Dear Friends,

Today’s Gospel ends with Jesus encouraging, yet mysterious, words: “On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.” (John 14: 20-21) But, what does that mean? Too often, we are lazy Catholics; we hear something that we do not quite understand and we just let it slip by us or, according to our convenience, we ask someone to give us an answer. Too frequently, however, we fail to assume our responsibility as a believer and delve into the mystery … engage the quest … participate in the task of theological reflection … seek the answer to the deepest desire of our human hearts. As we continue on our journey through the Easter season, allow me to share part of a reflection on the resurrection of Jesus by Fr. Richard Rohr, O.F.M., entitled, “The Pattern for Everything.” In it, he contemplates how the Paschal Mystery as revealed in Jesus sheds light on how we are to understand our own journey through life, both in this world and into the next. He says:

Think about Old Ed’s gratitude for a single seagull whose life was sacrificed for him and his men and how infrequently we are genuinely grateful to God for giving us His only begotten Son, through whose Passion, Death and Resurrection, we have been given access to eternal life and the capacity to love in imitation of Him. As we gather at Eucharist (which means “Thanksgiving”), let us be intentional about our sincere gratitude to and worship of God who gave His only Son as our Way and Truth so that we might have Life . . . Life to the full! If you the only thing you have today is that for which you thanked God yesterday; what would you have?

Jesus both reveals and identifies with humanity in all its stages, and even reveals the trajectory of all history—at its beginning, at its lowest points, and at its fulfilled end. Jesus, the Christ, illustrates “The One, Single New Man” (Eph 2:15), an Archetype, a Stand-In for all of humanity all at once (1 Cor 15:21-28, 45-49; Rom 5:15-21, 8:3; Col 3:10-11; Eph 2:14-22).

1. At the beginning, for both Jesus and us, the soul is already one with God. Just as Jesus is the Son of God, we also are sons or daughters of God from conception. Jesus’ unique and inclusive “sonship” declares us as “coheirs” and “adopted children” in Paul’s theology (Rom 8:14-17). Yet this divine conception is hidden from all of us until we discover it ...

2. There are several moments (Jesus’ baptism in Mt 3:13- 17 and Mk 1:9-11, Peter’s “confession” in Mt 16:16, the Transfiguration in Mt 17:1-8 and Lk 9:28-36) where Jesus “gets the message,” just as we often do when we are really listening. But we forget our truth or even deny it; whereas Jesus never denies his deep identity and always trusts God to be his faithful Father (see Jn 8:25-29).

3. … Jesus increasingly encounters trials and hostility, leading to abandonment and betrayal, just as most human lives do in some form or another. He thus identifies with humanity at its lowest points. That’s the place of powerlessness as the separate ego allows itself to die, and we are gradually re-grafted to the Vine (see Jn 15:1-6).

4. At our low points, we are one step away from either enlightenment or despair. Without faith that there is a Bigger Pattern, and the grace to surrender to that Bigger Pattern (God’s Loving Design), most people will move into despair, negativity, or cynicism. We need a promise, a hopeful direction, or it is very hard not to give up. When you have not yet learned what transformation feels or looks like, someone—perhaps some loving human or simply God’s own embrace—needs to hold you now because you cannot hold yourself. When we experience this radical holding, and even deep loving, this is salvation!

5. Thus, Jesus reveals and identifies with the final chapter of the human journey at its promised and now fulfilled form. He becomes the goal personified—the Risen Christ! This is where we are all heading: to resurrection. What humanity fears, hates, destroys, pollutes, kills, and crucifies, God promises to transform and raise up!

6. Quietly and unrecognized, we come “full circle” to the Ascension of Jesus (Acts 1:9-11). We all return where we first started, with the great school of life and death ushering us back home.

At the same time, we must preserve the logical possibility of “Hell” … In doing so, we are preserving human free will. It is indeed possible to refuse this whole journey of love. Otherwise, God is a Puppeteer and we are mere puppets. Love can only exist in the realm of ever more perfect freedom. And to enjoy it, we must also accept the responsibility it entails. [Richard Rohr, Great Themes of Paul: Life as Participation, disc 10 (Franciscan Media: 2002)]

Be of good cheer, and blessed week!

Msgr. Grous

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

We give thanks to God for the blessing of our Mothers and the gift of Motherhood. We remember in prayer all our Mothers both living and deceased.