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April 26, 2022The last beatitude in both the Gospel of Luke and Matthew anticipates the experience of the Apostles in the first reading. “Blessed are you when the insult you and hate you and utter every kind of falsehood against you because of me”. (MT 4:11-12) (Lk 9:22). The Pharisees still do not see what has been happening before their eyes. What has always impressed me is that the Apostles are okay with the mistreatment. Why? Their reaction can only come after having an experience so profound that suddenly their good name does not matter. They were the first to understand that death, while real, is not the same as annihilation. There is something after this life and the resurrected Jesus shows us this. There is another lesson too.
Today’s Gospel reminds us that we are people who have a Lord who is close to us and “appears” to us in the ebb and flow of our daily lives in addition to the Sunday experience we have. In the beginning of the Gospel, Jesus got into Peter’s boat. At the end, Peter is prompted by Grace to recognize the Risen Christ and jumps out of his boat to meet him. I often think that this symbolizes that Peter will no longer work as a fisherman but will change his vocation to be a preacher and Apostle of the Gospel. His change is also our pattern. Once we meet the living God in Jesus, our lives take a new direction, prompted by Grace. We jump out of our boats (lives) to serve, to share, and bring Christ’s love to the world. The experience of meeting the risen Christ I believe really changes everyone. Another way to look at this is that we are called to “lay down our lives”, i.e., put our lives, wants, etc, and serve the Lord. May this Easter season show us that the work of Lent, the remembering in the Triduum has truly brought the change to us God wants.
I am late in saying this, but I am so grateful for all who are part of the Holy Week and Easter celebrations. It is always a community effort and I am grateful that people have given of their time talent and treasure. The celebrations of Easter week contain many details and everyone working together from the liturgical teams. (Thanks Julie, Steve, and Charlie) to the music department, (thanks Jennifer, vocalists, Spanish choir, and all those who lift their voices in song from the pews). It takes a community to celebrate and remember and this is what we are and have done.
Peace,
Father Murray
Building news: Over the course of Holy Week, we were surprised by the work that was necessary on the front steps. Briefly, water had seeped in through the joints and after many years the steps had begun to shift to a degree that it was becoming dangerous. Two steps were lifted out, the bases on which they sit were rebuilt and the steps on both staircases were repointed and re-caulked. Hopefully, no pastor will have to worry about this for the next 50 years. This is one project in the front that is now done. I anticipate that we will need to repoint, repair, and restore the bricks, the architectural accents, and the doors.
