Good for us

Readings: At the Easter Vigil: Genesis 1:1-2:2 or 1:1, 26-31a; Genesis 22:1-18 or 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18; Exodus 14:15-15:1; Isaiah 54:5-14; Isaiah 55:1-11; Baruch 3:9-15, 32-4:4; Ezekiel 36:16-17a, 18-28; Romans 6:3-11; Luke 24:1-12 (41)

But Peter got up and ran to the tomb . . . then he went home amazed at what had happened.

When someone dies, particularly someone beloved, it’s often difficult to find words of comfort. Invariably, someone will say what a blessing the deceased was, a godsend to all who knew him or her. It’s true—most people’s lives are a blessing to us. Despite all its fierce and feeble aspects, life is good. Just ask God: God looked at creation—even the “great sea monsters” and “creeping things”—and “saw how good it was.” Today is Holy Saturday, a time of loss and sorrow, yet it is also a time of great appreciation for the good that remains, that cannot be vanquished, that will live forever.

An evening to remember

Readings: Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper: Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-15 (39)

I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.

Holy Thursday is surely one of the most beautiful and eventful days of the liturgical year. Early in the day the bishop will bless the holy oils each parish will use during the coming year. The evening Mass commemorates four central events in Jesus’ life: his washing of the disciples’ feet, the institution of the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper, his agony in the garden, and his betrayal by Judas. The Holy Thursday liturgy expresses the most important tenets of the faith in microcosm. You can’t help but be inspired. Make an effort to attend Mass today.

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

Readings:  Isaiah 50:4-7; Philippians 2:6-11; Luke 22:14-23:56

Today all Catholics throughout the world turn their hearts and minds once again to the suffering and death of Jesus Christ. That suffering won for all humankind the definitive victory over sin and hopelessness – a victory we declare and celebrate with these palm branches, the ancient world’s symbol of triumph.

God is all-powerful. He could have chosen to save us from sin in many other ways. Why did he choose to do it by suffering? What is the meaning of the Passion? The Passion tells us with perfect clarity the message we most need to hear. The Passion of Our Lord says to us: God is faithful; you can trust him. Trusting God is the most important thing for us, but it’s also the hardest, because our trust has been violated.

The Passion is God saying to us: “No matter what you do, I will keep on loving you. I will never let you down.” If we reject him, scourge him, crown him with thorns, betray him, even if we crucify him, he continues to love us: “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” God’s love and faithfulness doesn’t depend on us being perfect, and it doesn’t depend on his whims. He will never take it back. We can trust him – completely.

That’s the message of the Passion. And it’s the message that each of us, wounded and sinful as we are, most needs to hear.

Readings: Joshua 5:9a, 10-12; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 (33)

“Now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again.”

The parable in today’s Gospel reading is one of the best known stories in all of human literature. But what does it really mean? We call it the parable of the prodigal son, but should we? Is it primarily about that younger son, who abandons his father and squanders his life in extreme self-indulgence and sensuality Or is the focus on somebody else?

Jesus told the parable to tax collectors and sinners, but also to Pharisees and Scribes. In fact, he told it in response to some of their questions. Now the Pharisees and Scribes were considered the experts in religion; the ones who avoided sin and followed the law perfectly. They were like the other brother in the parable, the older brother. So maybe we should call this the parable of the arrogant son instead of the parable of the prodigal son? The older brother was arrogant: his heart was like a rock, judging everyone and considering himself superior to everyone, just like the Pharisees.

God never gives up on us. He is always taking the first step, reaching out to us, inviting us to trust and follow him. Isn’t that the message of the sacrament of the Eucharist? Jesus is always here with us, in the tabernacle, waiting, eager to spend time with us, no matter how confused and wounded we may be. Isn’t that the message of the sacrament of confession? God’s door is always open – we can always come to him and ask for forgiveness, renewed strength, and a power-wash of mercy. God will never turn us away.