Between Easter and Pentecost

The period between Easter and Pentecost, in its maiden chronological occurrence would have been an interesting time to view at, from a historical distance.  Imagine, an event taking place (the resurrection) which has been totally not unheard in reality for ages happening in our midst.  Not even the apostles were sure or clear about what actually was happening, leave alone the others. 

Strange reports and narration of experiences.  Weird social context.  All things put together, it would have been a totally new experience for the Jews, especially those who were close to Jesus.  Never were they really prepared for it. 

For us Catholics we believe in the Holy Spirit and hence the Pentecost marks a significant turn in the history of salvation and the Church.  But sociologically speaking it would really have been a point where the uncertainty, confusion, doubt and anxiety about Jesus' death and the subsequent resurrection paved the way for a communal conviction and belief in the actuality of both.  Even without the spiritual dimension, the very sociological mood and mode itself would have been a great ferment.   

Nonetheless, it is significant to note that what marked this sociological shift in mood, was actually built on individual testimonies and witnesses.  That there were times when Jesus appeared a group or crowd of people is true, but it was his personal encounter with individuals that really made the impact.  But more than that singular encounter, I believer it was the shift in their personalities, after the encounter with Jesus, that truly made the difference.  That post-resurrection encounter was something remarkable in the lives of those whom Jesus met; if not, Pentecost would have been another Passover! 

The unknown saint

While listening to the gospel of the Emmaus episode, it occured to me: What if the whole finale of Jesus' story were to take place in a totally nondescript place? Jerusalem, as is today, back then too, was at the heart of the Jewish society.  Any and every event therein was bound to be known and talked about. 

Among the first things the disciples walking to Emmaus ask Jesus is 'Don't you know what has been happening in Jerusalem?'  That's an obvious and surprising question given the fact that everyone knows and is talking about the death of Jesus in Jerusalem.  It is like someone today, asking 'what is corona virus?' 

What if, like it happens very much in our times, Jesus were to be abducted by those who hated him and what he did in public;  tortured and then bumped him off in some remote place, unknown to anyone?  No public trial.  No journey to Calvary. No crucifixion in the open.  Just plain disappearance.  Not even does anyone of those involved in his kidnapping and murder try to circulate any rumours or theories - that would only increase speculation and search for truth.  Mere silence!  It is only those closest to him, Mother Mary, the apostles and those travelling with him that keep searching for him.  Asking about his whereabouts, having no clue what happened to him.  How would Christianity been moulded in such a context?  Would there at all be a religion called Christianity, arising from such a situation?

(Dedicated to the memory of those who silently but zealously work for the common good, often ending up paying very high personal costs - and even in death, continue to remain unknown!)

Resurrection: The bizarre but illuminating experience

The gospel of the day stands out for me for one particular line which sums up for me, the whole state of mind of the apostles.

They (the apostles) did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead. 

Witnessing the resurrection, or rather the empty tomb, the apostles are now at a very complex mode of understanding.  Amidst all the excitement and tension of the past three days, when things just seem to hit them like an avalanche, the latest awareness of the resurrection of Jesus makes everything so weird. All along they heard Jesus speak and preach, they journeyed along with him, saw all that he did, and now suddenly all of that takes on a totally different meaning and shape.  Every word, deed and interaction is viewed as if totally new - but not for the first time!

The Resurrection of Christ
by Nicolas Bertin

The only immediate analogy that comes to my mind of this state of 're-running the past' in a totally different light and thereby gaining a very different meaning, is the conclusion of the movie 'The sixth sense'.  The bizarre twist at the end of the movie reveals a fact that forces one to review all that one has watched for the past hour.  The strange feeling is 'how come I missed it'!  It was there all along, but I never really saw it. I did not even imagine it as per this new fact that is revealed.  The earlier viewing is not nonsensical or illogical.  It looks good in itself.  But with the fresh insight, the whole of it gains a totally different meaning.  Now that's a feeling after watching something just for 90 minutes.  Imagine what it would be re-running 3 full years of one's past life! Then there is also all that one has learnt about one's religion since birth!

This experience is like how one single thought can put a whole complex theory into a neat clear picture.  Once you see the whole picture, you wonder how come you did not see it, until you have the latest insight.  The Gospels do not explain the resurrection; it is resurrection that explains the Gospels! 

Happy Easter!

Most preachers during the Holy Week and Easter try to remind the listeners of the story of long long ago and we all attempt to visualize the chain of events surrounding Jesus in 'those' times.  Then, and only then, do we try to apply it to ourselves.  However it is always two different time zones. Different ages.  Different lifestyles.  Different people.  Yet not much is different.  Human nature remains the same.  Societal structures and functions remain the same.  Divinity remains the same! 

Even today we fight, squabble, gossip, slander and bring down the just and innocent - just as all those characters involved in the Passion narratives.  Even today there are people who do good and help others, in spite of all that they have to face - just like the women who assisted Jesus all his public life, even in death.  Kings and rulers still call the shots on behalf of politicians and businessmen - just as Pilate and Caiphas did.  Religion still continues to sway mobs.  And God, well He still loves us - just as He loved Jesus and all in His times! 

Of course, if the cell phones were present then, there would certainly have been photographic evidence of Jesus' resurrection too!  

The Master destroyer

Jesus is described as the worst funeral director: He sabotaged every funeral he attended, including his own!

Easter monument

Easter Sunday (Readings: April 16, 2017)

A king, loved by all his subjects, died early in life in a freak accident. To perpetuate his memory, a monument was raised in his capital city. This monument was special, for it never was completed. The reason for leaving it incomplete was explained by the words inscribed around the base: “In memory of our beloved king, who died before his work was finished.”

Our King, Christ the Lord, did complete His work! Are we, as His disciples, going to erect an unfinished monument? Or are we willing to be living monuments of His magnanimity? The choice is ours!

The Resurrection is not the end, nor is it the beginning, but it is the end of the beginning.

Easter hope

Easter Sunday (April 16, 2017)

Easter is a celebration of hope. Breaking open from His tomb Jesus shows us that no difficulties or challenges can overcome us completely. Hope is always a good thing. And no good thing ever dies. It is lack of hope that actually imprisons us and saps all enthusiasm and energy.

The resurrection reminds us of the hope that is never to be lost. It opens our hearts to the reality of this world, a reality that can always be made better than what it is today. Easter offers us hope to embark on this journey. Most importantly Easter challenges us to open our hearts to Jesus. To let Him burst forth through us. That so touched by the Lord and filled with Him, our hearts, like the tomb, cannot but open up and spill Jesus into the lives of all those around us.

Holy Saturday: Silence

Holy Saturday marks the death of God. The day is akin to an eerie silence that pervades all around us and everything is still. Bereft of all plans, all hopes, of everything we had, we stand still. Not sure what next. It is like Saul after he was blinded after his encounter with the Lord near Damascus. Utterly helpless. Not sure what the future holds. Not convinced of the past one has lived. Yet it is these days that mark the conversion of Saul to Paul. His introspection where he has nothing to claim his own or anything for sure is what paves the way for his transformation. Holy Saturday offers us the same tomb-experience. Of being silent. Of being still.

As Christians, we often kill this experience or brush past this opportunity for the silence is haunting. We prefer the sentimentality of Good Friday or the thrill of Easter Sunday. The stillness of Holy Saturday is too demanding. Yet one is challenged to live it. Imagine the state of the apostles, of Jesus' disciples, of Mother Mary. They did not have the assured guarantee of the Sunday resurrection. They lived through the Holy Saturday and therefore Easter meant more than Jesus' resurrection to them. It paved the way for their own transformation too.

Meaning and Ritual

Last week during the Holy Week, I had to make a very difficult decision: attending the Easter vigil service in the local parish!  I normally resist, desist and assist in 'guarding the house' rather than attend the midnight vigil services.  I see no thrill in sitting and listening to a long sermon well past midnight, with no indication as to when it would conclude.  Then there are all those ceremonies, which honestly speaking, make not much sense to me. 

But I also know some or rather very many who love, really love to attend these services. While I prefer to attend a short and meaningful celebration of the Holy Mass or Service in the community itself, there are many who prefer to attend a long and boring service in the Parish.  If asked what did the Priest speak about during the sermon or what the Gospel was all about, they have no clue - just like the one giving the sermon!!

Something which was very meaningful and relevant for one age, soon becomes a ritual.  As time goes by the ritual overrides the meaning and there is none of the latter left  - or perceived.  But the ritual has now reached such a "popular" celebrity status that it is what matters.  Ask any of those attending the Easter vigil what the candle procession means, what it means when the priest dips the easter candle into the baptismal water, what it means when the Priest concludes with a double 'Alleluia!'... But they'd all be there in their finest linen and jewellery.  

Redeemed??

As usual, Rabbi had something to tickle me this Holy Week.  He sent me a note sometime earlier this week and it read...

If we want other to believe in our redeemer, why don't we look bit redeemed ourselves? 

Reminds me of witness value and the Easter joy that we Christians are called to embody. Not so much as a penance or a duty but because that is the natural outcome of placing our trust in Christ.

For me Easter is always a matter of personal experience.  No matter how many times I read the Gospels or watch the movie or listen to the sermon about the whole passion and death and resurrection of the Lord, nothing counts greater than my own personal experience of Him.  Sans the latter, nothing makes real sense.  However I also do admit, I 'know' it more than I have it! I wish I could truly say the other way round. 

Priesthood... for what?

The Eucharistic service of the day was an exalted praise of the institution of the priesthood... without any mention as much - other than ceremonial and meaningless - of the other dimension of the very initiation of this particular ministry (one among the many)... namely 'foot-washing'.

Most people, especially the clergy, are happy and thrilled to celebrate Maundy Thursday as the institution of the Priesthood, by none other than Christ Himself.  They give a damn about why at all did He do or say what He did or said!  We often forget, conveniently, that Priesthood is a ministry for service, service of God and His people.  Anything and everything else is secondary or even less than that!

The moment one tries to emphasise anything above and more than, being in love with Jesus Christ, so madly enough to be able to hear His call and follow Him, is the moment one begins the decline. One may be very pious and 'devoted' but ultimately if there is nothing of the former, then it is all bullshit - however good and 'holy' it may appear! 

Easter hope

Today was Easter Sunday.  There could be a million lessons we draw from this significant day/event. For me today was a reflection on hope.  And defining hope, I figured it could be stated thus: that which keeps alive.  

Hope is essentially a silent ingredient in every great virtue.  It is perhaps the launching pad from which many a person do and achieve great things.  It is also true that there are other virtues that truly assist and support in the process, but the one that keeps them all 'alive' is perhaps the hope that what one is after is real and possible.

As Andy states in the movie, the Shawshank Redemption,

... hope is a good thing, perhaps the best thing. And no good thing ever dies.

Easter message

I knew Rabbi would come up with something different as his Easter message and I was right. Here's what he sent me just a while ago:

In almost every situation, Jesus' job was to turn things around. There is a little girl dying, he turned that around. People were dishonouring the temple, he turned that around. Finally, death overcame but by Resurrection he turned that around. In fact, if Jesus is our Lord, why wait? Let's turn things around.

That's quite typically Rabbi!!

Happy Easter... Lazarus

Today I began reading another book of Morris West, The Devil's Advocate. On page 9 is the reflection about the post-resurrection life of Lazarus.

What did he felt at that moment? What price had he paid for this return to the world of the living? Did he go maimed ever afterwards, so that every rose smelled of decay and every golden girl was a shambling skeleton? Or did he walk in a dazzle of wonder at the newness of things, his heart tender with pity and love for the human family?

The description that follows is interesting. The protagonist, Blaise Meredith, is diagnosed with a terminal illness and the ultimatum issued by the doctor - another couple of months only. He is a priest for 20 years and here's his immediate reflection:

He had been twenty years a priest, vowed to the affirmation that life was a transient imperfection, the earth a pale symbol of its maker, the soul an immortal in mortal clay, beating itself weary for release into the ambient arms of the Almighty. Now that his own release was promised, the date of it set, why could he not accept it - if not with joy, at least with confidence?