That Should Have Been Obvious

We are in the “Good Shepherd Season” of the Church year. Often we read about sheep going through gates, grazing in pastures, hearing the voice of the leader, even following the shepherd. Homilists instruct us to be like sheep. Pope Francis exhorted us to smell like sheep. Too often, though (at least it seems so to me), we miss the obvious. If we are disciples of Christ, we need to imitate the Good Shepherd. Our roles are both shepherd and sheep.

How can we be shepherds imitating that Good Shepherd? In our homes how do we make entering our homes a comfortable experience? Is everyone happy to be home? Do guests feel it’s a great place to be? Are our homes safe from criticism, unkind words, meanness? Considering ourselves gatekeepers, do we feel responsible for cleanliness, order, upkeep? Are there little things we can do to be welcoming to spouses, children, neighbors, anyone who comes to our doors? We can ask ourselves these same questions about our places of employment, our car, the space or aura surrounding me wherever I am.

The sheepfold and gate account in John’s gospel ends with these words of Jesus: “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” How life-giving am I to those in my circle, my sheepfold?

On Waking Up

When Pope Leo XIV woke up this morning, what were his first thoughts? “Oh, that was an interesting conclave.” Then with more consciousness, “Oh, I’m the Pope.” Because he knows several languages, were his waking thoughts in English, Italian, or Spanish? Perhaps our waking thoughts were also on the Pope. Excellent news casts brought Rome and excitement into our homes. Perhaps we cheered right along with the crowd. And we realized, it’s a new day in the Church. Optimism is in the air, as we sense that the new pope will have a steady hand on the wheel of the ship of Peter and a forward look in his eyes. His name assures us that the working class will not be forgotten. His missionary work in Peru reminds us that all parts of the world need to be in solidarity, that even the poorest countries have important contributions. As we begin our day, our thoughts are with Pope Leo. Throughout the day may our prayers be with him so that through him, the “peace” and “bridges” for which the pope dreams and on which his waking moments will be spent may be achieved.

Jesus Christ Is Risen Today

I imagine you sang “Jesus Christ Is Risen Today” complete with trumpets on Easter Sunday morning. I hope you sing it again regardless of the date on the calendar. After all, Jesus is risen. Jesus is always risen. What we sing about is the reality. It’s the perennial, non-stop Paschal Mystery. Whatever Jesus did is present in Christ.

I like to tell students to think of a kaleidoscope with its many pieces. Those pieces are the life of Christ, the Paschal Mystery. As we turn the kaleidoscope we see different patterns, different colors, but it’s all the Paschal Mystery. The difference is the focus. We may focus on the passion of Christ in Holy Week, then his resurrection throughout the Easter Season, his birth at Christmas, his miracles and sermons in Ordinary Time. But it’s all the Paschal Mystery. That’s what we celebrate every day of the year. A professor I had (Robert Taft) would often state “Every day is everything. Every day is Christmas. Every day is Easter. Every day is everything.” So Jesus Christ is risen today. Sing it out! It’s the truth! It’s today. Shakespeare might say “Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow,” but the reality of our faith is “today and today and today.” And it certainly doesn’t come in petty pace.

Easter Week’s Verbs

A good strong verb, even a little one, adds color to a written composition. Which is better: (a) He made demands as if he were a king or (b) He pontificated? Your answer is a matter of opinion. One thing I’ve noticed about the Resurrection stories is that they have good verbs—not that they’re the best synonyms in the thesaurus, but because they add life and action. Reading along we might feel a bit breathless. Here are some examples. Peter and John run to the tomb, then they bend down and see. Overjoyed, Mary Magdalen and the other Mary went away quickly only to be met by Jesus who greeted them, and they embraced his feet. Those listening to Peter were cut to the heart. Peter and John cured a lame man, who leaped up, stood, and walked around jumping and praising God. Run, jump, bend, greet, leap, cure are  simple words suitable for a primer. But they remind us to get involved, get busy, respond to the miracles in front of us every day.

The Emmaus Story – My Favorite Story

Do you ever look forward to your favorite Scripture story, waiting for it to be read in church? Well, I do. I anticipate my favorite Gospel story on Wednesday in Easter Week. Remember the story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus? Every year I sympathize with Cleopas’s dejection over Jesus’ crucifixion and wonder how Cleopas and companion couldn’t recognize the Stranger. Since I’m a teacher at heart, I love to listen to Jesus teaching the history of the Chosen People from the time of Moses to the time of “the Christ [who] should suffer these things and enter into his glory.”  The two wouldn’t let Jesus go. They pleaded with him to stay, and then it happened. Their eyes were opened at the breaking of the bread. Then the two had their own story to tell the Eleven who already knew the Lord had been raised. I imagine a whole lot of disciples shouting and clapping and doing happy dances.  My heart burns within me at that Scripture passage.  When you read or listen to the Scriptures, when do you say, “Were not our hearts burning within us when he. . .opened the Scriptures to us?”