Holy Thursday Homily: Benedict XVI

Rocco Palmo, Whispers in the Loggia composer, has translated Pope Benedict XVI's Holy Thursday homily. I know we are fortunate to have someone who knows the "mother tongue" of Rome. What else could we expect from a South Philly native? Now to the (lengthy but inspirational) homily.

Dear brothers and sisters,The reading from the Book of Exodus we’ve just heard describes the Paschal celebration of Israel as the Mosaic law established its binding form. In the beginning it could be that it was a spring feast of nomads. For Israel, though, it transformed itself into a feast of commemoration, of gratitude and, at the same time, of hope. At the center of the Paschal meal, ordered according to strict liturgical regulations, was the lamb as symbol of the liberation from slavery in Egypt. For this, the Passover haggadah was an integral part of the meal on top of the lamb: the narrative recounting of the fact that it was God himself who liberated Israel “by his uplifted hand.” He, the mysterious and hidden God, revealed himself to be stronger than the pharaoh with all the power he had at his disposal. Israel did not forget that God personally took into his hand the story of his people and that this story was continually rooted in communion with God. Israel did not forget God.The reading of the commemoration was surrounded by words of praise and thanks taken from the Psalms. The thanksgiving and blessing of God reached its culmination in the berakha, which in Greek is termed eulogia or eucaristia: blessing God becomes a blessing for those who bless him. The offering given God returns to bless man. All this raises a bridge between the past and present and toward the future: the liberation of Israel was still incomplete. The nation also suffered as a small people in the area of tensions amidst great powers. Its recalling with gratitude the act of God in the past, it became at the same time a petition and hope: Bring to completion what you’ve begun! Give us lasting freedom!This significant meal of the masses Jesus celebrated with his own on the evening before his Passion. At the outset of this context we must understand the new Passover, which He has given us in the Holy Eucharist. In the accounts of the evangelists there exists an apparent contradiction between the Gospel of John, on one hand, and that which, on the other, Matthew, Mark and Luke communicate to us. According to John, Jesus died on the cross precisely in the moment in which, in time, the paschal lambs were slaughtered. His death and the sacrifice of the lambs coincided. This means, however, that He died on the vigil of Passover and thus wasn’t able to celebrate the paschal meal – this, at least, is how it appears. According to the three synoptic Gospels, then, the Last Supper of Jesus was a paschal meal, in which traditional form He inserted the novelty of the gift of his body and blood. Until some years ago, this contradiction seemed unsolvable. The majority of exegetes were of the mind that John did not wish to communicate to us the true historic date of the death of Jesus, but chose a symbolic date to make evident the most profound truth: Jesus is the new and true lamb who shed his blood for us all.The discovery of the writings of Qumran has in the meantime found a convincing and possible solution that, while not accepted by all, could still have a high level of probability. We’re now in a place to say that what John related is historically precise. Jesus really spared his blood on the vigil of the Pasch in the hour of the slaughter of the lambs. However, he celebrated Passover with his disciples probably according to the calendar of Qumran, so at least a day prior – it was celebrated without a lamb, as the community of Qumran didn’t recognize the temple of Herod and kept vigil for the new era. Jesus therefore celebrated the Pasch without a lamb – no, not without a lamb: in place of the lamb he gave himself, his body and his blood. And so he anticipated his death in a way coherent with his word: “No one will take my life from me, but I myself will offer it” (Jn 10:18). In the moment when he offered his body and blood, He gave real completion to this affirmation. He Himself offered his life. Only so did the ancient Pasch obtain its true sense.St John Chrysostom, in his Eucharistic catechesis, once wrote: What are you saying, Moses? The blood of a lamb purifies men? Saves them from death? How could the blood of an animal purifiy men, save men, have power over death? In fact – Chrysostom continues – the lamb was able to constitute only a symbolic gesture and thus the expression of wait and hope in One who would be able to complete it that by which the sacrifice of an animal was not capable. Jesus celebrated the Pasch without a lamb and without a temple and, still, not without a lamb and without a temple. He himself was the awaited Lamb, the true one, as John the Baptist foresaw at the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry: “Behold the lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sin of the world!” (Jn 1:29). And He himself is the true temple, the living temple, in which God lives and in which we can find God and worship him. His blood, the love of Him who is simultaneously Son of God and true man, one of us, that blood is able to save. His love, that love in which He gave himself freely for us, is that which saves us. The nostalgic rite, in some ways lacking efficacy, that was the slaughter of the innocent and immaculate lamb, found its response in Him who has become for us both Lamb and Temple.So at the center of the new Passover of Jesus, there was the Cross. From it came the new gift brought by Him. And so this remains always in the Holy Eucharist, in which we can celebrate the new Pasch with the Apostles along the course of time. From the cross of Christ came the gift. “No one takes my life, but I myself offer it.” Now he offers it to us. The paschal haggadah, the commemoration of the saving act of God, has become a memorial of the cross and resurrection of Christ – a memory that doesn’t simply recall the past, but attracts us into the presence of the love of Christ. And so the berakha, the prayer of blessing and thanksgiving of Israel, has become our Eucharistic celebration, in which the Lord blesses our gifts – bread and wine – to give himself in them. Let us pray the Lord to help us understand always more profoundly this marvelous mystery, to love it more always and in this to love Himself more always. Let us pray for help that we not hold back our lives for ourselves, but to give them to Him and so work together with Him, that men might find life – the true life that can come only from He who, Himself, is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Amen.

HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2007
CONFESSIONS: 7:00 until 7:55 PM
Fr. Jordan
TENEBRAE SERVICE: 8:00 PM
Fr. Jordan
Please see separate posting about Tenebrae

THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2007
EVENING CELEBRATION OF THE LORD'S SUPPER: 8:00 PM
Msgr. Duffy

FRIDAY, APRIL, 6th, 2007
STATIONS OF THE CROSS: Noon
Fr. Leo Lefebure

The Seven Last Words of Jesus: Noon
Fr. Jordan will be preaching in a collaborative service at St. Anne's Church located at Tenley Circle. ( A long-time commitment.)

Evening Celebration of the Lord's Passion: 8:00 PM
Fr. Leo Lefebure

HOLY SATURDAY, April 7, 2007
CONFESSIONS: 9:00 AM
NB the only scheduled confession period on Saturday

EASTER VIGIL SERVICE: 8:00 PM
Fr. Jordan

EASTER SUNDAY, April 8, 2007
MASS SCHEDULE: 8:00 AM, 10:30 AM.
PLEASE NOTE: There will NOT be a Mass at 6:00 PM on this evening.

EASTER MONDAY: The Parish Offices will be CLOSED. Masses as usually scheduled.

TENEBRAE SERVICE: WEDNESDAY 8:00 PM

The following article should be helpful and informative for you should you never have attended a tenebrae service. It is prepared by the Sisters of Carmel. It is worth a read. Tenebrae
Tonight, Wednesday, April 4, 2007 beginning at 8:00 PM.

This will be a deeply spiritual way of beginning your Holy Sacred Triduum. BUT please read the article so you know what to expect. This is a service that many may find different. It surely is a moving experience.

Daily Reflection: 4 Apr 07

In spirituality the desert or wilderness is symbolic of the struggle to obey, heed, and listen to the voice of God who calls and issues the invitation. It is often tortuous, twisting, challenging involving purging, purifying, cleansing so that one's personal self can experience transformation through the process of dying to the old self and rising to new life, a life of total trust and intimacy with the One Who Calls. [words of Fr. Ernest Varosi, CR]

These words remind this pastor of the words in today's responsorial psalm
"I have become an outcast to my brothers ... because zeal for your house consumes me." Of course it raises questions. Am I a Catholic priest who gives my life to the priesthood of Jesus Christ? Is my life afire with a genuine effort to make Jesus the end-all and be-all of my day? The picture, artist unknown, is a depiction of Jesus in the temple, filled with zeal for his father's house. Where are in our lives?
Can you not ask the same questions of your life as we enter the 40th day of Lent and the beginning of the Sacred (three day) Triduum? How would you answer those questions in your heart? Remember it is very easy to quickly gloss over these thoughts!

Great to be a Gator

Thanks to Mike Segar, Reuters, for this picture that shows the excitement and jubilee that has taken the Gatorland folks. What an exciting game. My only disappointment is that Georgetown was not the competitor so that this UofF alum could have had a marvelous evening with my brother-in-law and nephews, proud G'town grads.

"They became the first team to go back-to-back since 1992 and the first ever to repeat with the same starting five." From an AOL sports news article.

Go Gators!

Daily Reflection: 3 Apr 07

The gospel in Today's Readings is a clear contrast between Jesus and the disciples in their understanding what God's will is for them. Jesus saw where his future would take him. His friends could not get there with him. Peter, in particular, try as he may, cannot change the course of events. In the gospel section just prior to this part of St. John's writing, Peter had pleaded with Jesus to wash much more than his feet if it would associate himself more closely with Jesus. But as we know and read, Peter would falter.

What about us? Doesn't Peter's way, his wishes, his speaking out not symbolize the struggle most of us have at one time or another in our own lives? Aren't there times when we want something else, something more? Aren't there times when we make promises to God about what we can do for him only become like Peter and falter?

We have to learn, no matter what our age might be that God knows what is best for us. God knows what we can handle. His Holy Spirit is there for us to guide and lead. We have to be open to the Spirit; we have to listen. We want to follow Jesus. We do not want to walk out on him as Judas did. Paul's words in Romans (12:12) are meaningful: "Let joy be your hope. Be patient in your trials."

Today's Readings are abundant with hints of the Passion. In the gospel reading please note the presence of God's people. While they do not recognize what is happening, these people are with Jesus as his life and the active ministry is ending. Their new life, their new ministry, is about to begin.

Martha, serving the meal. Lazarus is present, too. Mary is there with the oil she uses to anoint his feet. The enemies are not missed: Judas and the chief priests "plotting to kill Lazarus too." One priest writing a reflection on the reading commented "But at the center is a celebration very much like a rehearsal for the Last Supper." The formation of the Church is occurring here.

Were you there? We sing that on Friday. Today the question could be, "Are you there with him today?"

Eternal Rest.

Heavenly Father

We continue our prayers for John Paul II

whose life among us ended two years ago today.

Millions were touched by him during his lifetime.

May his canonization be brought about

in accord with your will.

As I write, I have before me one of Pope John Paul's zuchettos, the small white cap that he wore. It is a gift that I shall treasure forever because it reminds me of the times I was privileged to concelebrate Mass and pray with him. I recall so vividly the times we sat together at his dining room table and I heard a frail man speak with intention and great wisdom about the Church. What a remarkable gift those moments were. Let us pray that the recently announced miracle will indeed be evaluated positively by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. Eternal rest grant unto him, Lord.

From ABC News, Channel 7, April 1, 2007

Catholic Church officials reach a key milestone in the drive to make Pope John Paul II a saint Monday, closing an investigation into his life and handing over a dossier detailing the purported miraculous cure of a nun who prayed to him. The events come two years to the day after John Paul died - a remarkably fast pace that underscores the church's keen interest in beatifying John Paul and responding to the calls of "Santo Subito" or "Sainthood Immediately!" that erupted after his death.Pope Benedict XVI put John Paul on the fast track for possible sainthood just weeks after his April 2, 2005, death, when he waived the customary five-year waiting period and allowed the investigation into his predecessor's virtues to begin immediately.Such a waiver had only been granted once before, to Mother Teresa.Benedict will not attend Monday's ceremony at the St. John Lateran basilica to close the investigation into John Paul's life, a key step in the process of beatification and canonization. He was, however, scheduled to celebrate a Mass later in the day at St. Peter's Basilica to mark the second anniversary of John Paul's death.Monsignor Slawomir Oder, the Polish prelate who is spearheading the beatification cause, acknowledged recently that his probe was completed unusually quickly - particularly considering the vast amount of material that had to be collected.About 130 people were interviewed, historians gathered books about John Paul from libraries around the globe, and theologians studied his private writings to determine if he ever wrote anything heretical.
Critics also had a voice, although Oder said the vast majority of the criticism was not against John Paul as a person but against some aspect of his teachings or church doctrine. "To tell the truth, this doesn't weigh heavily on the merit of the process itself," he said.Such complicated investigations often take decades or centuries, not a matter of months."But speed doesn't mean a lack of seriousness," Oder said. "Aside from the dispensation of the delay to start the process, we have not sought any other waiver."Indeed, he dismissed renewed calls by John Paul's longtime private secretary, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, archbishop of Krakow, Poland, to proceed to canonization immediately, saying the church's procedures must be respected.John Paul's cause has been bolstered by the testimony of a French nun, Sister Marie-Simon-Pierre, who says she was cured of Parkinson's disease after she and her fellow sisters prayed to the late pope.The nun, 46, emerged from secrecy last week, telling a news conference in France that she felt reborn when she woke up two months after John Paul died, cured of the disease that the pope himself had lived with.The Vatican's complicated saint-making procedures require that a miracle attributed to the candidate's intercession be confirmed before beatification. A second miracle is necessary for canonization.Simon-Pierre is expected to attend Monday's events in Rome and to be on hand as her superiors deliver to the Vatican the documentation supporting her testimony about the purported miracle.After receiving the documentation, the Vatican's Congregation for the Causes of Saints will appoint medical experts to determine if there are medical explanations for the cure. Theologians will then determine if the cure came as a result of prayer to John Paul.If panels of bishops and cardinals agree that John Paul led a virtuous life and that Simon-Pierre was indeed miraculously cured, they will forward the case to Benedict. He will then decide if his predecessor deserves to be beatified, the last formal step before possible sainthood.Beatification allows the candidate to be called "Blessed" and honored locally or in a limited way in the liturgy. Canonization is an infallible declaration by the pope that a person who was virtuous to a heroic degree in life is now in heaven and worthy of honor and veneration by all the faithful.

Daily Reflection: Palm Sunday, April 1, 2007

A day late, but nevertheless a thought that will, I hope carry you through the week, Holy Week.

As Jesus was riding a colt down a roadway, surrounded by enemies and friends alike, what do you think his emotional state might have been? While we call to mind Christ the King, how about Jesus the man, most likely frightened ... just as he would be in the agony in the garden?

Think of one of those frightening moments in your life ... the most scary event that you can recall. I recall well and will never forget a time when I was fighting a fire with Scranton (PA) firefighters and the floor gave way over a roaring inferno below us. Obviously I made an escape with two other firefighters. But in that moment it was almost a moment of freezing. Remember Jesus was man at this point. He could not be one moment all knowing God and then human man in the next.

He accepted the role of man for the Father so as to guarantee our freedom from sin and punishment for our sinfulness. Imagine Jesus riding along, probably smiling and waving but knowing from his understanding of OT readings he had studied and learned as a young man that the Messiah, whoever he would be, could expect a very painful ending to his life. Again, all for me and you.