Jesus, I love you

19/4/2020

Divine Mercy Sunday
Vancouver, April 19, 2020

Have you ever wondered what the perfect Christian community looks like? We probably try to create that in our homes, in our Churches, and we would even like to see our governments reflect those Christians values transmitted to us by Our Saviour.

The Acts of the Apostles 2 clearly tell us what a Christian society looks like. The Christian community begins with what we live in our own homes. Our relationships with each other. We can hardly expect to teach others what we do not live ourselves.

We can see the center of the apostolic community is the Eucharist, teaching lead to and stem the “breaking of the bread” as Christ had taught at the last supper to eat his body and drink his blood (Matthew 26:26; Luke 22:19) and to repeat this sacred act in his memory, as the Lord taught sacrificing His body the Paschal Lamb offered up for us as a sacrifice.

This is the centre of the Christian community, teaching is not the centre; fellowship is not the centre; but both build up the community with the Eucharist as the source and summit. The Body and Blood of Jesus Christ give us Eternal Life (John 6:53-58).

This then is the centre of the Christian community after the Resurrection of Jesus Christ because Jesus’ salvific act finds its fulfilment in the Last Supper and Crucifixion. We cannot diminish the value or teaching or of fellowship; but it is not the center. It is thanksgiving in the Eucharist which Jesus Christ offers Himself to each of us.

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Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia

13/4/2020

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Easter Monday | 2020 | A
Vancouver, April 13, 2020

The Easter Sunday reading opens with a phrase from Acts chapter 10: “You know the message that spread throughout Judea.” Peter repeats the message he heard.

A message is transmitted – word of mouth – tradition < tra-dere,“handed down,” “given over,” eventually “recorded” as Sacred Scriptures.

When St. Peter says we are witnesses to all that He did – essentially, “good works” and “healing” that Jesus had performed; and this, paradoxically, led to Jesus’ execution, but, as St. Peter says, “God raised Him from the dead.” We are witnesses to these events, we “who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.” The events before the death of Jesus and the events of Jesus after His death, they witnessed.

St. Peter whom Jesus entrusted with authority over His Church, tells us, “He commanded us to preach to the people, to testify,” Jesus is the one ordained by God, the Christ.

The prophets point to Jesus; reconciliation with God is through Jesus; the One whom God sent, His Son, the Anointed One.

Based on this reading from Acts 10 we understand the value of “preaching”; the centrality of the “message.” Preaching is fundamental to the Dominican Vocation. The message preached: Jesus is the Chosen One. Through Him our sins are forgiven. The one who was “hung” for us.

To preach, to convey a message, cannot be a lie. A good person does not lie. But a good person can fall into error. And this is the importance of preaching, conveying a message that is true.

There are different means of conveying a message; artwork, music, teaching, parenting, a person consecrated to God who transmits the love of Christ.

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Observers and Participants

5/4/2020

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Palm Sunday | 2020 | A
Vancouver, April 5, 2020

Probably the last thing we expected in our lifetime as believers, disciples of Christ, and faithful Catholics, is to be watching our Masses stream-lined on TV. And yet, for 2020, this is the reality of Palm Sunday and the Holy Triduum this coming week: not just in Canada but certainly this is true for Italians, and Spaniards, and in many parts of the US – and not just where there is a lock-down.

Governments have intervened following the recommendation of health authorities, to ensure that people do not congregate – or move about in groups – and remain a couple of meters apart radically changing our daily activities – social and religious. Think of the word “congregate” which means to come together. And the synonyms, “assembly,” “church,” everything about being together - in communion --is an expression of our faith.

When we hear the language of our government and health leaders, the language sounds, very religious: they tell us as a “community we can do this together” combatting this pandemic – like struggling against sin, we can do this together; they say “we can help each other,” that’s how we grow in holiness, supporting each other. We depend on the choices others make “so we can get through this together” – to get through this pandemic. And this is true for sin. The language is about the community helping each other. It’s no loner about me. What I want. But how my choices effect others. The emphasis on community working, journeying, moving together has been fundamental to the teachings of Christ.

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Jesus, I love you

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