On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Shalom.” That was the first word that Jesus Christ said to His apostles, after raising from the dead: Shalom. Shalom means peace; it also means harmony, wholeness, completeness. In addition, it was the local idiom for “hello” or “hi.” Jesus, who had been abandoned by His... Read more
We still don’t have a way to get to the church that’s become home. I don’t know when or if we’ll be back to that particular location at this rate. I was too sick to go to any liturgy, Eastern or otherwise, on Holy Thursday. I was too sick to go out at all on Good Friday. I felt better, and had arranged a ride, to the Easter vigil and the Latin Catholic church I’d attended years ago before... Read more
As far as I can tell, this all started when my friend Destiny Hernon De La Rosa, the founder and president of the pro-life group “New Wave Feminists,” denounced the racism of her former colleague Kristen Hatten. Kristen no longer occupies any position at New Wave Feminists but is apparently still a figure in the pro-life movement, which she absolutely should not be– because in the past year she has become a racist and a supporter of the alt right.... Read more
Early in the morning on the first day of the week, the women came with spices to anoint the body of Jesus. When last we left them, they were sitting across from the tomb and being ignored by the soldiers set to guard it. We’re not told when they left. Perhaps they left to get the spices as soon as it was licit to carry things, after sunset on Saturday. Perhaps they stayed until it was almost dawn, and... Read more
I had been trying to catechize Rosie about Easter since the beginning of Lent. Nothing seemed to stick. Nothing ever seems to stick. Rosie is the most energetic, kinetic of children; she has to run around and pretend to be a ninja for hours every day. She climbs everything, jumps on everything, never stops moving before midnight and doesn’t sit still for lessons. When we practice phonics and arithmetic, she bounces on the bed or sofa as she calculates... Read more
Today, in its quiet way, is the most terrible day. Today is the day of darkness and silence, all across the world. We have killed God and buried Him, and now what? Silence. A whole day of silence. We don’t know what to do with that. If I’d written this story, it would be different. Perhaps He’d never have died in the first place, or perhaps He’d pop up right away like a Jack-in-the-box. But He does’t. He stays... Read more
With His last breath, He cries out, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” And He gives up the Ghost. Thunder roars; the earth shakes. The veil of the temple is torn in two. The gates to Paradise stand open. All that was held in secret is now revealed. The Son of God gives up the Ghost, into the Father’s hands. Where is the Father? The Father is above the Firmament, where we could not trespass until the... Read more
Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to... Read more
From the reading for Holy Tuesday: So he dipped the morsel and took it and handed it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. After Judas took the morsel, Satan entered him. So Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” Now none of those reclining at table realized why he said this to him. Some thought that since Judas kept the money bag, Jesus had told him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or... Read more
From the Holy Gospel for Monday of Holy Week: Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him. Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragrance... Read more
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