Easter Continues!
Thank you to Ben Baldonado, Bob Baker and all who acted in the Passion
Play Good Friday evening or helped in any way. “For to live with the Lord, we must
die with the Lord,” we sang during the Communion service and you helped us to
experience that dying.
When we shared our reflections on the Triduum during our community
evening prayer, one of the sisters told of a priest who commented that saying “Christ
is risen!” isn’t enough. He insisted that we need to add “and he is in us
sending us forth to live as he lived.” He is correct; we need to remember “the
rest of the story.” In this week’s gospel, the apostles are locked in the same
room that Resurrection evening where Jesus transformed the Passover meal into his Last
Supper. Jesus greets them with “Peace be with you.” Remember, these are his
“friends” who fell asleep in the garden and deserted him on the way to his
crucifixion. He has obviously forgiven them. He also, according to John’s community,
breathes forth the Spirit upon them. Thomas is missing (perhaps, out getting food for the
group?) and, as we know, won’t accept their testimony that Jesus has appeared to
them. A week later, when Jesus appears again, they are still locked in the room.
What a great consolation for us to know that these frightened, ordinary
people like us are the ones who will pass on the message of salvation, of freedom from sin
and death! And how gracious of Jesus to respond to Thomas’ conditions for belief. He
takes Thomas where he is, needing some sort of physical proof that it really is Jesus.
Again, what a blessed story for us who, at times, put limits on the extent to which our
faith will reach. And because we are human beings of flesh and blood, each of the
sacraments has a physical aspect, so that our whole being – body and soul – may
experience God’s presence.
The Church wisely gives us 40 days of prayer, fasting and almsgiving and 50 days of
Easter rejoicing and feasting. The baptismal font reminds us of the renewal of commitment
we have made to Jesus and the gospel. Its position in front of the altar speaks of the
reality that we come to the Eucharist through Baptism. The paschal (Easter) candle
symbolizes the light of Christ.
The readings from the Acts of the Apostles today and next Sunday’s
gospel speak of the breaking of bread, the early Church’s name for the Eucharist. For
the next seven weeks, you will receive a flier in the bulletin from the Archdiocesan
Office of Worship with a reflection for the Year of the Eucharist which our Holy Father
has promulgated worldwide. Our own Pat Vallez-Kelly prepared the materials for use in all
parishes of the archdiocese. To help us grow in our appreciation of the Eucharist, our
parish will also offer Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on the second Tuesday of each
month from after the 8:30 Mass until 5 pm. Please come by to spend some time with Our Lord
on that day or any day you wish. Happy Easter!
