2014 Easter Card

The Resurrection of Christ by Paolo Veronese

May our Lord, Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, bless you abundantly.  May He Who overcame the grave bestow upon you true peace and love. May this Easter triumph bring you much Easter joy.

Happy Easter, everybody!

He is risen! He is risen indeed!

"...Ablaze With Light..."

Consider the words of the prophet Isaiah (8:23-9:3):

There is no gloom where there had been distress. Where once he degraded the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, now he has glorified the way of the Sea, the land across the Jordan, Galilee of the Nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who lived in a land of gloom a light has shone. You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at harvest, as they exult when dividing the spoils. For the yoke that burdened them, the pole on their shoulder, the rod of their taskmaster, you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.

You should recognize it as the start of the First Reading from the Christmas Mass:  During the Night. But what does this have to do with Easter? Plenty.

The beginning of the Easter Vigil Mass can start no earlier than sunset. While twilight provides its own kind of "gloom", it is also not symbolic of the state of our souls, both as an individual and humanity, after being plunged into sin by Adam? Then comes the lighting of the Vigil fire, the Easter Candle, and those smaller candles given to the congregation, continuing to dispel the darkness. The triple proclamation of "Christ, our Light" and our grateful response of "Thanks be to God" begins the rejoicing at the harvest, the gathering of souls redeemed.  "This is the night" when the yoke of sin, the pole of guilt, the rod of death is smashed through the act of the Resurrection. Indeed, we do exult as Christ divides the spoils of salvation and allots us our share.

I make no claim of any theological accuracy, much less brilliance; I just think these thoughts are a possible insight. What was started at the Annunciation finds it zenith tonight.  Christmas and Easter unite. God's promise is fulfilled.

Rejoice as you hear the Exsultet.  The Latin and English texts are provided.

A Belated But Merciful Remeinder

For the past few months I have been praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, albeit on a rather infrequent basis. It is an easy devotion to learn and maintain.  God knows how much I need it in my life right now, much less the world.

Good Friday traditionally marks the beginning of a novena using these prayers, each of the nine days focusing on a specific intention as mentioned in the writings of Sr. Maria Faustina. This year's novena takes on more significance as its promoter, Blessed Pope John Paul II will be canonized on Divine Mercy Sunday, along with Blessed Pope John XXIII.

Full details about this devotion may be found here.

Blessed are they who show mercy.  May mercy be shown to those who ask for it as well.

Nine Times "Seven"

And so Palm Sunday arrives. Such an unusual Mass on this day, as we go from joyful acknowledgement in our "Hosanna's" to angry disdain in our "Crucify Him's" in the Liturgy of the Word, coloring the Liturgy of the Eucharist which follows. First we raise our palm branches, saluting Him; then we raise a Cross, sacrificing Him.

Humans are such a fickle creature, no?

With Holy Week upon us, I humbly offer again my brief meditations on the "Seven Last Words" of Christ as He hung upon the Cross.  For the next seven days inclusive, the final thoughts of our Lord and Savior come to the fore. I hope each post will allow you to contemplate on what this act of redemption means in your life, to add to what little I have said.

Jesus leads us outside the walls of Jerusalem.

There He will deliver an even more elegant "sermon" on a mount.

For those who have eyes to see and ears to hear; let us follow the Master to Calvary.

April 2014 Morning Offering Prayer Intentions

Here are the intentions for this month when reciting the Morning Offering:

General:  Ecology and Justice.  That governments may foster the protection of creation and the just distribution of natural resources. 

Mission:  Hope for the Sick.  That the Risen Lord may fill with hope the hearts of those who are being tested by pain and sickness.

A Little Lenten Lesson

His Excellency, the Most Reverend John C. Wester, Bishop of Salt Lake City, in an article in the Intermountain Catholic, the official newspaper of the diocese, provides a short reflection of why we do what we do this Lent.

"Again We Keep..."

Even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning;
Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD, your God.
For gracious and merciful is he, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment. 

Joel 2:12-13

As an aid to become perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect, a way to grow in discipleship, and as preparation to celebrate the great Paschal Mysteries come Holy Week, the Church carves from her liturgical calendar each year a time to meditate upon the salvific action of Jesus Christ in His death and resurrection.

Whether we hear the reminder of our mortality or the call to repentance when the Sign of the Cross is traced upon our foreheads with ashes today, we should recall a rather stark reality. While being made in the image and likeness of God and called to be His adopted children, we should realize first and foremost we are creatures totally dependent on the Creator.  Because we have sinned and wandered far away from His love, we are in need of His redemption and sanctification.  Because we were given free will, we have the ability to receive and utilize His grace as much as reject and scorn it.

With this backdrop, we begin to shape our preparation for the next "forty days".  How will we our prayers rise like incense? What excess can be removed from our lives? How do we recognize the needs of our neighbor and respond to them? We know what planks are in our eyes, what stumbling blocks are ahead of us, what things we have covered with Pharisaical white.  True conversion is a life-long process; this provides us with a chance to focus.

May whatever seeds planted this Lent bear a fruitful harvest this Easter.

Off To Work?

"How's the job hunt going?"

Funny you should ask.

I have some good news and some bad news.

The good news is I did land a part-time job last November.  I work for a company that demonstrates various foods and other products in a members-only wholesale warehouse.  It's only one, maybe two days a week, but at least it's something.  It's allowing me to re-establish some of my job skills and demonstrate I am still employable.

Somewhat.

The bad news is another opportunity went awry.  Shortly before Thanksgiving I interviewed for a position in a call center for a major home improvement center, one which would involve assisting customers with their on-line purchases.  Shortly after the new year began, I accepted their offer of employment.  I started a training program at the end of January, with the goal of transitioning to take calls in five weeks.  The classroom work went OK.  But putting on a headset proved to be an entirely different matter.  Whether I really don't have the personality to do something like that or lack the courage to overcome the difficulties (and yes, dear Brutus, I know where lies the fault), I was struggling to keep my composure.  Thirty minutes into my shift yesterday, after almost breaking down in tears again, and despite the best intentions of those who were in charge of this portion of the training, encouraging me to keep at it, I decided to walk away.

The self-doubt still resides.  It won't go away until I put myself in the right situation.  "Go Forward" is the only option.

Back to the drawing board.

March 2014 Morning Offering Prayer Intentions

Here are the intentions for this month when reciting the Morning Offering:

General:  Respect for Women. That all cultures may respect the rights and dignity of women. 

Mission:  Vocations. That many young people may accept the Lord’s invitation to consecrate their lives to proclaiming the Gospel.

February 2014 Morning Offering Prayer Intentions

Here are the intentions for this month when reciting the Morning Offering:

General:  Elders. That the Church and society may respect the wisdom and experience of older people. 

Mission:  Collaboration in Evangelization. That priests, religious, and lay people may work together with generosity.