Celebrating 100 over years in Irondequoit
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Cycle C
Q262: Is there a special significance in Peter’s very first “formal” address in scripture (Acts 10:34a, 37-43)?
In our First Reading today, Peter is addressing the Gentiles for the first time (in the person of the centurion, Cornelius and his family and friends). For that reason, his appeal to arguments from scripture is only secondary – but it is not overlooked (Acts 10:43). Both in his eyewitness testimony, and in the appeal to scripture (e.g., allusions to Is 33:24 and Jer 31:34), the point being made by Peter is that all can experience forgiveness of sins through a believing faith in the name of and person of Jesus.
HE IS RISEN! This is the basis and foundation for all Christian beliefs! And the Good News is that Jesus redeemed everyone. All that one needs to do is to approach Him with a sincere heart, a believing heart; repent and ask for mercy; and then receive forgiveness. God’s mercy is not restricted to Jews. His mercy is unlimited and unconditional. We must not presume upon his mercy, however; the status of our heart is everything: are we truly sincere in our sorrow for sin?
Our Non-Christian brothers and sisters are unable to make the “leap of faith” that is required to believe in Jesus; they are unable to accept the eyewitness accounts of the Apostles. Think about it: the man accused like a common criminal, and then sentenced to be “hung on a tree” until dead – this is our Leader? God become man, for our sake? Yes indeed! We believe in Him because He is Risen! He was raised from the dead “on the third day”!
Know Your Catechism! Give thanks to God for your precious gift of Faith, which freely assents to all truths that God has revealed (CCC #26, #150). Faith is both a grace and a free response (CCC #153-4). It can be lost, shipwrecked by not following a good conscience (CCC #162). Pray for our Muslim and Jewish brothers and sisters, that they receive an opportunity to choose freely this gift of faith, which is necessary for salvation (CCC #161), because our Lord tied the forgiveness of sins to faith and Baptism (CCC #977).
Be intent on things above
According to a recent Associated Press report, the Minnesota Legislature has voted unanimously to ask President Ronald Reagan to bestow on Herman Miller of Minneapolis the Medal of Honor.
At the time of the Spanish-American War, Miller enlisted in the U.S. Army. He saw action in 1899 in the subsequent Philippines Campaign. At one point his company was defending the town of Batac against 800 Filipino insurgents. When 60 enemy riflemen swarmed into the town square, Herman and eleven other Americans bravely charged and drove them back. After the battle Miller's commanding officer recommended to superiors that he be awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism beyond the call of duty. Unfortunately, the recommendation got pigeon-holed, and the award was never given.
The reason why the Minnesota Legislature has reopened the case is that in 1983, 84 years after the defense of Batac, Herman Miller is still alive, aged 104. The petition for the medal after so many years is a gracious gesture; and the President will doubtless act on it. Old Herman will surely be touched to receive the nation's highest military honor.
But when all is said and done, what is such an honor worth? The recipient will have a moment of pleasure, but the grantors will enjoy it more than the old soldier. The older one gets the less important worldly acclaim becomes. When the soul goes to Heaven, it has no lapel on which to wear its medals.
That is what St. Paul is telling us all this Easter Sunday: "Since you have been raised up in company with Christ ... be intent on things above rather than things of earth" (Today's second reading). Time is for now, eternity is for ever. Our values should be eternal ones. It is an honor to be greeted by the President of the United States. It is a far greater honor to be greeted by the risen Christ at Heaven's gate.
-Father Robert F. McNamara
Q. 418: Today's gospel (John 20:1-9) leaves us with a lot of unanswered questions - like “where is the body” or “who rolled back the stone.” Why are we left suspended?
I suspect that each one of us knows a relative or friend who tends to be “pessimistic” about many things, usually looking at the “worst” that can happen in a given situation. That is really just a defense mechanism they are using, hoping to avoid (or preparing for) any shock that might occur if and when the “worst” does in fact happen in the future.
Could this be the case with Mary Magdalene, Peter, and “the disciple whom Jesus loved” in today's gospel? The short pericope or segment from the Evangelist ends with the observation that they did not anticipate the resurrection of Jesus. Certainly the teaching of Jesus had been clear on this point. As a minimum, they had heard the teaching (more than once), but it had not “sunk in” yet - perhaps it was the same “defense mechanism” at work.
In this brief gospel story, the “disciple whom Jesus loved” observes the empty tomb and the burial cloths carefully rolled up. “He saw and believed.” Those are crucial words! They are the first “glimmer of true hope” from any disciple. He believed, based on what he saw (and also on what he did not see). The Questioner above wanted to know why we are “left suspended” by the way the story ends; I believe the answer is precisely to show the birth of true hope. We do not need a firewall or “defense mechanism” because our faith unites with this hope and makes us loving members of the one Body of Christ. The empty tomb is all about hope, which must now be nurtured through daily prayer and meditation.
Know Your Catechism! As Christians we are called to view death in the light of the resurrection of Jesus- because in His death and resurrection lies our hope (CCC #1681). The Holy Spirit teaches us to celebrate every liturgy in eager expectation of the return of Jesus, by praying in hope (CCC #2657).
