Jesus Christ

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Unused doesn’t help

The Catholic Church has seven sacraments that bring the grace of God into our lives and helps us to have a relationship to Him. However, if we don’t utilize the sacraments, they cannot help us in our earthly journey towards heaven.

Out of the seven sacraments, four are typically only received once. Each Catholic can only be baptized and confirmed once. These are part of the initiation into the Catholic family and impart the grace and spirit of God. The other two, marriage and holy orders, are typically received only once, but each may have circumstances that allow for the sacrament to be received again (i.e. after a spouse passes, or as a priest becomes a bishop). That leaves three sacraments that are to be used frequently to help us on our way to eternal life.

Does your refrigerator, freezer and pantry contain food for you to eat? Do you expect the food to give you nutrition and sustain your body while it’s still on its respective shelves? Silly questions, aren’t they? Yet when we neglect to receive the Eucharist, that’s exactly what we are doing with our spiritual life. While some foods can be eaten raw or without any preparation, the Holy Sacrament is made to be received within the context of Mass, as both the Liturgy of the Word and of the Eucharist can prepare us for a worthy reception of the sacrament. Each time we receive the Precious Body of Jesus, we are to 1) welcome Him, 2) be open to the grace He brings, and 3) utilize the intimate moment to convey the deepest sense of our souls to Him. The Mass allows us to orient ourselves to Jesus by hearing the Word of God and giving us the opportunity to reflect on how His Word is speaking in our lives today. In the Liturgy of the Eucharist, we are present with Jesus as the priest offers the bread and wine. It is as if we, too, attended the Last Supper. We are called to remember that moment in time and give our assent to believing we are receiving the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus under each of the species of the Holy Sacrament. Without regular reception of the Eucharist, we can spiritually starve our soul and our relationship with God.

Just like having food in the house does not give us the nutrition we need, having cleaning supplies does not mean our house is clean. Maybe you have a Roomba and don’t have to worry about vacuuming, but that device won’t dust and it won’t clean your countertops or your sinks. The spiritual version of cleaning supplies is confession. While frequent reception of Holy Communion will refresh your soul from venial sin, going to confession several times a year is great for spiritual deep cleaning. We are all sinners and are all works in progress. As we reflect on our thoughts, words, and actions and how they can be damaging to our relationship with God as well as those we interact with, the sacrament of Reconciliation gives us the opportunity to go deeper and ask God for help in specific areas that we find troublesome. It’s not enough to just tell the priest what you have done (or didn’t do), but you need to 1) be sorrowful for sins, 2) do the penance prescribed by the priest, and 3) intend never to commit the sins again. While the last one is hard, it’s the whole purpose of the sacrament. By being aware of what we are doing, we can catch ourselves before we get into a situation that is conducive to the sin we are trying to prevent. If gossiping is the sin we need to work on, then being mindful of what you say is important. It may take several trips to confession in order to get to the point where we can avoid the sin. We also need to be mindful that we can always slide back into that habit easily and that it may be something we spend our lifetime being sorry for, doing penance for, and trying our best to avoid situations where we slip back into that vice.

Lastly, just like food and cleaning supplies, medicine cannot help us with a fever or a headache if we don’t take it. The sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is not just for people who are about to die; it’s for anyone with an illness that is seeking the grace of God to help them through it. This could be for a surgery, it could be for an illness that needs treatment — like cancer, or it can be for a long-term disease like depression. There is no limit on the amount of times you can receive the sacrament. As Jesus healed many throughout the Gospels, showing that He is the Savior of the world, this sacrament calls for the healing of the individual, both in spirit and body. While a bodily healing may not reflect the healing we would want, a soul open to Jesus can receive peace and strength for the suffering they are enduring. Catholics are invited to join all their sufferings with the Passion of Christ, especially those for which we seek the sacrament of Anointing. The sacrament may not cure a person from the bodily effects of the illness, but it does give them the spiritual focus to support them through their suffering.

The sacraments are gifts God has given us to use. When we participate in God’s will and seek a closer relationship with Him through the sacraments, we are given a taste of heaven on earth. Let us use these precious gifts with joy and gratitude to God who loves us so much that He bestowed them upon us.

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Don’t tell God

Prayer is conversing with God. How many times, however, do we make a request of God, not a petition, but more of a command when we pray? Telling God what He must do is not prayer but arrogance. It illustrates the grasp for control that humans wrestle with since the serpent told Eve and Adam that they would be like gods if they only ate the forbidden fruit.

In last Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus encourages us to pray to God and to ask, seek, and knock for what we need. He tells us to be persistent, not to give up, but to continually petition God. (Lk 11:1-13) God the Father is the giver of all good gifts and we will be blessed in everything God gives to us. Yet in next Sunday’s Gospel, it appears to be almost the opposite. While the main theme is about greed, the passage starts with, “Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.” (Lk 12:13) That reminds me of when Martha instructed Jesus to tell her sister Mary to help her. Telling, requesting, or instructing God as to how something should be done will not achieve the results you want. 

While prayer is a conversation with God and we should feel comfortable to describe how we are feeling and what we need, it’s also an opportunity for us to be open to what God wants from us. Asking, seeking, and knocking are all attitudes of being humble and understanding that we can’t do everything ourselves. We must also listen, accept, and be open to answers and the real need for God’s assistance. If we are telling God what to do, then we are in a moment of anger and frustration, and we are venting, not having a conversation. While those are valid feelings to bring to God, He doesn’t want us to stay there, but wants to help us work through the feelings. Using the example of the brother wanting his sibling to share the inheritance, perhaps the initial prayer is for helping his sibling to see his need. Maybe the reason for the sibling’s stubbornness is due to an argument between the brothers and the prayer should be about making peace between them. And maybe it’s the requestor himself who is the one holding the grudge and needs God’s help to forgive his sibling.

When we petition God for help, we’re asking Him to mold us into the best version of ourselves. We are called to be holy and become saints who will live in God’s presence for all eternity. Sainthood is not just for those called to religious life, but rather every individual God creates, especially those who are baptized members of the Church. But God will not make us a saint because we tell Him to do so. Rather, we become saints because we seek God first, ask for God’s assistance, and continually knock on the doors of opportunity God provides to us. We pray “thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Not our will to be in heaven, but God’s will that we reflect His image and likeness so that we can enter into heaven after the completion of our time on earth.

God wants to give us so many blessings. But if we do not have the maturity to recognize, appreciate, and share the gifts He gives us because we are focused on ourselves, then giving us more will not be in our best interest. Telling God what He needs to do only underscores that we are unprepared to receive all the blessings He wants to give us. We need to be persistent in seeking His help to become more like Him and to become as holy and blessed as He desires us to be.  

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The struggle to change

Change happens every minute of every day. Sometimes it can be impactful, sometimes it can leave a mark, and sometimes we don’t even realize it. Change can happen to us in our circumstances, or it can be something we initiate. Any change, however, requires us to make choices of how we will adapt. With intentions of changing ourselves, we may have grand aspirations of what we can accomplish, but do we remember that we need to put in the hard work to achieve those expectations? Or is our initial reaction to the struggle a signal to change our minds or give up? Maybe we blame others when our expectations fall short. While the results of our choices may have been reasonable, the road to them may be very long and with lots of detours, so how can we give up when we’ve only gotten started?

The old adage, “you made your bed, now you need to lie in it” is all about accepting consequences for our actions. But when the results don’t measure up to what we expected, it is an uncomfortable experience. Life is not a simple mathematical calculation where you plug in two numbers and achieve a sum that can only be only one answer. When we respond to change, our choices can initiate the need for more change. It’s not the result we expect, but we need to be willing to be open to the opportunities when they present themselves. 

While I know I’ve made changes in the past that I’ve stuck with, there are probably more that fell to the wayside. Sometimes change is more than just altering a routine, it’s about adjusting our perspective and our response. A familiar routine is a comfort in times of change, but so is the attitude we use to approach our life. When we always think of things one way, it can be hard to get out of that mindset to think of other possibilities, even when we want to change ourselves! We can get caught in a stagnant loop in our mindset. Yet it is in these moments when, instead of digging deeper into ourselves, we need to seek God’s assistance. Perhaps we do need to make other changes that we may not recognize. Maybe the struggle is the opportunity to truly learn about ourselves. Our expectations are really our will. In praying to God, we need to trust in His guidance and accept the unexpected. We may eventually realize that what He desires for us is so much better than our initial expectations. 

Daily I pray, “Oh sweet Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything.” Yet as much as I trust in Christ to see me through, times of struggle are just that: a struggle. I don’t expect life to be all sunshine and roses, as we need some rain to make the sun seem that much brighter and to water the plants to make them bloom. In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians he says, “Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Cor 12:10)

God gives us a lifetime to grow closer to Him. In our fallen world, that means that we need to change and become more like Him. The goal for our life is to build a solid relationship with God so that we can spend eternity with Him. We hope all the struggles, choices, and changes in this life will produce the fruit of heaven-ready souls. 

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Food for the journey

While the weekday masses are now firmly back in Ordinary Time, the Sundays after Pentecost continue to highlight major components of the faith. Last week was the Most Holy Trinity and this weekend the focus is on Corpus Christi, or the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.

One way a parish can celebrate Corpus Christi is by processing with the consecrated Host in a monstrance. For some it may be a quaint way of keeping old traditions alive. However, there’s more than just tradition in this ancient practice. Look at the pieces of what goes into a procession: the Holy Presence of Jesus in the Host, the congregation walking behind, and songs of praise, thanksgiving, and adoration. This is like a miniature version of life. This is what we’re supposed to do on a daily basis: walk with God, allowing Him to lead us, and sing His praise in all that we do. In practicing on a small scale on this solemnity, we are exercising our faith muscles so that we can use them in our daily lives. 

The Eucharist is food for our life journey. While the Church asks us to attend Mass weekly, if we were able to attend daily, we could receive Holy Communion each time. However, regardless of how often we receive, we need to be on guard about it not becoming a habit. A habit, as described in Merriam-Webster is, “an acquired mode of behavior that has become nearly or completely involuntary.” Basically, when the Eucharist is received out of habit, then its effect on us is diminished. It’s similar to when Jesus visited His hometown, and because the people thought they knew Him and who He was, He was not able to perform many miracles amongst them. 

Attitude is the key for preventing such a precious gift from becoming a mere trinket. At each Mass, we prepare ourselves to receive Jesus in the Sacrament by being attentive and participating in the liturgical responses. We take the time of silence before receiving to open our hearts, to have an attitude of welcome for Jesus. Just before the Our Father is one of the most important prayers the priest says: the Eurcharistic Doxology: “Through him, with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, Almighty Father, forever and ever.” In this prayer, we lift up the Mass, with all our intentions through Jesus, uniting them with the Holy Spirit in an offering to God the Father. When we receive Jesus, the opposite happens: we allow Jesus to work through us, with us, and in us, and in unity with the Holy Spirit. We don’t receive the Sacrament to stay the same person we are in our sin, but rather to be transformed out of our sinfulness into the best version of ourselves. We strive to become the Body of Christ on earth by allowing Christ to use our hands and feet to do His will. The Sacrament not only feeds us spiritually, but stirs up the Holy Spirit we received in Baptism and Confirmation to continue the guidance long after our bodies have absorbed the Host. 

Corpus Christi is the Latin phrase for the Body of Christ. As we celebrate this food for our journey, let us welcome the solemnity and the sacrament it celebrates, so that we can be blessed with all the graces God can bestow to our open hearts. 

Resolutions and new beginnings

This year the Catholic Church is celebrating the Jubilee Year of Pilgrims of Hope. The theme conveys that we are on a journey in which we should keep a positive attitude, i.e. hope. But what really is hope?

I was watching a YouTube video recently where the commentator’s remark drew a distinction between hope and expectation. It’s caught in my subconscious, as it randomly pops into my thoughts. The word hope gets used quite frequently in a very casual manner. People hope for all green lights when traveling. After several days of rain, one hopes the sun will come out soon. But is this the type of hope we as Christians are supposed to have? Or, is hope like love, where there are several layers of meaning, depending on the context?

According to Merriam-Webster, the definitions of the word hope as a verb are: 1) to cherish a desire with anticipation, 2) to desire with expectation of obtainment or fulfillment, and 3) to expect with confidence: trust. As I read these three definitions, I nodded in agreement to each of them, however, it seems to me that hope is really all three of these together at once, rather than optional uses of the word. These definitions use the word expect in them, so how can hope and expectation be different? I think the last definition is the one that rings true for Christians, when we trust in God, we let His will be done, even when the outcome is totally not what we would plan for ourselves. Expectation seems to convey a sense that we know what the outcome will be, where hope is only anticipating a positive resolution.

I was surprised that the definition for hope did not convey a joyful aspect. We don’t hope for something bad to happen, but something that is good. Perhaps it is signaled in the first definition of “cherishing a desire.” But hope goes beyond merely wishing for something specific, it is an attitude of positivity in anticipation. There’s a sense of mystery to hope, and an awaiting of surprise. The expectation of hope is to be delighted in what comes about. Hope can be either a resolution, or a new beginning, or both! 

Being Pilgrims of Hope, our destination is heaven, which is also  the beginning of eternal life with God. We have some indication of what heaven could be like, but we won’t really know until we get there. In the letter to the Romans, St. Paul says, “Now hope that sees for itself is not hope. For who hopes for what one sees?” (Rom 8:24) If we look at the world around us, we can see many beautiful and wonderful things created by God. However, our world is a fallen world, and we can also see the corruption brought about by sin. Expecting heaven to be like our current world without corruption is as far as our limited human minds can comprehend. Yet hope also conveys that there is more than just our expectations. We will be fulfilled in our immersion in the glory of God in heaven. 

As we journey through this jubilee year, reflecting on what the word hope means to each of us is key to the celebration. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “the virtue of hope responds to the aspiration to happiness which God has placed in the heart of every man…it opens up his heart in expectation of eternal beatitude.” (CCC 1818) May we leave our limited expectations of God and heaven behind and joyfully look forward to being with God, in the sacramental encounters in our life on earth, and in full communion with Him  in the life to come.

Shifting focus

Why do you go to Mass? While that seems like a simple question, how you answer it may reveal much about your relationship with God. 

Attending Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation is one of the precepts of the Catholic Church. We are not “encouraged” to attend, but rather “expected” to do so. There may be some times when it does feel every bit of an obligation. However, if our sole reasoning each time is to check the box that says we’ve done our duty, it may be time to reevaluate our priorities. On a to-do list, attending Mass should not be just one other thing we do besides taking out the trash, cleaning the bathroom, and grocery shopping. While all these activities are important and need to be done, Mass is not just a thing to accomplish but a retreat from all the tedious tasks we have to cross off our list.

In the Mass, we praise and worship God. This can seem easy to do when there is robust music with familiar hymns so that everyone can sing along. We feel the energy of the music, we have a smile on our face, and it makes us feel good. If that is what is attracting us to attend Mass, that may be a sound reason initially, but it will not sustain our faith in the long run. When we attend Mass because it makes us feel good, we become the focus and reason for our attendance, not God. When there are times that Mass makes us feel good and satisfied when we leave, we can rejoice in that feeling, but we should never go expecting that feeling. 

Through the Mass we encounter Jesus in His fullness: Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. As the Mass is composed of two parts, the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist, we receive Jesus in both His Word, through the Gospel, and in substance, Holy Communion. With each Mass we are given the opportunity to listen to Jesus speak to us as well as speak to Him when we pray after consuming the consecrated host. We can thank Him for all the blessings we’ve received, invoke His assistance for all the challenges before us, and ask forgiveness for all the times we’ve fallen into sin. Receiving the Precious Body and Blood of Jesus in the Holy Sacrament is the closest to heaven we have on earth. We physically are interacting with Jesus as He feeds us with Himself. 

When the reason we attend Mass becomes a visit with a friend, the focus is not on us and what we need to do or how it makes us feel, but rather on God. When we open our hearts to let Him speak through the priest and deacon, we allow God into ourselves and our lives. Reflecting on our visit may prompt us to make adjustments to our life and our interactions with others, sometimes tiny changes while others may seem to turn our world upside down. The result is making us the best version of ourselves that we can be, so that we can share the blessings we’ve received with others, bringing the love of God to them.

Mass is not about what we get out of it, but what we give instead. We give our time, our attention, and open our hearts to God. We share our blessings with others when we volunteer and donate to the collection. We reflect back to God how much we acknowledge and appreciate all He has given us by our attitude towards the Mass. Perhaps the next time we attend Mass, we can ask God how we need to shift our focus for Mass from ourselves and our needs, to Him and for the grace to do it. 

Tangles and knots

May is the month dedicated to Mary and recently I’ve been pondering one of her titles, Undoer of Knots. 

I was working on warping my loom, using a fine cotton yarn that I realized had been a bit too overspun. This resulted in the yarn wanting to twist unless it was under tension. Since a loom works by using the yarn under tension, it sounds like it would be a good use for it. However, one needs to actually get it on the loom in order to put it under tension. When one is dealing with 400 measured out strands of yarn, each about 3 yards long, it doesn’t take long for tangles to begin. As I warped the loom, I worked in small sections at a time, maybe about 20 or so ends. I could hardly believe my eyes. I would straighten the section and immediately upon releasing it, it would twist and kink up along the visible length I was working on. I was being given a challenge. Would I accept it? Or would I cut it all off and choose a different project?

I must confess there was more than one occasion that I wondered if it was worth it. This project is a practice item, I don’t have to do it. Why was I putting myself through such hassle? “It’s an opportunity to practice patience,” I told myself. But the other part of my brain would question me, “isn’t this supposed to be fun, why do you want to practice patience with this?” Another explanation I thought of was it being an opportunity to practice this particular weaving challenge, so that I know I can handle it when it comes to a project I specifically want to do, especially if it’s for a gift. Still my brain was challenging me and I was getting frustrated. Then I remembered one of Mary’s titles is Undoer of Knots. As my hands worked through the loops and tangles, I pondered on what this means for Mary, and how my current predicament could shed light on it.

The excess twist in the yarn was causing it to loop over other strands that were making their own loops. I didn’t necessarily have a knot, unless in my frustration I yanked too hard and the loop closed over the other strands. Given the fineness of the yarn, it became a really tight knot. I had to look carefully at the knot to find the outermost loop and gently tease it away from the other strands. 

When we pray to Mary to undo the knots in our lives, be it for help with our habitual sins, issues in our families or workplaces, or even our general world, we need to have patience as Mary is working. It takes time to undo a knot. It takes finesse to find which thread to pull and gently work with it. 

Undoing knots also requires great attention to detail, not just of the knot itself, but of the other threads around it. By working with one thread, another knot could be created elsewhere if one is not paying attention. When we pray for Mary’s intercession under this title, we are asking her to look at whatever situational knot we are experiencing, and to work at it from whichever angle will prevent another knot from surfacing. It can seem like our prayers are not being answered; however, if we allow Mary to intercede with Jesus for the best possible outcome, we can be assured that the knot will be undone.

When we invoke Mary’s assistance, we also need to remember that when we seek assistance, we need to be open to the Spirit’s prompting, but avoid overthinking and try to resolve the issue ourselves. When we seek to fix our problems, we can create more tangles and knots in our life-yarn that is straight and smooth. It’s very tempting to make a plan to address an issue and our take-charge culture feeds that impulse. However, when we realize the difficulty is too big for us to address on our own, we need to leave it firmly in the hands of our spiritual guardians. Like at the wedding feast in Cana, Mary’s response may be for us to follow whatever Jesus tells us to do. And like at the feast, filling up the ceremonial jars used for washing when wine was needed sounded crazy to the staff, we may be prompted to take action in a way that seems to have no connection with our problem. But Mary and Jesus are outside of time and space; they can see the impact of it all. When we pray, we need to trust in their intervention and be open to their guidance. 

While it seemed to take forever to warp the loom, I did succeed. I absolutely had moments of frustration, but I also had moments of mirth as I thought of Mary as the Undoer of Knots. I know that my knots were nothing that needed her intercession, but it was nice to feel a kinship with her doing the same action. 

Doubting everyone

Poor Thomas usually gets the nickname, Doubting Thomas, however, a closer inspection of the last chapter of each Gospel should prompt the question, Who doesn’t doubt?

“When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted.” (Mt 28:17) One of the last lines in Matthew’s Gospel is at the point Jesus gives the Apostles the mission to proclaim Him to the world. It seems a bit odd to see that the Apostles doubted the risen Jesus! From Matthew’s perspective, his message seems a little unfinished if the Apostles were still doubting. Perhaps it’s because the Gospels are written several decades after this time. In addition, Jesus’ ascension and Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit, boosted their faith, which in turn prompted the Gospels to be written. Perhaps it’s a subtle acknowledgement that this can be a difficult teaching and it’s okay to question it. 

“When they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.” (Mk 16: 11) “After this he appeared in another form to two of them walking along on their way to the country.  They returned and told the others; but they did not believe them either.” (Mk 16: 12-13) Mark’s Gospel account relates that the Apostles did not believe Mary Magdalene nor the two disciples who had returned to Jerusalem, most likely the two who were walking to Emmaus. Twice! How can the Apostles not believe two separate accounts? Did they believe all were imagining a ghost? 

“The women were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James; the others who accompanied them also told this to the apostles, but their story seemed like nonsense and they did not believe them.” (Lk 24: 10-11) In Luke’s account, it is the women’s story that is received with disbelief. Later on in the chapter is the story of the disciples on the way to Emmaus as well as Jesus appearing to the Apostles. At that time period, women did not have legal status and could not be an eye witness in court. Thinking with that mindset, it seems plausible that the men would discount what the women said. However, these were women who most likely traveled with the itinerant band. They would have been familiar with the women and know they would not tell lies or make up stories. Perhaps because the subject matter was unthinkable, they couldn’t understand the resurrection?

“Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the scripture that he had to rise from the dead.”  (Jn 20:8-9) John’s Gospel is almost the reverse of the others. While it doesn’t come out that Peter didn’t believe, it implies such because the other apostle stated his belief in the risen Lord. John’s Gospel also includes the story of Thomas as well as an epitaph remarking on why the Gospel was written so that people could come to believe in Jesus. 

It’s comforting to see that even those closest to Jesus struggled to comprehend the entirety of His mission. I do believe in all the aspects of Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection, however, I cannot explain how Jesus did all of this. I believe these are all miracles that God can do, the God of all creation — from the smallest atom and particle to the largest planet and galaxy — He can do anything. What I struggle with is how God is working in my life. In the good times and in the troublesome times, God is always there with us, just like He was with all the Apostles as they came to the realization of Jesus and His mission, which became their own.

Everyone doubts something at some point. It’s more about what we do when we are in doubt that will determine how doubt affects us. We can either turn away from God, letting doubt be greater than God. Or we can turn it over to God and lean into Him to help us through it, in which case our doubt strengthens our faith. In these times, we can reach out to the Apostles for support as well, since they understand doubt and how it can transform us into messengers of the Gospel.

Where to look

Easter is about seeking and finding. However, it entirely depends on what you’re looking for. And during this season, why do we search for something that’s empty?

One of the optional Gospel readings for Easter is Luke’s account of the women who visit Jesus’ tomb. They meet up with angels who ask them, “Why do you seek the living one among the dead?” (Lk 24:5) It’s a fascinating question to ponder because it challenges us to reflect upon our faith. While it makes sense for the women to look for Jesus at the tomb, as they expected Him to remain buried. For us, living 2,000 years later, with scores of commentary, sermons, and prayers written about Jesus’ resurrection, we have to ask ourselves: where do we look for Jesus? Do we go to “dead” places to find Him? Are we surprised when our half-hearted attempts result in emptiness?

Ironically, many participate in seeking another type of emptiness: plastic Easter eggs. These colorful symbols of the season seem to contrast the empty tomb. While they may be a symbol of the holiday, they are not true correlations of the faith, rather they are merely a hollow imitation of the real symbol. Tradition teaches that an egg is a symbol of the resurrection when it is cracked open, not when it is whole, intact, and painted a pastel color. A plastic egg pales in comparison to a real egg. It is hollow inside, and, frankly, it’s fake. Yet we joyfully go after them on Easter to see how many we can find. Or for those who are hiding the frauds, to see how many others will find without hints. Do we chase after Jesus with the same mirth and excitement? Do our actions lead others to Jesus or drive them farther away?

It is an interesting juxtaposition: a plastic Easter egg and Jeus’ tomb; both are empty. Yet the tomb is responsible for more joy over the centuries than any single plastic Easter egg ever could. Our human nature makes us susceptible to hunt for these colorful but meaningless toys, which can correlate to our earthly desires and passions. It may make us happy in the moment, especially when we find one, but that moment is fleeting. When we dig down in our faith and seek Jesus, the empty tomb becomes our promise of hope in what’s to come for us. We, too, someday will be resurrected like Jesus; reunited body and soul. The empty tomb is not just some cave far, far away. It is theological proof that Jesus IS God in the second person of the Trinity, for only God can raise the dead and bring new life back to what is no longer. Jesus died for us, going to the farthest reaches any human can go, and came back again. He freed us from sin’s dark hold and put an end to the fear of death. 

God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. Like a real egg cracking to release the newly hatched chick, the tomb cracks open new life in Jesus Christ. Through our faith in Him, Jesus fills us with grace and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Anything else is a cheap thrill that will only leave us empty inside.

Without a doubt

During this Holy Week, we conclude our reflection on the Stations of the Cross. These two may seem to be superfluous after the events leading up to the crucifixion and death of Jesus. However, they underscore the finality of death in order that Jesus’ resurrection should be that much more extraordinary.

The thirteenth station: Jesus’ body is taken down from the cross

While this action seems to be rather mundane, in actuality, it was rather surprising. Crucifixion was not only meant to be a punishment, but also a deterrent. If the crucified bodies were removed immediately after they died, the threat of the punishment would lose much of its power. The executed bodies would remain for all those who passed by, to remind them of the penalty in going against Rome. Perhaps due to the solemnity of the Passover that was celebrated at that time, Pilate allowed the quick removal of Jesus’ body and those crucified with Him. 

It is this station that evokes the image of Michelangelo’s Pietà, of Mary holding the body of her Son one last time. Jesus came down from heaven to be born of Mary, and she held Him in her arms at Bethlehem. Now His mission from His earthly body’s standpoint is complete and she holds His remains lovingly in her arms. While Jesus understands all emotions, Mary is one to seek during times of sorrow and grief. She allowed God’s will to unfold and supported it to the best of her ability. She trusted in God to get her through this, the most painful sorrow she had encountered as the Mother of Jesus. Simeon’s prophecy at His presentation in the Temple must have been ringing through her thoughts. A lance penetrated Jesus’ side and heart, but a spiritual and emotional sword pierced Mary’s motherly heart at what seemed like the end.

The fourteenth station: Jesus’ body is placed in the tomb

In a dark cave, hewed out of a rock, Jesus’ body is wrapped and placed for burial. A large stone is rolled to seal the entrance, the ancient equivalent to nailing a coffin shut. At the time, it seemed to all the world that the promised Anointed one was no longer. With His demise, the Apostles are left without a leader, without direction, and wholly uncertain of what to do next. 

The Church equates the time after the Liturgy of the Passion and through Holy Saturday in reflection of this station. We ponder the depths that God, via Jesus, would go to, in order to restore a relationship with us. Not just did Jesus die for us, but He also went to the depths of spiritual darkness, where all the souls who had perished previously were awaiting Him. Those souls went from no ability to be with God to the possibility of cleansing any remaining attachments and beholding the beatific vision. Jesus loves us that much, that He fulfilled the Will of the Father to redeem mankind throughout time.

These two stations set the foundation for the spectacular resurrection of Jesus. His death was verified by many people as He was removed from the cross and His lifeless body was placed in the tomb. When he rose from death on that first Easter morning, it was beyond belief. For us today, we still don’t understand it fully, even though we believe it as one of the main tenets of our faith. There is no doubt that Jesus died. And for Christians, there is no doubt that Jesus rose from the dead. 

In these last days of leading up to the most holiest day of the year, let us ponder our doubts and place them before the cross and before the tomb. Let us open our hearts to God to illuminate the way to trust in His Will for us. That’s what our faith journey on earth is all about; giving our whole selves, doubts and fears as well as love and sacrifices, to God so that our lives may be a song of praise to Him.