of Jesus Christ. But really, that is a good thing! Having Jesus Christ, Spirit-filled and risen from the dead on our side, and empowered by the gifts of God’s Holy Spirit, is what truly gives value and meaning to whatever we do.

All four of the canonical Gospels use the metaphor of Jesus as shepherd. Indeed, the image is deeply woven into the language of the Old Testament, where God is often described as a shepherd and Israel as his chosen flock. Originally, the people of Israel saw their kings as having been appointed by God to lead the people, as a shepherd would lead his flock. But some of the kings of Israel were so unfaithful to God that they were actually leading the people away from God by their bad example. By the time of the Babylonian Exile in 587 BC, the image of the shepherd was no longer applied to earthly kings, but to God himself. The language of the image continues to give us some of our most beloved spiritual images. We need only recall the opening words of Psalm 23 - “The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want.”

Today’s Gospel (Luke 24:35-48) follows the encounter the two disciples had with the risen Jesus on the road to Emmaus, where they had recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread. Now, these same two disciples have returned to Jerusalem to share news of this encounter with the Apostles who had gathered in the Upper Room where the Last Supper had taken place. The Apostles are hidden there, staying out of sight for fear that those who killed Jesus would soon be coming for them.

Healing plays a huge role in our society. As a nation, we spend billions of dollars annually on healthcare. Like our physical health, our spiritual health also needs attention. Throughout the Gospels, physical and spiritual healing are major characteristics of the ministry of Jesus. Some healings are recalled in great detail, while others are simply mentioned in passing. Yet, all of these healings are signs of the Kingdom of God.

One year ago, we were still in the early weeks of the coronavirus pandemic, and yet so much had already changed. Public Masses were not allowed, so as to reduce the potential exposure to the virus. The Sacred Triduum - Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday - were celebrated in an empty church with only the priests and a couple of people in attendance to provide music and other assistance. It was the most unusual Holy Week I have ever experienced, and Easter seemed to lack the unbridled joy that we associate with our celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord. Today, we are more than a year into the pandemic, and though public health orders still limit social gatherings, we are able to celebrate Mass in our church once again, and advances in vaccines and health care hold the promise of brighter days ahead for a world that has suffered greatly because of the coronavirus. So today, let us again rejoice!

Holy Week begins today and we should enter this week with reverence, enthusiastically embracing the rituals associated with it. To celebrate Holy Week is, after all, to celebrate who we have become through Christ’s Paschal Mystery. I hope that throughout the season of Lent you have prayed, fasted, and performed works of charity. Lent ends with the beginning of Mass on Holy Thursday.

In today’s Gospel (John 12:20-33), we encounter Jesus in Jerusalem. He knows that the hour has come for him to be glorified. Jesus knows that he is about to die and he knows how it is to happen, as he refers to being “lifted up.” He says, “I will draw everyone to myself,” a fitting reminder to us that Jesus does not give his life only for the sins of a few, but so that all may be offered forgiveness and redemption. Jesus chooses to become that grain of wheat that falls to the ground and dies that it may produce the fruit of salvation for all who believe. He tells us that if we are to serve him, then we must follow him, taking up our crosses and joining him on Mount Calvary – that one day, we may more fully share in his victory.