Easter Tues.

April 22, 2014:  Easter Tuesday (Tuesday in the Octave of Easter)

Readings

• Acts 2:36-41  Peter / Jews:  “God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ.” / “What are we to do?” / “Repent and be baptized to receive forgiveness and the Holy Spirit.”  Those who accepted his message were baptized, about 3,000 that day.

• Ps 33:4-5, 18-20, 22  "The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord."  We wait for the Lord, our help and shield.  May your kindness be upon us who hope in you.

• Jn 20:11-18  Mary Magdalene, weeping, bent into the tomb and saw two angels:  “Why are you weeping?” / “They've taken my Lord....”  She turned and saw Jesus but didn't know it was Jesus. / “Woman, why are you weeping?” / “If you know, tell me where you laid him.” / “Mary!” / “Teacher!” / “Go tell my brothers, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”  Mary went, announced, “I have seen the Lord,” and reported what he told her.

Music

• Jesus Christ is risen today [origin/history/variants]
• Easter Song/ Herring:  Prestonwood "megachurch", original (2nd Chapter of Acts)
• Behold the glory of God/ O'Connor (his Lift up your hearts with Exsultet-based lyrics)
• Five Mystical Songs/ Vaughan Williams
• Chozen:  six13's a cappella Passover version of two Frozen songs, in honor of our Jewish friends concluding their Passover celebration [more info]

Reflections

• Creighton:  Jesus is not dead; it's not too late to repent and share in the Spirit.

• One Bread One Body:  Jesus called Mary, and calls us, by name.

• Passionist:  Listen for the Lord's call; you'll never be the same.

• DailyScripture.net:  Mary's "I have seen the Lord" is the essence of Christianity:  personal encounter.

• Moved to greater love to experience the risen Jesus giving energy to my life today:  Think of a time I was fully engaged in doing my apostolic work, and think of a joy I've recently experienced in my personal life. Jesus invites me to talk with him about these things. What do I say? How does he react? What perspective does he give me?

• Sacred Space

Apparel

• "Keyboard with dove" tie pin:  "you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (1st reading)

• "Eyeball" tie pin:  "the Lord's eyes are on those who fear and hope in him" (psalm); "I have seen the Lord" (gospel)

• Two angel pins:  Mary Magdalene saw two angels (gospel)

• "Star" tie pin:  Christ the Morning Star (Exsultet)

Despite these pix, this blog is more about "dressing" on the inside, but since clothes do matter, I share:  Dress for worship, or come as you are?

Pope Francis

• TV interview with Belgian youth (part 2):

What about the search for God?  When you search for yourself, you find God.  Maybe you don’t succeed, but you're on the path of honesty, searching for truth, goodness, and beauty, so you're on the right road and will certainly find God!  But the road's long, and some don't consciously find God during life, but they're honest with themselves and love beauty, so they can encounter God, which is a grace. 

What have you learned from your mistakes?  They're great teachers, and they humiliate me.  I haven’t learned from them all because I’m stubborn, but I have from many.  I need to recognize them and be care not to make them again.  For example, when I was a Jesuit Superior, I was too authoritarian; I learned I must listen and dialogue.  But it's a long road; I still need to learn that one. 

What frightens you?  Jesus repeats ‘Don’t be afraid!!’ many times because he knows fear is normal. We’re afraid of life, of challenges, before God.  Don't worry about being afraid; feel and ask why, and before God and yourself try to shed light on the situation or ask for help from someone. Fear gives bad advice.  There's bad fear and good fear:  good fear helps us not to fall, but reject bad fear because it  blocks you. 

Do you have a question for us?  Where's your treasure?  Where do you keep it?  Your life will be where your treasure is.  [Summary of part 1] 

Dress your life!