April 25, 2021

Fourth Sunday of Easter

• Acts 4:8-12
• 1 John 3:1-2
• John 10:11-18

One of the earliest images of Jesus was as the Good Shepherd.
From the Catacomb of Callixtus, Rome, 3^rd Century AD.

Reflection Written By: Katy Callaghan Huston, MAPS; Lector and RCIA Catechist

Jesus, is the Good Shepherd. We need to keep that in mind. No hierarchy in our church—including Pope Francis—is The Good Shepherd. Only Jesus fulfills that role for us.

All the readings for this Fourth Sunday of Easter speak to me in light of the situation we at St. Joseph find ourselves in, and at first I found it hard to find a focus. Then I carefully and prayerfully reread each of the four scripture passages that we have been given.

Peter reminds us that:

 “There is no salvation through anyone else,
nor is there any other name under heaven
given to the human race by which we are to be saved.”

Jesus is the Good Shepherd.

The Psalm reminds us that:

“It is better to take refuge in the LORD
    than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
    than to trust in princes.“

Jesus is the Good Shepherd.

The First Letter of John reminds us that:

“Beloved, we are God’s children now;
what we shall be has not yet been revealed.
We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he is.“

Jesus is the Good Shepherd

And the Gospel tells us what it means to be The Good Shepherd

“I am the good shepherd,
and I know mine and mine know me,
just as the Father knows me and I know the Father;
and I will lay down my life for the sheep.“

Sadly, our Church, as it has become, seems to think “it”, that is the hierarchy, is our good shepherd. We are “led” to believe that we must follow that shepherd and do what that shepherd says. I was told back in my college years that “The church is not a democracy.” Well, maybe so. But is it, then a “dictatorship?” Is our church one who has all the answers, has no ear for the People of God and “leads us in right paths” (Psalm 23:3)? I don’t think so.

Right now, with the loss of two beloved pastors in a little less than a year it is hard to get past the anger, hurt and pain. (I know, we don’t know all of the circumstances, but it is clear that someone is exerting pressure somewhere.)

So, what do we do with our anger, hurt and pain? I believe we keep returning to the Word. We go back to our roots in the Gospels and other writings of those who closely followed the Good Shepherd. We support each other and we listen for the voice of Jesus, our true Good Shepherd and then we speak out whenever and wherever we are called. We know the Good Shepherd will lay down his life for us.

Questions for Reflection:

• How have you grown to recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd?
• What voices are you listening to? And how can you secure your heart to the shepherd of our souls?

April 18, 2021

The Third Sunday of Easter

• Acts 3: 13-15, 17-19
• 1 John 2: 1-5a
• Luke 24:35-48

Reflection written by: Gayle Sommerfeld, lector and member of Liturgy Commission

Being Jesus’ disciple is not easy. After Jesus’ crucifixion, his disciples (those who had not run away) went into hiding behind locked doors. They were in darkness, both literally and emotionally. They were deeply troubled and experienced anxieties and doubts about the past and worries about the future. Luke tells us the disciples had heard the claims of Jesus’ resurrection from the women who visited the tomb “but their story seemed like nonsense and they did not believe them.” (Luke 24:11). Peter took it upon himself to go and see that Jesus’ tomb was indeed empty. The reading does not say if Peter shared what he saw with the others.  Did they talk about Jesus and finding the tomb empty? What are they to believe? Were they mostly feeling lost and alone, feeling grief over the loss of Jesus, or frightened at the prospect of being arrested by the authorities? Later that day, two of those who fled returned and spoke of their own amazing experience of seeing the risen Lord in breaking bread with him near Emmaus.

What should they do, now that they didn’t have their friend in their lives anymore? Even though they had been with him for three years and Jesus told them ahead of time what would happen, that he would be crucified, would die, and then be resurrected, the disciples apparently either didn’t understand any of it, or didn’t believe what Jesus told them.   

Suddenly Jesus shows up in the room and interrupts their conversation. He didn’t use the door or knock. “Peace be with you,” he says. They see him, hear his voice even, but don’t recognize him. They “thought that they were seeing a ghost.” They know Jesus was crucified, died, and was buried. They know dead men don’t come back to life. The tomb was open, but their minds were closed. His first words to them were “Peace be with you.” The disciples were terrified, instead of being peaceful, because they believed they were seeing a ghost. His own disciples did not recognize Jesus! Since Jesus had appeared to them not long ago, it seems that they would have realized that the figure that stood before them was Jesus.

Jesus asks them, “Why are you troubled and afraid? Why do you question?” Jesus invites them to look at his hands and his feet and see for themselves that he truly is Jesus, their teacher, friend, and Lord. Jesus asks them to come and touch him and experience for themselves that he is real and not a ghost. Jesus then showed them the wounds in his hands, feet, and side to strengthen their belief. What really did it for them was when Jesus asked for and ate a piece of broiled fish, because ghosts don’t eat.  They believed because they shared a meal with Jesus. Slowly, the disciples began to absorb the reality that Jesus was alive.

Jesus then ran a post-resurrection Bible study and opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. He revealed himself in a deeply personal way to each of them. He told them that it was written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day. Then repentance and forgiveness of sin would be preached in Jesus’ name to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem. How did the disciples react to Jesus’ words? Did his words “set them on fire?” Were they ready to go out and begin preaching and teaching his message? Or were they hesitant and afraid? Were some of them asking themselves, “could I really do that?” Jesus was the one who was teacher and leader. What might the cost of this mission be? Jesus had been arrested, flogged, and crucified! Did they ask themselves, “am I truly willing to ‘give my all’ for Jesus?” They knew their mission. If not, the story might have ended here. But it did not end and never ends.

Inner peace can sometimes be quite hard to come by.  Jesus came to the upper room and gave the disciples what they needed most at that moment, peace. Happy Easter! It’s not enough that the tomb is empty. We need to move from the resurrection event to experiencing resurrection ourselves, by recognizing the risen Christ among us. This is the gift of Easter and is also the challenge described this week in the readings.

Questions for Reflection

• Peace is a deep sense of knowing all will be well. As Jesus appears, he so often says ‘do not be afraid’!’ Are you fearful? Do you need to pray for trust in God, trust in your life, or maybe in an important relationship which is strained?
• In prayer, walk with the disciples and feel their fear and anxiety and sense of being let down. Feel their hope also that maybe his promise to rise will be fulfilled. What does this bring up in you?
• What would it be like for you to be invited to touch the wounded hands, feet, or side of Jesus? What might allow you to be a bit more convinced of his profound love for you?

April 11, 2021

Sunday of Divine Mercy

• Acts 4:32-35
• 1 John 5:1-6
• John 20:19-31

“My Strength and My Courage is the Lord.” Ps 118, 14

Reflection written by: Janet McDermott, MTS

Today, the octave of Easter, the Church celebrates the Sunday of Divine Mercy.  Historically, the celebration is rooted in the Hebrew’s Day of Atonement when the people of God would gather to acknowledge their guilt, laying all their sins upon a lamb or goat and then banishing the animal into the wilderness to die – all as a means of finding favor once more with God.  As Christian believers we too are reminded that we too have a lamb who bore our sinfulness – Jesus the Lamb of God, whose death we so recently memorialized.  This is the Sunday we turn to our merciful God, asking in the Most Holy Name of Jesus, for God’s mercy and for the forgiveness of our sins.

Today’s gospel seems to illustrate how the mercy of God is manifested. The Gospel recounts how the Apostles were gathered in isolation, astonished by their experience of Jesus’ actual presence in their midst.  Thomas, as we remember, was not there when Jesus first appeared to the dazed Apostles.  I wondered what went on in their hearts when Jesus left that first meeting, their hesitation and struggle as they told Thomas about seeing the Lord.  As I looked ahead in preparation for this reflection, I was struck by how much Thomas’ reaction to the news of Jesus’ resurrection and continued presence parallels my own.  It’s like the more I know about God and God’s mysterious works, the more I question my understanding of it.  And I am assured that I am not the only one, perhaps the reader or others struggle as well – like the Apostle Thomas.  Jesus simply tells Thomas “do not be unbelieving but believe”.  Amazing mercy.  Thomas received the faith that he needed, in the manner he could receive it.

And, for those of us who fail, who don’t understand, who are weak? What do we do then?  God didn’t leave us to guess how to find forgiveness.  In this Sunday’s gospel Jesus himself gave to the Apostles the Holy Spirit and, with that Spirit, the power to forgive all of our sins.  That is why we too are asked to declare with the Psalmist, “His mercy endures forever.” And, (the Psalm continues) we remember those times in our own lives when “I was hard pressed and was falling, but the Lord helped me.  My strength and courage is the Lord, and he has been my savior.”  We have turned to God and have found what we need.

I find comfort in a saying that appears on a coffee mug in my kitchen: “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Heb 11:1  [I found that mug in a store on my way home from a weekend Retreat! ]  For me, it’s a way to let go and let God finish the work.

In the context of this Sunday’s scripture, faith is believing that, although there will be times when our faith and understanding of the mysteries so recently celebrated in our Church become difficult – times felt by all of us when seeing a half-full Church and being limited in gatherings with community and friends, that Jesus is still among us.  And, especially when the mystery of God’s work in our lives becomes difficult to grasp, that God is there with mercy and love.  This God, who came to show us that love, has also provided the faith community with the power to heal and forgive – a forgiveness secured by the sacrifice of the Lamb acting for us in the sacramental Church.

This is the Sunday of Divine Mercy.  Let us all turn to our God asking for that forgiving mercy for ourselves, for our families and friends, for our Church and for the many struggling in our Nation and around the world.  It is a mercy that is demonstrated at the very high price – the life and death of the Son of Man – God’s Son Jesus.

For further consideration:

• Recall an instance when you have called to God for help and received the help you need.
• Are there times that you have asked for help and, upon looking back, realized later that the help was given in perhaps unexpected ways?
• God’s mercy is offered for individuals but also for the greater community.  How can you offer God’s mercy to others?

April 1, 2021

Holy Thursday

• Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14
• 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
• John 13:1-15

Intro to Reflection written by: Theresa Shepherd-Lukasik & Reflection written by Cameron Bellm

This year we will not be washing feet at this evening’s liturgy because of Covid-19 restrictions, and yet we need to wash each others feet now more than ever. Not just ritualistically in liturgy, but really and truly the privileged need to leave their thrones and wash the feet of Black Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans, and people of the LGBTQ Community with their tears of repentance for the years of injustice and abuse we have heaped upon these communities. Then, in their mercy, they can say to us, “Your sins are forgiven,” as Jesus said to the women in Luke 7:48. Then they can wash our feet and set us free as Jesus did.

This Holy Thursday, I am inviting you to journey with Jesus to the Garden and stay with him. To help us do this is a reflection written by Cameron Bellm:

Tomorrow is Good Friday. The day when we journey with Jesus through His Passion. The day when he asks us, while sweating blood, to watch and pray. Yesterday I was reading about and watching part of the trial of Derek Chauvin, and I was overwhelmed by the similarity. I wept and felt certain of one thing: we are called to bear witness.

The trial is excruciating to watch. Not as excruciating as the suffering of George. Not as excruciating as the suffering of his family and friends. Not as excruciating as the suffering of everyone who has experienced racism. It’s so easy to look away from suffering when it doesn’t directly affect us. But still Jesus calls us: will you watch and pray?

Every witness called to the stand yesterday cried. Watch and pray. A juror stood up abruptly, motioning that she was going to be sick. Watch and pray. The defense tried to paint the witnesses as angry people with faulty memories. Watch and pray. Eight minutes and forty-six seconds. Watch and pray. “Mama.” Watch and pray.

This Holy Week we have an opportunity to enter into the suffering of Christ and to recognize that suffering in George Floyd, in his family, in his community. Will we watch and pray?

We need to see and bear witness to what human beings can do to each other. We need to see the depths to which humanity can sink. Christ on the cross, George Floyd on the ground. We need to see so that, God help us, we may never let it happen again. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. (Gorgeous icon, “Mama,” written by Kelly Latimore Icons) #justiceforgeorgefloyd