Dawning of a New Day

And so, on the third day, the holy women went to the tomb, only to find the stone rolled back and an angel telling them that Jesus was not there, but had risen as he said and gone ahead of them into Galilee.  This news shocked the women, who came to believe slowly what they heard.  Looking into the empty tomb helped, but it seems that it wasn't until  Mary Magdalene actually saw Jesus, and then only recognized him when he called her by name, thinking that the man speaking to her was the gardener, that she believed, ran to the disciples and declared, "I have seen the Lord." Peter and John had to run out to the tomb to see for themselves, so dumbfounded were they by the news. How would we react, if "Uncle John", who had been dead for three days appeared at Sunday dinner alive and well?  It took time to absorb this phenomenon and to put it all together with things Jesus had said.
We have been preparing for today for 40 days, and now it's upon us:  "Alleluia, Jesus is risen" In his death, death has died, hell been destroyed.  As one writer put it, There is no greater news than this: Jesus died, but more importantly, he rose from the dead" (Fr. Thomas Connery).  Yet it will take some time for us truly to absorb this and integrate it into our lives.  Hence a reflection period of 50 days follows Easter.  But at least for today, having renewed our baptismal promises, let us see the light of Easter, bask in it and find reinvigorated fervor, zeal and enthusiasm in living our new life in Christ.
Happy Easter, Everyone
Bro. Rene

Empty Tabernacles

One of the most moving songs in Les Miserables is Empty Chairs at Empty Tables, sung by the grieving Marius as he laments the deaths of his revolutionary compatriots in the tavern where they all had met to plan their attack on the barricade. The tavern is in total disarray and the tables and chairs, empty. "There's a grief that cannot be spoken", he sings with tears running down his face.  Though we know that tonight at the Easter Vigil, our grief will be turned to joy, the mood of the day, nonetheless, is one of sadness similar to what Marius was experiencing.  It's not empty tables that bring on this feeling, but the empty tabernacles in our churches...doors open...nothing inside.  Jesus is in the tomb; his usual abode, an empty shell. How vacant the church feels. The wood of the cross is on display as a reminder of his ignominious death
  As we meditated on the crucifix, on Good Friday, it would be a good idea to pass by a church, though it might be locked, or people inside bustling about to ready for the Vigil, and feel the emptiness. Or we might think of the death of someone who was very close to us and remember the feeling of loss we had then.  Such an exercise will add to the joy of Easter...and make the excitement of Mary Magdalene and the unbelieving apostles (at first) very real  And as we renew our Baptismal Promises, we will be able experience our own rebirth, our own rebirth into the new life of Jesus.
Bro. Rene

Behold the Wood of the Cross

In the middle of the garden of Eden stood the "tree of life."  Of its fruit the first couple ate and thus allowed death  to enter the human experience.  Atop the hill called Golgotha another tree, the tree of the cross was the instrument of death for the author of life, yet through that death, life eternal became available to the human family.  In this afternoon's Liturgy of the Passion, the unveiling of the cross plays a central role as the chant, similar to this, "Behold, behold, the wood of the cross, on which is hung our salvation.  O come, O Come let us adore" is sung.  We are invited to venerate it and it occupies a central place in an otherwise stripped down church.
 If we do or don't attend the Liturgy, it would be good to take some time to venerate the cross at home, by taking it off the wall and holding it in our hands, looking carefully at it and thanking Jesus for using it to save us.  We might also sit in silence with it and let it speak to us as we listen attentively.  One would hope that this day of somber commemoration might be one spent in more that our usual contemplation and that our veneration of the cross might be a means to come to a deeper appreciation of the sufferings of Jesus.
Bro. Rene

Humble Service

Holy Thursday begins the Triduum, the three days that concentrate on the intensest part of the Passion and Death of Jesus.  The Holy Oils are blessed at the Mass of the Chrism, often earlier in the week, otherwise Thursday becomes too overloaded, and then at the Evening Mass of the Lord's supper, we commemorate the Institution of the Holy Eucharist and the Priesthood.  John's version of the meal is the only one that includes the washing of the feet of the Twelve, a gesture which makes visible that template beneath both of these sacraments.  Jesus totally gives of himself, pours out his blood to the last drop, in order that we may be redeemed and nourished.  The priest, like Jesus, is to be the servant, humbly caring for the needs of his parishioners.All of us, if followers of Jesus, should take this stance, that is, to be willing to give of ourselves, and bend over to give humble service of others.  After the Liturgy of the Lord's Supper, there is an opportunity to spend time before the Blessed Sacrament...to thank Jesus for this gift, and all that flows from it, as well as to offer ourselves in humble service to him. What a rich opportunity for spiritual growth this day provides!
Bro. Rene
I will be on retreat at St. Anselm Abbey in Manchester NH during these holy days, and in Pittsburgh on Easter Sunday for a Baptism.  Slices of Daily Bread might be sparse because of this, but I'll do my best to find a computer.

Spy Wednesday

The Wednesday before Holy Thursday has long been referred to as Spy Wednesday, since the Gospel for today describes the betrayal: Judas' agreement with the chief priests to hand over Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, and Jesus direct statement to Judas, who put on the front of innocence, "Surely it is not I, Rabbi?", "You have said so." (cf. Mt 26:14-25). This brings to mind the many times in our own lives when we have said one thing and done another, or in some way, attempted to deny the wrong we have done.  Sadly, there is a little bit of Judas in each one of us.  The example of Peter's denial follows later in the story, but the difference is that Peter accepts the forgiveness Jesus offers, while Judas doesn't and hangs himself in despair.
For the rest of our lives we will be facing challenges that will demand taking risks to remain faithful to Jesus.  We will fail time and time again, but Jesus offers his forgiveness each time. In our remorse and in our desire to follow Jesus, may we not be too proud to accept it.
Bro. Rene

Standing Firm

Betrayal is at hand for Jesus.  What must have been going through his mind?  In Psalm 41 we read:
My foes are speaking evil against me.
"How long before he dies and his name be forgotten?"
They come to visit me and speak empty words,
their hearts full of malice, the spread it abroad...
Thus even my friend, in whom I trusted
who ate my bread, has turned against me.  (Ps 41: 6, 9)
We can imagine Jesus praying parts of Psalm 71:
Be my rod, of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked.  (Ps 71: 3-4)
As Jesus found what he needed in the Psalms to stand firm, so might we, no matter what "enemy" we are facing.  It could be too much busyness, worry about the future, anxiety over the past, or fatigue in general, whatever, but it does serve to wear us down.  Compared to the knot in his stomach as Jesus faced the coming ordeal of his betrayal,  beatings, whippings, cross carrying and crucifixion, our trials pale in comparison, yet God is always there beside us. Walking side by side with Jesus this week, seeing everything in our lives in light of what he went through will help us bear our crosses and stand firm with him.
Bro.Rene

Suffering and Joy

In everyone's life, there always seems to be a mixture of pain and sorrow, suffering, and joy.  Joy doesn't seem to fit in with the other three ingredients, but reflecting this week on the enormous pain Jesus endured, his complete "emptying of self", followed by the joy of his resurrection, the basis for this optimistic combo becomes clear.  As Pope Francis pointed out in his Palm Sunday homily, "the Evil One" tries to convince us that suffering cannot be overcome, that it is our lot as humans and that's that.  Not so, says the Pope, Jesus has overcome all of this, and with him, so can we.  Pope Francis is setting the tone of fearless optimism in his energetic first 12 days as our Shepherd, with his every word and move inspiring us to walk, run, with him.  He will be going to Rio for World Youth Day, and I'm sure will touch those gathered in a very special way.  Who knows yet, what will transpire in between and after?  If we keep our eyes on him, we'll have a clearer picture of What Jesus Would Do, were he alive today.
If our focus is on anything this week, it should be on Jesus himself, not our own plans, our own wills, even our own Lenten promises and attempts at preparing for Easter.  Our best Lenten result would be to arrive at a deep joy based on a more loving relationship with Jesus, which far outweighs the "pain" of our sacrifices...so little in comparison with what Jesus underwent. Remembering that he did it all to show his love for us, should motivate a greater love of him.
Bro. Rene