Monday Holy WeekIsaiah 42:1-7John 12:1-11

Following The Road

All people have a vocation in life. Many times the word vocation is applied to priesthood and religious life alone, but this is far too limiting. All people have a vocation, a road that they will follow in life. Some people will follow the vocation to the single life; most will follow the call to married life and family. Some will follow the invitation to become religious and/or priests. Many people will be wives or husbands who work daily to raise any children granted them by God. Some people will work in offices for their daily eight hours; others will work in the fields. Some people will do work that is service related and others will do work that is more privatized and individualistic. Determining our vocation is a lifelong task. Along the road of our quest the greater task is to be faithful to the path which God lays out for us each day.

Jesus had a vocation as well. It is most probable that he was a carpenter by trade, like his foster-father St. Joseph. But Jesus' vocation, as we all know, was much more. Jesus had a message that was broadcast to all who would listen. None were excluded from this special proclamation of love. Jesus had a mission as well. Jesus came to save all through his own death, the great atonement of God.

I am sure that Jesus had to struggle with his vocation as we must in our daily lives. As time went on, the mission, the vocation of Jesus, became more clear. I am sure that Jesus' long prayer sessions with his Father helped him to know his mission and gave him the strength to carry it out. Since Jesus was human I am certain as well that when he came to realize that his mission would lead to death he probably feared the future. Yet as we hear in today's first reading, the first of the famous "Suffering Servant" passages from the prophet Isaiah, Jesus accepted his vocation, "not crying out, not shouting, not making his voice heard in the street." Jesus accepted his vocation without torment, but with grace. Yes, there was the agony in the garden, but the suffering servant came gently not breaking a bruised reed or quenching a smoldering wick. Jesus, the suffering servant, came to establish peace on the earth. His mission was to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners, and to bring the light.

Jesus realized his vocation would lead to death. This is why he chides Judas for his remarks toward Mary: "Leave her alone. Let her keep it against the day they prepare me for burial." Jesus did not avoid his ultimate date with death; he willingly accepted death as his vocation in life. Jesus' obedience, even unto death, has brought us to life.

We all have different vocations, but there is one commonality. We have all been called to a life of holiness through our baptismal commitment. This life will be filled with challenges; it will not always be easy to accept the call. The model we have is Jesus. He knew that his message would not be accepted. He knew that his mission would lead to an agonizing death of ignominy on the cross. Yet he fulfilled his mission to the fullest. We as those who follow in his footsteps have become the benefactors of his great act of love. Let us make a greater effort to live the vocation we have been given. In this holiest of Church weeks let us renew the commitment we have made to walk closely in the shadow of Jesus. Let our footprints match his on the way to the cross.

Tuesday Holy WeekIsaiah 49:1-6John 13:21-33, 36-38

The Darkness Of Sin

The world lives in a daily contrast of light versus darkness. The light is that which is normally considered desirable. Light brings life. Flowers open their beauty to the light; all plants seek the light for sustenance and growth. The light brings warmth from the rays of the sun. People seek the light for many reasons. The light allows the clear path that we desire to follow to be seen and more easily navigated. In the light we know where we are going. We can see any obstacles that are in front of us and do all that is possible to avoid them. People have no fear in the light; all is open, visible and clear. Good things are done in the light.

Darkness is in many ways the opposite of the light. There is the obvious fact that there is no physical light, but the differences are much greater. Darkness is cold, if not physically at least psychologically. People have a much greater sense of fear in the dark. Today many times people fear to go out at night. The darkness of night brings out a certain sense of danger, whether it be real or imaginary. Evil deeds are done under the cloud of darkness.

Throughout his Gospel, St. John uses the images of light and darkness to convey certain concepts or themes. For John darkness represents sin. In today's Gospel Judas leaves the banquet under the cover of darkness. John puts it succintly, "It was night." Peter, in the same reading, claims that he will follow the Lord to the point of death. Under the cover of darkness, however, Peter too will falter and fail the Lord.

For St. John and other New Testament writers light refers to Christ and all that he brings to our world. This image is quite vivid in the Hebrew Scriptures as well as demonstrated in the First Reading from the prophet Isaiah. In this second "Suffering Servant" passage we hear of how God will make the servant, the one who is the image of Jesus, the light to the nations. Through the servant of Yahweh salvation will be brought to the ends of the earth.

The web of conspiracy and death about Jesus is almost complete. The night and with it the sin of the world is now upon the Lord in full force. Our lives are part light and part darkness. We are daily challenged to seek the light, the way of God. God protects those in the light; he hides them in his quiver as the imagery of Isaiah describes. The light provides the rewards which only God can give. Darkness, on the other hand, produces the betrayal by Judas and the denial by Peter.

We still have two days more to prepare, to get in shape for the great events of this week. Let us maximize our spring training effort by always seeking the light of truth and goodness. Darkness leads away from God and produces through sin despair and hopelessness. Let us seek the light of Christ, the goodness in this world, today and each day of our lives. If we can then the great promise of God will be ours as well -- salvation, our life with God forever.

Wednesday Holy WeekIsaiah 50:4-9Matthew 26:14-25

Sharing The Pain Of Others

"Rags, rags! Give me your tired, dirty, old rag and I will give you a new, clean, fresh one. Rags, rags." That was the cry to which I awoke one bright, sunny Friday morning. I sprang from my bed and peered out my second story apartment window. There was the Ragman of our town. He was 6'4" if he was an inch, youthful in appearance and strong of build. I had heard so much about him but never actually seen him. I threw on some clothes, bounded down the stairs and out the front door of my apartment building. I thought, this is my opportunity to see where he goes and what he does. I decided to watch at a distance.

The Ragman pushed his basketful of rags ahead of him. He continued his cry, "Rags, rags. Give me your old, tired, dirty rag and I will give you a fresh, clean, new one. Rags, rags." As the Ragman pushed his basket of rags he came across a young woman who sat on the front porch of her home. Even from a distance I could see that she held a handkerchief. Her face was swollen and her eyes were red. She had been crying. "Please," said the Ragman to the young woman, "give me your old, soiled handkerchief and I will give you a clean, fresh one." The woman looked at the Ragman with a puzzled stare. Yet she agreed to his request. The Ragman pulled out a clean, fresh linen handkerchief. When the woman put the cloth to her face, something wonderful happened. Her face was no longer swollen; her eyes were no longer red. She appeared happy and gay. But when the Ragman put the woman's handkerchief to his face, he began to cry, his eyes turned red and his face began to swell. My amazement at what I was witnessing knew no bounds. And the Ragman continued on.

He pushed his basket of rags ahead of him as he walked through the city streets. He came to the main square and there on a park bench he encountered another woman. She was older and her clothes were dirty and torn. Around her head was a bandage from which blood oozed from a fresh wound. The Ragman said to her, "Please give me that old, dirty bandage and I will give you a new, clean one." The woman looked at the Ragman somewhat with disdain. Yet there was something in what he said or how he said it that attracted her. She took the bandage from her head and replaced it with the fresh one given her. As she placed the bandage on her head, the blood flow stopped. No longer was her face tortured with pain. When the Ragman placed the old bandage on his head, he began to bleed in the same place the woman had been injured. His face took on the look of one in pain. I continued to wonder at what I saw. And the Ragman continued on.

Bleeding and crying the Ragman continued to push his basket of rags. He came upon the local town drunk who was sleeping off his night of frivolity between two buildings in the center of town. The Ragman approached, quietly so as not to disturb the man. He pulled the old blanket from the man and covered him with a new, clean one. He also left a set of new clothes. As the Ragman wrapped the old blanket around him, he began to stagger and stumble as if he were the one who had been drinking. And the Ragman continued on.

The Ragman continued to push his cart, stumbling as he went, leaving a trail of blood and tears. He came to the edge of town. There he encountered someone with whom I was not familiar. He must have been a new person in town. He was an older man with a tattered, old jacket. He had only one arm. "Give me that old coat," said the Ragman, "and I will give you a new, clean one." The man readily agreed, after all he was to get a new coat out of the deal. As the old man put on the new jacket, not one but two arms came through, arms that were strong and youthful. But when the Ragman put on the coat of the old man, only one arm came through. As I watched I could not believe what I saw. And the Ragman continued on.

The Ragman, now with only one arm, bleeding, crying and stumbling, continued to push his basketful of rags. At the end of town he found the local dump. With the remaining strength he possessed he pushed his basket through the gate and up the hill. There in the middle of the garbage dump he lay down to sleep and as he slept he died. From a distance I found safe haven in the front seat of an old abandoned vehicle in the dump. I began to cry, so powerful were the events that I had witnessed. My crying put me to sleep, a deep, restful slumber. The remainder of Friday was lost and Saturday passed without my knowing it. But the next day, Sunday morning, I awoke to the most brilliant light. There before me stood the Ragman. He had a small scar on his head, but both his arms were restored. He was dressed in the most glorious white clothes I have ever seen. Yes, he was the Ragman of our town; he was the Christ.1

Walter Wangerin, Jr.'s, powerful story of "The Ragman" is certainly a story of resurrection. It is a totally appropriate story on this day, the great mystery of the Easter Triduum as approaches. The Ragman, the Christ figure, takes on himself the pain and suffering of others. He does this willingly, without payment, without return. In the end he is exulted in resurrection.

In our readings today we hear of Jesus who stands ever ready to accept the pain that others will inflict. Isaiah, in the third of his "Suffering Servant" passages, says that the servant has never rebelled. This is the one who takes the abuse of others, the insults that people hurl at him. He does not shield his face from buffets or spitting. The servant has no fear for he knows that God is his help; he will in the end never be put to shame.

In the Gospel we see the end is near for Jesus. The Lord names his own betrayer, but like the Ragman does nothing to avoid the pain. Rather, he willingly takes on the pain of rejection and treason by one of his chosen twelve. Jesus knew his fate, but he accepted it for he knew, in the end, he would be exalted to the right hand of the Father.

Our lives as followers of Jesus must be led as disciples. Service and ministry are the terms we use today to express the way we must care for those around us. Most people do a pretty good job in meeting the needs of others. The example of Jesus, the Servant of God, challenges us to go further. We are asked to take on the lives, the joys and the pains, of those we serve. This is at best a difficult challenge, but it is one we must embrace. Jesus, the one who took on our lives totally, including all the pain we inflict and share, asks us to walk the remaining journey to Calvary with him. Our spring training for this year is now completed. It is our turn to enter into the celebration of the Paschal Mystery. Let us pick up our cross and aid others with their crosses, sharing their pain. Let us walk Jesus' path of pain which will eventually lead to the place of everlasting glory.

1. Walter Wangerin, Jr., Ragman And Other Cries Of Faith (San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1984), pp. 3-6.

Holy ThursdayExodus 12:1-8, 11-141 Corinthians 11:23-26John 13:1-15

A People Of Tradition

We are a people of tradition. We celebrate traditions in our families, our society and in our religion as well. In our families we celebrate special days in ways which differ for each group. Each family has its tradition for gathering to celebrate holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving. Other traditions apply to the ways we celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and other significant events in the life of our family. Society has its traditions as well. We have our system of laws and the courts, a tradition handed down from the framers of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Society celebrates national holidays such as the 4th of July in a prescribed, traditional manner. Traditions are handed on from one generation to another. We keep the tradition alive through our attitudes and actions.

This night throughout the Christian world we enter into the most significant tradition of our faith, the celebrations of the Easter Triduum. We celebrate the Paschal mystery, the passion, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our readings describe this tradition, beginning with the traditions of our spiritual ancestors, the Jews.

The First Reading from Exodus describes the tradition of the Jews known as Passover. Jews today remember their tradition, their heritage, in the celebration of the seder meal on the occasion of Passover. This solemn remembrance commemorates the action of God in salvation history as he rescued the people from their bondage in Egypt. God, the ever-faithful one, has always been there to rescue the Hebrews, to release them from their bonds. The tradition is significant and is still celebrated with much solemnity.

Christianity certainly has a vast tradition as well. The account of the Last Supper is mentioned in all four Gospels, but only the Synoptics describe the institution of the Eucharist on this date. St. Paul is our other source of what happened that evening. Paul tells us in the Second Reading that he hands on to us what he himself learned. In other words Paul is passing on the tradition. The tradition of the Eucharist continues each day throughout the world. Christians gather to remember what Jesus did for us in his message of love and the actions of his life. We remember his death as well which has become salvific for all of us.

We hear about another tradition in today's Gospel. St. John wants us to know that there is more to the Christian tradition concerning the Last Supper than the Eucharist. We learn in this Gospel of the tradition of service. Jesus initiates a new tradition with his actions at the Last Supper. Jesus washes the feet of his apostles, his closest followers. Furthermore, he tells them and all of us to do the same.

In a society which daily cries out concerning injustice, poverty and crime, how can we answer the call of Jesus to a life of service? The basic answer is that we are asked to wash the feet of others who enter our lives, especially those who exist on the fringes or suffer the most. We wash the feet of others in many ways. The most important way is through service and works of mercy. We need to become the servants of others. The service we render to others should become our tradition. This day let us remember the special traditions we have. Let us endeavor to live the new tradition of service in all that we do and say.

Good FridayIsaiah 52:13--53:12Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9John 18:1--19:42

Why Does The World Suffer?

Why does the world suffer? Why do pain, problems and suffering exist in such abundance? We all believe that God is all good, all love, full of compassion and all powerful. This is how we define God. We believe this to be true. Thus, the question bears repeating, why does our world suffer? Why do wars exist and people die in innocence? Why do people in positions of public trust commit acts that cause others not only to lose faith in the individual, but in the system as well? Why do people fight one another when the only question between them is the color of their skin, their political preference or religious belief?

For me the basic answer to these challenging questions is personal choice, our free will to say yes or no to God at any time in any way. Soren Kierkegaard, the famous 19th century existentialist philosopher and theologian, once wrote, "Faith is a matter of choice, our personal decision in finding God." This personal decision, our free will, is why the world suffers. It is free will that allows the drunk to drive and kill others. It is free will that allows people in public service to break the law and thus lower the integrity of the system. It is free will that places certain members and groups in society on the fringe and does not allow them to participate. Free will moves us closer to or further from God. As Kierkegaard wrote, it is our decision; faith is our choice.

Good Friday is obviously a day when we remember suffering and pain, but it is a day which has much more to offer. We hear of Jesus' suffering, his pain and eventual death in our readings. More importantly, however, we need to ask, "Why did Jesus have to die?" The answer is that Jesus did not have to die; he chose to die, so that we could find life. Jesus' death came about of his own free will.

The First Reading from Isaiah, the fourth of five "Suffering Servant" passages, speaks of the servant's free choice in dying. The appearance of the servant attracted no one. The servant was a person of suffering and pain. As the servant gives his life, the will of God is accomplished through him. The sacrifice of the servant will win pardon for the offenses of others. In the Letter to the Hebrews the author says that through his free will Jesus suffered in order to learn obedience. Jesus chose to become human so that he could better understand all of us.

John's passion narrative describes the ultimate act of faith, of free choice, that Jesus demonstrated for us. Jesus dies for others, for you and me. Unlike the Synoptic versions of the Gospel, St. John sees Jesus' exaltation in his death; the cross becomes his throne. For John, Jesus becomes king on the tree, not in his resurrection. For most all of us this sounds strange -- how can greatness and exaltation be shown in death? John's answer seems to be that greatness is shown through free will. Jesus chose to die and through this great action he showed the fullness of love. Through the cross Jesus gained his kingship and life for all of us.

Free will is our gift from God, our ability to say yes or no. Our world suffers; Jesus suffers and dies. Both events happen through free choice. This day, Jesus' crucifixion shows us that free will, which has been used to create so much pain, can lead to good, good leading to love and love leading to salvation. Jesus' example of free will, his example of love, must be our example as well. We might not be able to effect systemic change tomorrow, maybe not even this year. We can begin with ourselves, however, in following Jesus' law of love. Let us use our free will for good; let us use our free will for love. Let us use our free will to sacrifice, to die for others, and in the process be exalted with Jesus to an eternal life with God.

Holy Saturday

Waiting With God

"Something strange is happening -- there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness. The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembles and is [now] still because the King is asleep. The earth trembles and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. God has died in the flesh and hell trembles with fear."

So begins an ancient patristic homily on Holy Saturday. It is true there is a stillness in the earth. Something, however, is not right; the quiet is not satisfying. The great events of yesterday somehow still have not been realized. How can God be dead? Jesus died in the flesh; but God is certainly not dead. No, Jesus is making preparations today for something truly glorious, something the world will never believe. How can one rise from the dead? It is not possible, we say. We forget that with God all things are possible.

The earth is in mourning, but not for long. The King is asleep, but the day of our salvation is near at hand. The world will not believe the resurrection from death of the Son of Man, will it believe in our own resurrection? We cannot even imagine what God is planning as he rests waiting for the great Easter morn. As St. Paul has put it so beautifully, "Eye has not seen, ears have not heard, nor has it so much dawned on man what God has prepared for those who love him."

Our spring training is completed for another year. We have walked the journey of Lent, we have made our preparation. Now we await the glory of the Risen Christ to fill our lives with the brilliance which only God can give. Let us spend this day in calmness, but with great anticipation. As the early Christian homily says, God has raised up all who have fallen asleep. The promise of God, the gift of eternal life, will be ours as well.

Easter SundayActs 10:34, 37-43Colossians 3:1-4John 20:1-9

He Saw And Believed

"He saw and believed." These powerful words come from today's Gospel. What do they tell us about the Easter message? The words say and Easter reveals that we must find it in order to believe it.

Hermann Hesse in his wonderful novel Siddhartha1 speaks of the search for life and meaning, a story of seeing and ultimately believing. Siddhartha was the son of a Brahmin or religious holy man in the East. One day he went to his father and asked permission to leave the village of his birth in search of the meaning of life. Initially his father was hesitant to let him go, but the boy pressed his father. Thus the older man allowed his son to leave. Siddhartha and his best friend gathered a few belongings and left the village the next day in search of the meaning of life.

As the boys began their journey they had travelled less than a day's walk from the village when they came upon a vast and wide river. Siddhartha looked upon the water and realized the emptiness which lay before him. Certainly, thought the boy, this river has no meaning. It is so vast yet so empty. The meaning of life cannot be found here. The two boys hired a ferryman to take them to the other shore. On the other side they continued their search.

After a few days of travel the boys came upon a group of ascetics, people who spend much time in prayer and reflection. Possibly, thought Siddhartha, the meaning of life can be found here. The boys asked permission from the community leader to join and learn the ways of prayer and meditation. The boys stayed for several years, growing from youths to young adults. But after learning the ways of prayer and filling himself with methods of reflection, Siddhartha realized that the meaning of life was not to be found here either. Thus, the two friends moved on again.

After a few more days' journey they came upon a Guru or holy man. They attached themselves to those who followed this man. After a short while, however, Siddhartha knew that the meaning of life for him was not to be found here. His friend, however, found fulfillment, and thus, the two best friends parted company forever.

Siddhartha moved on in his quest to find the meaning of life. He entered a great city. There he found work; there he found love. He lived and worked in the city for many years. He raised a family. Young adulthood turned to maturity and then to old age. Yet, although he had spent the vast majority of his life in the great city, he still had not found the meaning of life.

Thus, as an old man he continues his search. He leaves the city. He walks for a long time and he comes upon a river. It is the same river that he and his best friend had crossed so many years ago, when they first left their home village. The river is still wide and vast; it is still empty. But now Siddhartha looks at the river with new eyes. He realizes that he has spent his whole life trying to find the meaning of life by filling himself up. Now as an old man he comes to the knowledge that the meaning of life has been before him, wherever he was all along. He only needed to empty himself enough in order to see it.

What did John see and thus believe that day? He saw that the tomb was empty. He realized that his life was full, cluttered with many things. For him the question was could he empty himself enough to receive God, the Risen Lord? We need to ask ourselves the same question. Can we see and believe or are our lives too cluttered to receive God? We are all busy people; we are addicted to many things. Some of us are addicted to work; some are addicted to school. Some people are addicted to pleasure. Some, unfortunately, are addicted to themselves. At times we are so busy that our priorities get messed up. Sometimes our addictions come ahead of our God. It cannot be this way, if we are to see and believe!

We might not feel comfortable doing nothing, just being. It is difficult to accept the moment. However, if we empty ourselves somewhat then we can make room for God and God's works. The reality of Jesus' resurrection is the message of hope for our own resurrection. But our resurrection need not wait until our union with God in eternity. We can begin now by emptying ourselves. If we are empty enough, if we are open, then we have chosen, as St. Paul suggests in today's Second Reading, the higher realm, that which comes from God. We will then be able to find God and in the process perform the works of the Lord, preaching, teaching, good works and healing.

Jesus' resurrection asks us to revive the human spirit deep down inside each one of us. The empty tomb encourages us to be empty enough to be filled with God. Let us today be resurrected; let us empty ourselves. Let us be re-filled with the Lord, so that we too can see and believe!

1. Herman Hesse, Siddhartha (Bantam Books, 1951).