Resurrection in Christ

29/3/2020

Fifth Sunday of Lent
Vancouver, March 29, 2020

For those who listened to Pope Francis on Friday, March 27, live-streamed from the Vatican -- to the city and to the world, Urbi et Orbi -- we found ourselves united in prayer with the Holy Father and eleven million people, listening to the Gospel where Jesus calms the storm, Pope Francis’ homily, emphasising the words of Jesus, “Do not be afraid.” Then, time spent in silent Adoration.

The six Roman candelabra served not only to brighten St. Peter’s sagrato where the extraordinary prayer took place, but as symbol of the presence of the true light, Jesus Christ – in His Word, in His Real Presence. The flames contrasted with a dark rainy Rome at 6 pm. Only the carabinieri were visible standing by their blue cars and lights flashing leading to Via della Conciliazione.

The Crucifix placed on the left of the sagrato was transported from San Marcello, the Basilica maintained by the Order of Servites on Via Corso.

For many the icon of the Virgin Mary looked familiar: Salus Populi Romani, “Health of the Roman people.” The icon was carried over from the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore where the icon is kept in the Pauline chapel (cappella Paolina) named after Pope Paul V who had the chapel rebuilt.

What does “health” mean.? Why is the Virgin Mary, “health of the Roman people”? Roman, of course, are all those attached to the Church of Rome, namely, with the Bishop of Rome, who is also Pope and the Vicar of Christ.

“Salus” has the meaning of “health” but in spiritual language, health also means salvation. So, when we turn to Mary, we are asking her to intercede for our health, but also for our salvation. Salvation, as every Roman Catholic knows comes from the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom Mary, the “God-bearer” brings into the world, with her “yes.”

“Salus” has a sound-resemblance to “salvus”; both mean salvation, but the former conveys the sense of health and safety, we might say more natural meaning. Salvus has the supernatural sense of salvation, as in “Jesus saved the people,” Jesus populum savlus fecit. So, the salus with Mary and salvus with Jesus convey this safety/health/salvation.

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gaudete sunday

22/3/2020

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4th Sunday of Lent
Vancouver, March 22, 2020

The city streets of Vancouver have the light and scent of Spring; cherry blossoms already open beneath blue skies. Snow covered mountains stretch across the north shore. God’s creation seems dressed for Gaudete Sunday, 4th Sunday of Lent – day of Joy.

Then, I hear about further social distancing; in the park where I drink take out coffee on a bench -- alone, I watch Vancouver workmen tape the play ground to keep children from playing together. What’s worse are the frightful pictures of panic-stricken hoarders clearing out shelves. The provincial government has yet to intervene to control hysterical shopping. If raw selfishness is not exacerbated by the imagination, the reality of a potentially deadly virus does create panic. I watched video clips of escalating deaths in China, followed by Iran. But now Italy has unveiled the highest number of deaths caused by this same Lenten coronavirus. I spoke to family and to clergy across Italy: the situation is devastating. And I cannot get the prophet Jeremiah out of my mind, “…even prophets and priests roam the country at their wits’ end.” (Jeremiah 14:18). What happened to Rome? To Italy? To the world?

Rome, where Peter and Paul were executed; Rome where the blood martyrs filled the colosseum grounds and the fields of Circus Maximus. Where the early Roman Christians withdrew and prayed at gravesites in the catacombs. The relics of martyrs, Saints Cosmas and Damien, venerated in a Roman basilica. The blood of saints that purified and relics that sanctified by the power of Christ’s redeeming blood. For Rome, for Italy, for the world, God provided us with models of faith, of courage, of holiness.

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Time to move on!

8/3/2020

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2nd Sunday of Lent
Vancouver, March 8, 2020

We have all have had the experience of change that involves “going to another place” where we shall spend our time -- perhaps live our lives. When we first began school, elementary or high school, the anxiety of the unknown, the unexpected. Two questions we might ask? Will I be happy. Will I like the people.

I know when my niece changed schools, from one Catholic school to another starting Grade 2, this was quite the event for her, and the entire family, who had also just moved. The anxiety was felt across the three generations: grandparents, parents, and child.

We may also have had the experience of moving into a new house. Common experience for Canadians who look for a better home, more suitable, bigger or down-sizing. Regardless, there is again anxiety. Will I be happy? Will I regret it?

And when we change countries, we pack up our bags and move, whether alone or with our family, we are still anxious whether this is the right thing. The right move: we leave people behind, like family, and who knows what we can expect. Will we want to turn around and go back because we miss home?

Canada is made up of migrants who left their homeland to settle in this vast land, green in the summer but icy in the winter. Sometimes people never returned to set foot on the land they left; others, spend their lives feeling homesick: I miss my family. I miss my friends. I miss the way of life.

Change is about hoping you’re making the right decision, sometimes, you don’t seem to have a choice in the matter. Circumstances mean that you must sell your home and move out – move one -- elsewhere…

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Who fails the student?

1/3/2020

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First Sunday of Lent
Vancouver, March 1, 2020

The Lenten readings for our Sunday and weekday Masses stress conversion.

Come back to me. Return to your God. Repent, and believe in the Gospel. The words of Ash Wednesday.
Conversion mean repentance. And by repenting we can return to God. In fact, conversion comes from Latin, com-vertere “turn around” “to turn back” “transform”

Remember: if we think we do not need to repent or we have no need for conversion, it is the same as saying we do not sin.

We should also reflect on the seriousness/gravity of our sins. When are sins are frequent, and they are the same sin, we start to think this is normal, this is how I am.

We find a way of rationalising our sinfulness so as to diminish if not remove the sin. And the more time goes by, the more the sin becomes part of us, and more difficult to remove.

You can think of health: it’s easier to treat an illness when it’s diagnosed early, and hopefully still treatable.

But as more time goes by, and you say I’ll wait, and take care of this problem later, it does become more difficult to treat. Our spiritual life is like our health.

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Resurrection in Christ

gaudete sunday

Time to move on!

Who fails the student?

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