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John 20: 11-18

"But Mary was standing outside near the tomb, weeping. Then, as she wept, she stooped to look inside, and saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head, the other at the feet. They said, 'Woman, why are you weeping?' 'They have taken my Lord away,' she replied, 'and I don't know where they have put him.' As she said this she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, though she did not realise that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?' Supposing him to be the gardener, she said, 'Sir, if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and remove him.' Jesus said, 'Mary!' She turned round then and said to him in Hebrew, 'Rabbuni!' -- which means Master. Jesus said to her, 'Do not cling to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to the brothers, and tell them: I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' So Mary of Magdala told the disciples, 'I have seen the Lord,' and that he had said these things to her."

Observers and Participants

5/4/2020

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.

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.

gaudete sunday

22/3/2020

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.

Time to move on!

8/3/2020

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…

Who fails the student?

1/3/2020

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.

Word of God: preserved and transmitted

3/2/2020

Pope Francis proclaimed the 3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time as Word of God Sunday. Of course, with this proclamation, the Catholic Church continues to highlight the centrality of the Word of God in the Catholic faith.When there were disputes in the early Church on interpreting the Gospels or the Letters, the role of the Catholic Church was to help us understand what the Christian Scriptures teach. It was not until the fourth century that Pope Damasus I confirmed at the Council of Rome (382) that there are 27 books in the New Testament and of course 46 books in the Old Testament.

If your OT does not have 46 books it means you are missing 7 books. Only Catholic Bibles have 46 books in the Old Testament. These Biblical books reveal the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, our salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Receiving Baptism, and going to Confession, partaking in the Body and Blood of Christ, to give us light, understanding, strength, so we can live and die in holiness -- in a state of Grace.

The Word of God is meant to lead us to eternal life.

And so we need to thank the Holy Spirit, active in the Church, teaching us true doctrine and, showing us what is false. To instruct us on holiness, and sin that is to be avoided.

The Catholic Church has preserved the Word of God from the time it had been transmitted and recorded by the early Christian communities almost 2000 years ago. When there were disputes and disagreement over understanding the Scriptures as happened throughout the history of the Church, the Holy Spirit was entrusted to the Church Jesus Christ left us, so we would be protected from teaching moral or doctrinal errors.

Love -- it’s not about me

2/2/2020

February 14th is Valentine’s day. And on this day we see red hearts, cards are exchanged, chocolates offered, to people whom we love. Yes, love. This raises the question, of course, “What do you mean by, love?”

There are many senses to “love.” Not all are “true” love; this is where people fall into love that is not true love.

The Ancient Greek philosopher, Aristotle, tells us friendship is a kind of love, and there are three kinds of friendship. Utilitarian, pleasure-based, and true friendship. Each of these presupposes that the other is something “good” for us, because what is good makes us happy. We “love” the good that makes us happy.

But the friendship distinction is important because it tells us what kinds of love exist, and if they are true love, or at least, the need to be purified from their imperfection.

Utilitarian friendship is seeing the other as a good that is useful and therefore we “love” this person because in fact they are useful. We even hear the expression, “I feel used…” We then become like a took to others. This intuition or experience sends red signals that this is not the red heart we are expecting.

Presentation of the Lord – Day of Consecrated Life

2/2/2020

Presentation of the Lord – Day of Consecrated Life
February 2
For Truth, and For Love

What is the connection between Mary and Joseph presenting Jesus at the Temple (Luke 2:22-40), and men and woman who have consecrated themselves to God? February 2nd unifies the Biblical event of Jesus being offered to God, and the religious expression of offering oneself to God in response to God’s call.

In the liturgical celebration of the Presentation men and women Religious carry candles in procession signifying the light they bring to the world: their vocation to radically follow Christ -- a sign of love. This is the light of Christ and the light of the Religious consecrated to God through their Vows/Promises of Obedience, Poverty, and Chastity. None of these three Vows has ever been “popular,” but all three Vows/Promises, and this is precisely why they are Vows/Promises: it means to choose and live a supernatural state which is not possible without God’s grace. Following Christ engages the very core of our being, and fundamentally, these three Vows/Promises penetrate our very being – the being which God Himself sustains.

Before entering Religious life, I often wondered why Religious Vows/Promises are not a Sacrament like the Ordination to the Priesthood -- one of the Seven Sacraments. I then understood during my religious formation, that the Sacraments prepare us for eternal salvation -- the eschatological life meaning the life with the Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with Mary, the Angels and Saints. This is the eternity for which we are being prepared through the Sacraments of the Church. Jesus’ offering of Himself to the Father as Sacrifice on the Cross makes these Sacraments possible.

What are your weapons?

16/12/2019

The sign of Advent might be the Cyber-day Friday, where people begin the so-called holiday season searching search engines for super-bargains. But in our Church we have the traditional sign of Advent: purple which tells us we are preparing ourselves.

Our Advent reading from Isaiah, chapter 2, anticipates this Saviour, the Messiah. The reading from Isaiah places us geographically in the region of Judah, and the capital Jerusalem. The repeated references during Advent of Judah, we should ask ourselves, “What is so important about Judah,” that this tribe, this region, that is emphasised. In other words, “what’s the big deal about Judah”?

Let’s back track a little. Judah is one of the sons of Jacob, and God renames Jacob, Israel. Now, David is from the House of Judah, and he is also king, and his name is repeated throughout Advent. David was born in Bethlehem. Anointed King, David makes Jerusalem the capital of Judah, and it is his son, Solomon, who has the Temple built, the Temple to house the Ark of the Covenant. God’s anointed King, Holy City, Temple, this is the significance of Judah.

And what will the Lord teach us from Mt. Zion, from Jerusalem? He will teach us what this kingdom will look like. A Kingdom of peace.

time for conversion

16/12/2019

When you look at your Bibles, you’ll notice that Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament. Malachi’s writings are the transition from the Old Testament to the New Testament. The prophet Malachi writes between the sixth and fifth century before the birth of Christ. Right after Malachi we have the Gospel of Matthew. This means that Malachi’s writings somehow lead us to the language of the coming of the Messiah who comes to liberate the people. The one whom God promised. A Saviour.

Where do we have this prophetic language in Malachi? The day is coming, burning like an oven (Malachi 4:1) This is called Messianic language. “The day” is always in reference to the Messiah. The Messiah is coming. Malachi speaks of the unjust, the wicked, who rule with pride and arrogance. Their indifference to God and God’s commands. When this day comes, they will be ash and rubble. In other words, burned and destroyed. Clearly a day of judgment. To respect God is to love him with our actions. The language is powerful and dramatic because this will occur, “when the day comes.”

The contrast is with those who honour and respect the name of God, “revere my name; things will be different.” The sun of righteousness refers to the light, the rising sun, who not only brings light into a world of darkness and sin, but also healing for those who have suffered by the wicked. A few verses down at verse 5 Malachi speaks of Elijah being sent, “Behold I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.” Elijah is the greatest of the Old Testament prophets. But now, who can Elijah be before the day of the Lord comes? Elijah, in fact, is understood to be John the Baptist. Why John the Baptist? Because John the Baptist prepares the way for the Lord. John the Baptist and Jesus new well the message of Malachi. John the Baptist assumes the role of Elijah.

© David Bellusci