Saturday in the Octave of Easter
Readings for Saturday in the Octave of Easter
First Posted: Saturday, April 22, 2006
Turn the Page
Reflection:Just seven days ago we were in the depths of the tomb. Jesus of Nazareth was dead and we were in mourning. After the joy of Easter, this past week has been filed with good news in the Gospel (that was kind of a pun, but forgive me) as the closest friends of Jesus encounter him in the "Locked Room"; on the road to Emmaus; and while they were fishing. Today those stories continue with the one from Mark.
At the same time in the Acts of the Apostles, we see Peter and John performing amazing acts. While we were told that this was after Pentecost and the Holy Spirit was with them, it was almost like Christ returned from the dead. What a remarkable transformation the Holy Spirt made in them. Just last Saturday, when all that had been prophesied by the Savior and scripture had come to pass, they were both no where to be found. Peter had even denied even know the Christ three times. Yet there they are in the Temple in Jerusalem, the very heart of the power that had taken the Lord and hung him upon that tree and they are doing what Jesus did and speaking about him in ways that have made the Sanhedrin very nervous. Today the Sanhedrin tells them not to do that (proclaim the Good News) any more. As if...
If we did not understand the powerful gift the Lord had left us we would think these people were not the same ones who a very short time ago had run away in fear. (Of course John had a little added help, didnt he? Remember, he had returned to stand at the foot of the cross, and Jesus, even in the most desperate of circumstances, with minutes left to live, made absolutely sure that his mother (our Mother) Mary was taken care of by John. So the "disciple whom Jesus loved", into whose care was entrusted the Queen of Angles, did have some help from home.)
We saw twice in the past week how the Eucharist has been a constant unifying presence since the earliest days. Jesus made himself known to the disciples who were on their way to Emmaus at the blessing and breaking of the bread (which this author proposes was the Eucharistic blessing "Take this and eat it, this is my body broken for you." We saw it again when he was on the shore with them after their fishing trip. (Oh, and there was another interesting little situation wasnt it. Here we have James and John, Zebedees sons, both professional fishermen, unable to find a thing and all the Lord does is say; "Cast your net to the left." and bingo - a net so full they cant pull it in.) But they knew him in the breaking of the bread.
It has been an amazing week in which we have celebrated the long awaited resurrection. We still have some weeks before we get to Pentecost, but in that time what will we do with all of the Lenten spirituality we have worked so hard to build up? We can't just go back to the way we were! We made promises, we worked hard to change ourselves and our behaviors in fundamental ways. Now, during this time of afterglow, as we bask in the light of the new flame, is the time to keep that effort going. Lets build upon what we have started with our Lenten discipline. If we gave of ourselves during the season just past, lets continue that practice to the greater glory of God. If we were able to change how we think or how we act, let us vow not to go back but to go forward. The idea is to continually move closer to the Lord whose model is our ideal. Even though we know we cannot, in this life, achieve the perfection with which he (or indeed his Mother) was born with, we can move closer.
It is like that dusty old road to Emmaus, we shuffle along that road and we know in our hearts that Christ is traveling with us. But sometimes we take side trips and walk away from the light. Lent is a course correction. It brings us back closer to the Lord as that winding path unfolds. It is up to us to see it clearly and it is only through the lense of faith that it is possible to do so. Oh, and that lense needs to be cleaned regularly so continue to take advantage of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Pax
Readings for Saturday in the Octave of Easter
First Posted: Saturday, April 22, 2006
Turn the Page
Reflection:Just seven days ago we were in the depths of the tomb. Jesus of Nazareth was dead and we were in mourning. After the joy of Easter, this past week has been filed with good news in the Gospel (that was kind of a pun, but forgive me) as the closest friends of Jesus encounter him in the "Locked Room"; on the road to Emmaus; and while they were fishing. Today those stories continue with the one from Mark.
At the same time in the Acts of the Apostles, we see Peter and John performing amazing acts. While we were told that this was after Pentecost and the Holy Spirit was with them, it was almost like Christ returned from the dead. What a remarkable transformation the Holy Spirt made in them. Just last Saturday, when all that had been prophesied by the Savior and scripture had come to pass, they were both no where to be found. Peter had even denied even know the Christ three times. Yet there they are in the Temple in Jerusalem, the very heart of the power that had taken the Lord and hung him upon that tree and they are doing what Jesus did and speaking about him in ways that have made the Sanhedrin very nervous. Today the Sanhedrin tells them not to do that (proclaim the Good News) any more. As if...
If we did not understand the powerful gift the Lord had left us we would think these people were not the same ones who a very short time ago had run away in fear. (Of course John had a little added help, didnt he? Remember, he had returned to stand at the foot of the cross, and Jesus, even in the most desperate of circumstances, with minutes left to live, made absolutely sure that his mother (our Mother) Mary was taken care of by John. So the "disciple whom Jesus loved", into whose care was entrusted the Queen of Angles, did have some help from home.)
We saw twice in the past week how the Eucharist has been a constant unifying presence since the earliest days. Jesus made himself known to the disciples who were on their way to Emmaus at the blessing and breaking of the bread (which this author proposes was the Eucharistic blessing "Take this and eat it, this is my body broken for you." We saw it again when he was on the shore with them after their fishing trip. (Oh, and there was another interesting little situation wasnt it. Here we have James and John, Zebedees sons, both professional fishermen, unable to find a thing and all the Lord does is say; "Cast your net to the left." and bingo - a net so full they cant pull it in.) But they knew him in the breaking of the bread.
It has been an amazing week in which we have celebrated the long awaited resurrection. We still have some weeks before we get to Pentecost, but in that time what will we do with all of the Lenten spirituality we have worked so hard to build up? We can't just go back to the way we were! We made promises, we worked hard to change ourselves and our behaviors in fundamental ways. Now, during this time of afterglow, as we bask in the light of the new flame, is the time to keep that effort going. Lets build upon what we have started with our Lenten discipline. If we gave of ourselves during the season just past, lets continue that practice to the greater glory of God. If we were able to change how we think or how we act, let us vow not to go back but to go forward. The idea is to continually move closer to the Lord whose model is our ideal. Even though we know we cannot, in this life, achieve the perfection with which he (or indeed his Mother) was born with, we can move closer.
It is like that dusty old road to Emmaus, we shuffle along that road and we know in our hearts that Christ is traveling with us. But sometimes we take side trips and walk away from the light. Lent is a course correction. It brings us back closer to the Lord as that winding path unfolds. It is up to us to see it clearly and it is only through the lense of faith that it is possible to do so. Oh, and that lense needs to be cleaned regularly so continue to take advantage of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Pax
posted by Deacon Jim | 3:23 AM
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