Tuesday of the Octave of Easter - 6 April 2021 - Acts 2:36-41

      In our reading from the Acts of the Apostles today, we hear about 3,000 people who were baptized in response to the message that they heard from Peter.  We can interpret this story in the context of the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus, in the context of our commemoration of the Easter season.  We can assume that some of those in the crowds who cried out in the midst of Christ’s passion, “Crucify him, Crucify him!” may have also been the same people who responded to Peter’s call of repentance and baptism, becoming followers of the Way of Christ.  The Acts of the Apostles tells us that the people “were cut to the heart” when they realized that Jesus, who was just crucified, was made Lord and Christ by God.

      The call to repentance that Peter makes to the crowd, and his proclamation of what God is all about, is so radical when compared to the message that so many people cling to in our modern society.  I don’t think we want to realize how radical the Gospel message is.  We often want to make Christ’s Gospel message easy and comfortable and not radical at all. We don’t want a faith that is difficult to follow.  As a missionary, there were many mission sites in rural areas that did not have a mass even once a year.  I saw on the internet when in Ireland, there were no Easter masses in-person for the second year in a row.  And in Scotland, capacity was limited to 50 people in the church for Easter masses, no matter how large the church building. It may be inconvenient to wear a mask to mass, to take communion in our hands when we want to receive it directly in the mouth, and to have to sign up for mass in advance to make a reservation.  However, what inconveniences are we willing to make for our faith?   Maybe what we are experiencing now may teach us that we should not take our faith for granted, that we need to be more appreciative for the gift of our faith and the opportunity to practice our faith in the sacraments of the Church.  

       Like the crowd that Peter addressed, may we be cut to the heart ourselves as to what our reality is right now. May we give thanks for the presence of the resurrected Christ in our lives and the opportunity to live out our faith.  

Prayers of the faithful - Monday of the Octave of Easter - 5 April 2021

Lord Jesus - You are the glory of the Father - Lord have mercy.  

Christ Jesus - You are the hope of the hopeless - Christ have mercy. 

Lord Jesus - You give us strength and courage on our journey of faith  - Lord have mercy. 

Priest: With Easter joy i our hearts, we present our prayers to our merciful and loving Father: 

1.We pray for the holy Church, the bride of Christ, that we may be faithful to our Savior and proclaim the joy of his Resurrection, We pray to the Lord. 

2. We pray for Bishop Joseph Kopacz and for our faith community here in the Diocese of Jackson, that, renewed by our Easter mysteries, we as live as servants and live for Christ, We pray to the Lord. 

3. We pray for all the children and youth who have been preparing for the Easter sacraments and for those candidates and catechumens who entered the Church on Easter weekend.  We pray to the Lord. 

4. We pray for all who are struggling in their faith right now, that Christ, risen from the dead, may call their name and lead them back to the faith.  We pray to the Lord. 

5. We pray for all those who have suffered tragedies. For those who are struggling with addictions. That the wounds of Christ may give them encouragement, We pray to the Lord. 

6. We pray for the sick and the sorrowful and for those individuals and families who have been affected by the pandemic, that during this Easter season the Lord may heal them body, mind, and spirit. We pray to the Lord. 

7. We pray for all those who have died. That Christ may shatter their chains and bring them to his banquet in the Father’s house. And for those prayers we hold in our hearts.  We pray to the Lord. 

Priest: As we journey through the Octave of Easter, we present these prayers to you O heavenly Father through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  AMEN. 

Monday of the Octave of Easter - St Vincent Ferrer - 5 April 2021 - Acts 2:14, 22-32

      The Saint we celebrate today, the Monday of the Octave of Easter, is St Vincent Ferrer, a Dominican priest who was born in Valencia in Spain in the middle of the 14th century.   He was ordained a priest in Barcelona, Spain in 1379, one year after a Schism was dividing the Catholic Church, in which there were different men who claimed to be pope, both in Rome and in Avignon, France.   Although he was a supporter of the two succeeding men who claimed to be pope in Avignon, he worked to end the schism, which ended when the Avignon pope was declared a schismatic and was excommunicated. St Vincent Ferrar is most well-known as a skilled missionary. He traveled to England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Switzerland, and different kingdoms in Spain, getting many converts to the faith.  Although very intellectual, he could explain the faith in words that people could understand and that would draw them to the faith.   He died in Brittany, France in 1419.

      It is wonderful to recognize a great missionary saint as we celebrate the Octave of Easter this week.  In our reading from the Acts of the Apostles, which we will hear from frequently during in Easter season, as we hear about the formation and development of the Early Church,  we hear a great testimony of faith from St Peter in our first reading.   St Vincent Ferrer can be seen in the spirit of Peter, as both were missionaries full of joy and zeal for the faith.  Peter was especially successful in bring Jewish converts to the faith.  During the passion of the Lord during Holy Week, we heard how Peter was fearful, denying the Lord three times and not being strong and confident in his faith.  Now, we hear a very confident Peter, who professes his faith and who is about to proclaim to all God’s plan of salvation. 

      As we ourselves journey through this holy season of Easter, may all of us feel God calling out to us today to be evangelizers and messengers of Christ’s Good News in our corner of the world.  

4 de abril de 2021 - El domingo de Pascua - John 20:1-9

     En nuestra pagina de FACEBOOK, tenemos fotos de la Cuaresma y la Semana Santa del año pasado, cuando todas nuestras liturgias se transmitieron por Internet y ninguno de ustedes, los miembros de nuestra parroquia, pudieron asistir a esas liturgias en persona.  Nunca antes habíamos transmitido nuestras misas por el INTERNET.  Marcos García, un estudiante de secundaria, trajo su teléfono y comenzamos en este nuevo mundo de tecnología para nosotros.  Ahora es un mundo completamente nuevo y una realidad completamente nueva.  Nunca antes en nuestra vida habíamos experimentado una Cuaresma y una Semana Santa como lo hicimos el año pasado.  Creo que todos estaríamos de acuerdo con esa afirmación.  Las liturgias en persona y las actividades de la iglesia se suspendieron temporalmente en medio de las medidas extraordinarias en medio de una pandemia de salud mundial, eso no significó que la conmemoración y práctica de nuestra fe se detuviera por completo.  El Año pasado, no canceló la temporada santa de Cuaresma y nuestra temporada más sagrada de Pascua.

     Todavía este año seguimos con la pandemia.  Yo estaba tan emocionado de poder tener la Cuaresma y la Semana Santa en persona este año.  Pero, esa severa tormenta de hielo golpeó y yo estaba solo en la iglesia transmitiendo las misas y el viacrucis por el FACEBOOK LIVE.  No tenía otra persona para grabar la Misa en mi iPad.  Sin embargo, estamos llamados a mirar las bendiciones de nuestra fe en medio de nuestros sufrimientos, nuestras pruebas y nuestras tribulaciones.  En medio de la lucha contra la pandemia, las promesas de Pascua por una nueva vida en Cristo tienen un nuevo significado.  Nuestras experiencias en estos últimos doce meses nos brinde la oportunidad de mirar la vida en su contexto en una manera diferente, para ver la presencia de Dios y la presencia de la fe en el mundo de otra manera. Quizás dimos demasiado por sentado.  Tal vez ahora en la pandemia podemos darnos cuenta que nada es segura, que queríamos cosas que realmente no necesitábamos. Tal vez con la pandemia, podemos examinar  nuestra relación con Dios, nuestra relación con la Iglesia y nuestra relación con los demás.  Al celebrar el Domingo de Pascua esta tarde, podemos reconocer cómo la Semana Santa y nuestra celebración de la Pascua nos da la oportunidad de reflexionar sobre nuestra realidad actual con los caminos y sufrimientos que Cristo soportó, desde la última cena con sus discípulos, hasta su camino a al cruz y su muerte, y luego a su resurrección.  El Papa Benedicto XVI declaró: “No hay experiencia de Dios a menos que uno se aparte de los asuntos de la vida diaria."  A veces, nuestra complicada realidad puede impedirnos mirar verdaderamente nuestra fe y la presencia de Dios en nuestra vida.  Sin embargo, también nos damos cuenta de que sin nuestra experiencia de Cuaresma, sin mirar los sufrimientos y pruebas que soportamos, no habría celebración de Pascua para nosotros. No sería realmente Pascua y no tendría el mismo significado.

     Hoy, en la celebración de Pascua, profesamos que Jesucristo ya no solo pertenece al pasado, sino que realmente vive en el presente y se proyecta hacia el futuro.  Nuestra fe nos dice que la resurrección de Cristo resucitado es una realidad eterna en nuestras vidas.  Así como las mujeres que encontraron el sepulcro vacío vislumbraron la realidad de la resurrección, así como los discípulos empezaron a aprender lo que significaba para ellos la resurrección de Cristo, nosotros también estamos llamados a contemplar esta realidad que Cristo trae al mundo: su victoria sobre pecado y muerte que nos trae nueva vida.

     Las promesas bautismales que renovamos como una comunidad de fe en la Misa de Pascua nos llaman a abrazar los valores de fe y nos llaman a renunciar a aquellas cosas que nos alejan de Dios. De la muerte y la resurrección de Jesucristo y de las aguas del bautismo fluyen una visión que puede cambiar y puede desafiar la forma en que vivimos y nos relacionamos con el mundo. Lo que experimentamos esta noche en nuestra misa de la Vigilia Pascual debería inspirarnos a mirar nuestras viejas costumbres y vivir de una manera nueva centrada en Cristo.  Estamos llamados a una fe revitalizada en esta temporada de Pascua, a estar vivos en el espíritu de Cristo: en el Cristo que compartió nuestra vida aquí en la tierra, que habló por los oprimidos, que sanó a los enfermos, que alimentó a los hambrientos y que murió para traernos la salvación.  Este es el espíritu de Cristo que estamos llamados a compartir con nuestro mundo. 

2 de abril de 2021 - VIERNES SANTO - Juan 18:1—19:42

      Al escuchar la Pasión de Cristo en el Evangelio de San Juan, podemos imaginar la incertidumbre y el miedo que sintieron los seguidores de Jesucristo.  Hemos estado caminado con Jesucristo durante los días de Cuaresma.  Muchos de nosotros hemos estado rezando el viacrucis cada viernes durante la Cuaresma, conmemorando que Jesús murió el día viernes.  El Viernes Santo, los seguidores de Jesús sabían que ese era el día en que él sufría y murió, aunque la mayoría no estaba presente, habiéndose dispersado por el miedo.  Para sus seguidores, el mismo hombre que había realizado milagros de curación y había hablado de sí mismo como la resurrección ahora estaba muriendo en la cruz.  Jesús fue crucificado como si fuera un criminal notorio.  Los seguidores de Jesucristo habían puesto toda su esperanza en su futuro en él.  En medio del caos y la violencia del Viernes Santo, sus seguidores parecen haber olvidado su promesa de volver con ellos.  Se sentían perdidos y abandonados.  Sin embargo, en el Evangelio de Juan, Jesús promete a sus discípulos antes de comenzar su pasión: “No los dejaré desolados; Vendré a ustedes."  En este último año desafiante, estoy seguro de que todos hemos estado sintiendo todo tipo de emociones.  Esto puede incluir cosas como ira, frustración, confusión, desesperación, abandono, aislamiento, y cansancio.  Es posible que en algún momento nos hayamos sentido perdidos cómo muchos de los seguidores de Cristo el Viernes Santo.  La promesa que Jesús hizo a sus seguidores resuena en nuestros corazones hoy Viernes Santo: No los dejaré solos. Vendré a ustedes. Pero, a veces durante la pandemia, a veces durante el cierre y las órdenes de permanecer en casa, las promesas de Jesús pueden haberse sentido muy lejos de nuestra realidad. Pero sus promesas estaban ahí.

      Estamos llamados a tener esperanza hoy.  En la muerte de Cristo, en la confusión y el temor de sus seguidores, en la cruz de Cristo crucificado, nos llega la bondad de Dios: la esperanza de la resurrección y la esperanza de una nueva vida.  Al conmemorar hoy el Viernes Santo en medio de los desafíos, estamos llamados a pensar en la realidad del Viernes Santo: Ese Viernes Santo no fue el final; que el Domingo de Pascua ya llegare.

      En Viernes Santo, el momento de la muerte es al mismo tiempo un momento de nueva vida.  Este momento desesperado fue el momento en que se dio la esperanza eterna.  Este momento de injusticia fue al mismo tiempo un momento de la gracia de Dios. Este momento de sufrimiento insoportable garantizó que el sufrimiento terminaría algún día, de una vez por todas.  Este momento de tristeza nos dio la bienvenida al gozo eterno de Dios. La muerte de Cristo nos compró al mismo tiempo vida y libertad. Viernes santo es un día solemne y serio, pero abre el camino para la alegría pascual. 

4 April 2021 - Reflection for EASTER SUNDAY - John 20:1-9

     We have made it to Easter day in the midst of a very challenging year.  For us as Catholics, Easter day and the entire Easter season celebrate the most joyful time of the liturgical year as we celebrate the resurrected Lord in a special way.   But, our Easter joy this year comes in the midst of our challenges and struggles in the pandemic.  When the pandemic started here in the United States in March last year, most of us did not think that more than a year later we would wearing masks and still having Mass drive-in style in our cars.  Frustration, anger, confusion, fear, loneliness: these are some of the emotions we may have felt this year.  

       It will help us to think back to the reaction of Christ’s apostles and other followers to his death on Good Friday.  They were very confused as to what was happening.  They had no clue as to where it would lead them in their faith.  Most of them probably thought that Christ’s death was the end of the story and that his life and ministry would become a long-forgotten memory for them.  Our Gospel today tells us that when Mary Magdalene witnessed the empty tomb that she ran in haste to Simon Peter and to the beloved disciples and told them: “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.”  At this point, they thought Jesus' body had been stolen from the tomb and they did not think that he had come back to life.  These reactions of fear, bewilderment and confusion preceded any Easter joy. The resurrected Jesus was too much for them to grasp. In the coming weeks of the Octave of Easter and the Easter season, the Evangelist show evidence that the risen Jesus was not just spiritually alive, but physically alive as well.  

       The challenges we are going through in the midst of our reality in the pandemic are real.  But the resurrection of Jesus is a reality as well, which is the whole point of our celebration of Easter and the whole point of our Catholic faith.  The resurrection is more than an abstraction.  It is more than a spiritual reality.  The resurrection of Easter joy is the most radical mystery of our faith, not something we can explain by our intellect.  It is a mystery of faith that completely transforms our reality.  It is a mystery we are able to believe and embrace through the lens of our faith. 

       Just this past week, during the first several days of Holy Week, I got to see some of my brother priests at events such as a reconciliation service, the Chrism Mass, and a funeral.  I have really missed seeing my brother priests during the pandemic.  I have missed getting together with all of you here at the parish for different events.  But even in the midst of the pandemic and the busy schedule of Holy Week, it was such a blessing to see these glimpses of the joy of our faith.  On Thursday and Friday during Holy Week, our collections went to the outreach ministries we have at St Jude.  Some of those ministries have very active during the pandemic, such as our food bank to HIV/AIDS patients and our feeding of the homeless and of poor families at Poindexter Park and at the Opportunity Center.  Other ministries, such as our weekly visits to Whitfield State Hospital and to the prisons have been on hold since the pandemic started.  Those ministries are indicative of our Easter joy as well. 

       Today, with Christians all over the world, let us follow the example of Mary Magdalene. Let us also stand at the empty tomb.  Let us believe. Let us then have the courage to proclaim the Good News of the resurrection to others and to live out that Good News in our lives. This Easter, may what we believe in our hearts, profess with our lips, be seen in the work of our hands and the quality of our daily lives. Alleluia!  Christ is risen!

3 April 2021 - Reflection for Easter Vigil Mass - Mark 16:1-7

      Last week, Rhonda Bowden, our liturgist at St Jude, posted photos of Lent and Holy Week from last year, when all of our liturgies were streamed over the internet and none of you, the parishioners were able to come to those liturgies in person.  We had never streamed our liturgies before.  Marcos Garcia, a high school student, brought his smart phone, and we started off in this brand new world for us.  It did seem like a brand new world and a brand new reality, didn’t it?  Never before in our lifetimes have we experienced a Lent and a Holy Week like we did last year.  I think we would all agree with that statement.  While in-person liturgies and church actives were temporarily suspended in the midst of the extraordinary measures taken amid a global health pandemic, it did not mean that the commemoration and practice of our faith stopped altogether.  It did not cancel the holy season of Lent and our most hallowed season of Easter.  

      This year, too, we are still dealing with the pandemic.  I was so excited that we were going to be able to have Lent and Holy Week in person this year.  Then, the severe ice storm hit and I was alone in the church streaming the Masses and stations of the cross.  I did not even have another person to record the Mass on my IPAD.  However, we are called to look at the blessings of our faith in the midst of our sufferings, our trials, and our tribulations.  In the midst of coping with the pandemic, perhaps the Easter promises of new life in Christ takes on new meaning.  Perhaps what we have gone through these past twelve months provides an opportunity for us to look at life in its greater context in a new way, to see the presence of God and the presence of faith in the world through a different lens.   Perhaps we took too much for granted.  Perhaps we wanted things that we truly did not need.  Perhaps we took our relationship with God, our relationship with the Church, and our relationship with others for granted.  As we celebrate the Easter Vigil tonight, we can recognize how of our celebration of Holy Week and the Easter season provides us a way to ponder our current reality with the trails and sufferings that Christ endured, from the last supper with his disciples, to his journey to the cross and his death, and then to his resurrection. Pope Benedict XVI stated: “There is no experience of God unless one goes out from the business of everyday living.”  Sometimes, our busy complicated reality can keep us from truly looking at our faith and seeing God’s presence.  Yet, we also realize that without our experience of Lent, without looking at the sufferings and trials that we endure, there would be no Easter celebration for us.  It would not truly be Easter and it would not have the same meaning.  

      Tonight, in our Easter Vigil Mass, we profess that Jesus no longer just belongs to the past, but he truly lives in the present and he is projected toward the future.  Our faith tells us that the resurrection of the risen Christ is an everlasting reality in our lives.  Just as the women who found the empty tomb received a glimpse of the reality of the resurrection, just as the disciples started to learn what Christ’s resurrection meant to them, we are also called to contemplate this reality Christ brings into our lives: his victory over sin and death that brings us new life.

        The baptismal promises we renew as a community of faith in our Masses this Easter weekend call us to embrace the values of our faith with courage and zeal and to renounce those things that keep us from God.  From the death and resurrection of Jesus and from waters of baptism flows a vision that is able change and challenge the way we live and engage with the world.  What we experience tonight at our Easter Vigil mass should inspire us to look at our old ways and to live in a new way centered around Christ.  We are called to a reinvigorated faith this Easter season, to be alive in the spirit of Christ: in the Christ who shared our life here on earth, who spoke up for the oppressed, who healed the sick, who fed the hungry, and who died to bring us salvation.  This is the spirit of Christ that we are called to share with our world.