My dad once told me that anyone who comes into this world with a blank sheet of paper and a pen has already put themselves at disadvantage. It was his way of saying creativity was truly a gift. Use it if you have it. Otherwise be well read and versed, ready to add other people’s words to your blank sheet of paper. I have already done one post this morning and have another one schedule later, but here are some other words from someone else. Continue reading
I mentioned to some folks this week that the rhythm of my life seems to have re-adapted itself to life from my days in the submarine service. While underway, life unfolded in an 18-hour day. Six of the hours were spent on watch/duty operating the nuclear reactor or piloting the boat (submarines are always referred to as “boat”). The other 12 hours were allocated to rest, meals and the on-going work. For my part, I seem to remember 4 hours or so of sleep as the norm. That norm seems to have returned as I seem to routinely get about 4-5 hours a night. The parish business manager just smiles and tells me it is not a reversion to submarine duty, its old age. This is my blog, so you can just ignore his input. Continue reading
As a liturgical season, Lent is rather straightforward. It is kinda’ easy to write about. There is Ash Wednesday to dramatically mark its beginning, and we all know we are moving relentlessly towards Easter. We count the days even as we mark Lent’s beginning. The Ashes make a visible mark upon us, reminding us that we are dust and to dust we shall return – but that is not the end of the story. We are reminded to repent and believe in the Gospel – but that is not the end goal. We are encouraged to pray, fast, and give alms – but those practices are meant to make room in our lives for God that we too may rise to the newness of life at Eastertide. Continue reading
Today’s gospel is the Lukan account of the post-Resurrection encounter with Jesus on the road to Emmaus. I am always reminded on this passage’s highly Eucharistic content: blessing, broke, gave. The word pattern of the miracle feeding of the crowds, the word pattern of the Last Supper – all echoed in the simple words of this gospel
And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:30-32) Continue reading
In Genesis 2 we read the very human descriptions of the role of humankind: “The LORD God then took the man and settled him in the garden of Eden, to cultivate and care for it.” (Gen 2:15) Seems as though our first “vocation” is as gardener. Gen 2:8 specifically calls it a “garden.” And the “chief gardener” could be found here and there in His garden: “the LORD God walking about in the garden at the breezy time of the day.” (Gen 3:8)
In today’s Gospel, Mary Magdalene encounters a person she thinks is a gardener. Actually, she’s not wrong. St. Gregory the Great in his sermon on this gospel wrote: “Perhaps this woman was not as mistaken as she appeared to be when she believed that Jesus was a gardener. Was he not spiritually a gardener for her when he planted the fruitful seeds of virtue in her heart by the force of his love?” Continue reading
Something I received from a parishioner that you have probably already seen, but in case you have not, I pass it along.
A little something to amuse on Easter Monday
“After the Sabbath” (Mt 28:1), the women went to the tomb. This is how the Gospel of this holy Vigil began: with the Sabbath. It is the day of the Easter Triduum that we tend to neglect as we eagerly await the passage from Friday’s cross to Easter Sunday’s Alleluia. This year however, we are experiencing, more than ever, the great silence of Holy Saturday. We can imagine ourselves in the position of the women on that day. They, like us, had before their eyes the drama of suffering, of an unexpected tragedy that happened all too suddenly. They had seen death and it weighed on their hearts. Pain was mixed with fear: would they suffer the same fate as the Master? Then too there was fear about the future and all that would need to be rebuilt. A painful memory, a hope cut short. For them, as for us, it was the darkest hour. Continue reading
This year our parish will not celebrate the baptism of the catechumens/Elect at the Easter Vigil – such as the times of living in pandemic. It is our practice to practice immersion at the Vigil, but alas, this year that moment will be missing from the Liturgy. And so will one of my favorite songs, one that we use to call the Elect to the waters of Baptism. Missing from liturgy this year, but available online. Enjoy!
It has been a long week of preparing for the Triduum. In normal times, the staff and volunteers are knowledgeable and dedicated, plans were made well in advance; the Triduum happens with good work and not a lot of “who-what-when-where.” In normal times. These are anything but. This year was learning to live stream, work on audio enhancements, lightning, and so much more – all of which was new to us. Live streaming means that you also have to work out new means and pathways of communication and connection with the parishioners. Social networking was already part of our tool-kit, thinking through how to use all the channels in the best way possible for this occasion… we figured it out. Took on some new endeavors… all the while the staff is working in remote and volunteers are prudently staying at home. Lots going on, fewer people – at least fewer to do it the way we have done it in the past.
But, its 1:30 pm on Saturday. All is in place for the Vigil and Easter Sunday. Time to take a breather. That is when I read this article about the next wave in “panic” buying in the times of Covid-19. It was interesting, have me a chuckle, and I thought worth sharing. Makes you wonder what will be the wave that follows.
friarmusings 