3rd Sunday of Easter, Cycle B - April 14, 2024

 3rd Sunday of Easter – B  

April 14, 2024           8:30 and 11am

Our Lady of Grace Parish, Parkton 

 

The Disciples Feelings

 

The setting of the gospel that we just heard is probably just days or a week after Jesus’ death and resurrection.

 

The disciples seem to be feeling afraid, confused, and empty. We can pick up these feelings in a number of passages that we hear in these weeks after Easter.

 

So, in today’s gospel, the disciples feel afraid. 

 

It says, “They were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost.” Last week, we heard that they had locked the doors of the place where they were because they were afraid.

 

They also seem to feel confused.

 

Again, today’s gospel says that they are “incredulous” – they can’t believe that they are seeing the risen Jesus. Other passages tell us that they just do not understand what is happening.

 

And then the disciples also seem to feel empty.

 

They have looked into Jesus’ tomb and found it empty. And they seem to realize that the tomb is a mirror of themselves because they feel empty, alone, and without purpose. 

 

Our Feelings 

 

Now, I am thinking that at times, we have feelings similar to what the first disciples had.

 

We are probably afraid at times. Our fear may be about a doctor’s report or about having enough money for the future.

 

Like the early disciples, we probably also feel confused at times. We may wonder if we have chosen the right path in life, or we may question whether God really hears our prayers.

 

And we probably also feel empty at times. We can feel alone and without purpose, and we can have these feelings whether we are in high school or in our senior years of life. 

 

What to Do? 

 

The question is: what can we do with these feelings?

 

The early disciples turn to three sources of strength to deal with their feelings, and we can do the same. These three sources of strength are: 1) the Community, 2) the Word, and 3) the Eucharist.  

 

First, the disciples gather together as a community.

 

The gospels are clear that they are frequently together in these days and weeks after Jesus’ death. In fact, it is their sense of community that gives them some calm even with their fear.

 

That leads me to remember the tragic day of 9-11, twenty-three years ago, when I was pastor of Saint Francis de Sales Parish in Harford County, and we quickly put together a service of prayer for that evening and the church was full. That was a significant experience of being together as a community when we all had some degree of fear. 

 

Second, the early disciples consistently listen to the Word of God. 

 

In today’s gospel and in many of these Easter passages, Jesus is explaining the Scriptures to them. The Word of God helps them to deal with their confusion. 

 

For us, the Word opens up a fuller and fuller insight into who God is and what our relationship with God is to be like. It brings us some direction when we feel confused.   

 

And third, the early disciples consistently share the Eucharist. 

 

The gospel says that they recognize Jesus in the breaking of the bread – that was their expression for this sacrament. The Eucharist fills their spiritual emptiness.

 

For us, the Eucharist helps us even physically to feel the presence and closeness of Jesus. It assures us that we are not alone and, in that way, fills the spiritual emptiness that we can feel. 

 

Conclusion 

 

So, we bring 1) our fear to a faith community.

 

We bring 2) our confusion to God’s Word and we bring 3) our emptiness to the Eucharist. If we tap these three sources, our faith and we ourselves will be strengthened.

 

And, of course, we find all three sources of strength – 1) Community, 2) Word, and 3) Eucharist – we find all three right here at Mass. This is why the Lord’s Day is one of God’s commandments and why Sunday Mass is so central to our Catholic Christian tradition. 

 

 

 

 

 

2nd Sunday of Easter, Cycle B - April 7, 2024

 2^nd Sunday of Easter – B  

April 7, 2024             5pm

Our Lady of Grace Parish, Parkton 

 

The Risen Christ 

 

What does the risen Christ say to us? And how are we to respond?

 

In today’s gospel, Saint John tells us that the risen Christ appears twice to the disciples when they were gathered together. The passage has several messages. 

 

“Peace be with you”

 

Notice the first thing that Jesus says is: “Peace be with you.”

 

The passage tells us that the disciples were afraid. I will come back to that in a minute.

 

My guess is that many of them were also feeling guilty. They had pretty much abandoned Jesus in his suffering and dying. 

 

So, Jesus addresses their fear and guilt and wants them to be at peace. Think about that.

 

He does not even mention what they had done. There is no recrimination, no judgment, no condemnation. 

 

Jesus simply takes them where they are and re-starts the relationship. He wants them and us to be to be at peace within ourselves and with him, and this peace is foundational for what follows. 

 

Fear of the Jews

 

We see this as we now go back now to the disciples’ fear.

 

Saint John tells us that “the doors were locked…for fear of the Jews.” We have to carefully understand a couple things here.

 

First, there was tension between the Jewish people in general and this breakaway group following Jesus. So, John mentions the fear that the disciples had in this context. 

 

Also, and here is a key point, the “peace” that Jesus wants for the disciples is not just an inner thing. Instead, it is to affect every dimension of their lives, including their relationship with all Jews.

 

The result is that we cannot use the tension with the Jews or the fear of the Jews that we hear about in John’s Gospel as a basis for anti-Semitism. In fact, we cannot use it to justify prejudice toward persons of any other religious tradition.

 

We are to accept the peace that Jesus offers us. And we are to live out of that peace in all of our relationships.     

 

Forgive

 

And then, with that peace, the Risen Christ commissions the disciples to be ministers of forgiveness.

 

Notice the wording he uses. “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” 

 

Interesting wording! Jesus doesn’t say in the second part “whose sins you don’t forgive are not forgiven,” but he says “whose sins you retain are retained.”

 

When we “retain” the sins or offenses of another, we make them hold onto their sins or offenses and we ourselves are still holding on. This is burdensome for others and for us.

 

It freezes the other person and doesn’t set them free to grow and move on. And it freezes us and keeps us from moving out of feelings of hurt and vengeance.

 

So, Jesus doesn’t intend the retaining of sins to be an alternative to forgiving. Instead, he sees this as the unfortunate result of not forgiving.

 

“My Lord and my God”

 

The last thing in this passage that I want to note is Thomas.

 

Thomas struggles with believing in the risen Christ. He wants to see and even touch the wounds in Jesus’ hands and feet.

 

Jesus offers this opportunity but interestingly, Saint John doesn’t say that Thomas ever touches Jesus. He simply says that Thomas, through this encounter with Jesus, immediately comes to believe.

 

And Thomas utters the most profound and personal act of faith in all of Scripture: “My Lord and my God!” Thomas has come to faith through this encounter.

 

So, it is the encounter with the person of Jesus, the Risen Christ – that’s what counts! Today, we encounter Jesus by reading the gospels and making them a central part of our prayer life. 

 

And, of course, we encounter Jesus every time we receive Communion. In fact, I suggest that right after we receive Communion, as we are consuming the host, we silently pray the magnificent words of Thomas: “My Lord and my God.”

 

This may bring us to the same passionate faith that Thomas has. And it may help to open us to the peace that the Risen Christ wants for us. 

 

 

Easter Sunday, Cycle B - March 31, 2024

 Easter Sunday – B 

March 31, 2024       11am 

Our Lady of Grace Parish, Parkton

 

Our Town

 

When I was in high school, I remember reading the play Our Town.

 

Our Town was written by the American playwright Thornton Wilder, and it was required reading in our English class. The setting is a small town called Grovers Corners in New Hampshire in the 1930s.

 

The final act of the play is especially moving. The narrator walks through the town cemetery and tells the story of each person who is buried there.

 

When the narrator finishes all the stories, he walks to the front of the stage and looks directly at the audience. He pauses, and then he says this.

 

“Now there are some things we all know. We all know that something is eternal, and it ain’t the earth, and it ain’t the stars…

 

“Everybody knows in their bones that something is eternal, and that something has to do with human beings. There’s something way down deep that’s eternal about every human being.

 

“They’re waitin’. They’re waitin’ for something that they feel is comin’.

 

“Something important, and great. Aren’t they waitin’ for the eternal part in them to come out clear?”

 

The Eternal -- Resurrection

 

Well, the narrator in Our Town makes quite a point.

 

Deep down in our heart, something tells us that this life is not all there is. Deep down in our heart, something tells us that there is life beyond this earth.

 

Our Scripture readings this morning confirm this intuition of our hearts. Easter tells us that there is a resurrected life with God. 

 

Signals of Transcendence

 

Some theologians say that our life experiences give us hints of this and they call these hints “signals of transcendence.” 

 

Maybe we have never heard this expression before. It’s one of those lofty sounding expressions that has a very simple meaning.

 

A signal of transcendence is something in this life that puts us in touch with something beyond this life. It is something like the sound on my cell phone.

 

When the sound goes off and I hit the answer button, I can talk with the person calling me. The sound puts me in touch with the other person.

 

Well, a signal of transcendence is something in this life that tells us that there is a life beyond. It can be something right inside us, or something outside us that connects us with something beyond. 

 

Signals 

 

For example, I hope we all have some degree and even a high degree of happiness. We might have a loving family and friends, a good job, and a comfortable lifestyle.

 

And yet, even with all of this, isn’t it true that sometimes we still hunger for more and find ourselves saying if only we had this or if only he would be like that or if only we could do whatever? Even our experience of happiness leaves us hungering at times for something more.

 

I also imagine many of us have had the experience of seeing a newborn baby or of noticing the stars in the sky on a dark night or of being mesmerized by the power and rhythm of the ocean. These experiences can touch us deeply.

 

And don’t we sometimes find ourselves caught up in them to the point of wonder – wonder at what lies behind and beyond them? These experiences can leave us wondering – standing in awe!

 

And then there is simply this desire within us for life. We want to live, and we resist the thought that life may end with physical death.

 

Don’t we have to ask: where does this desire come from? Where does our desire for life and living and for more and more of it come from?

 

Conclusion

 

I see these experiences as signals of transcendence. 

 

They point to something beyond this life and tell us we are made for another world. And today, Easter confirms our intuition and experience.

 

The risen Christ tells us that death is a passage to another life.  He tells us that there is a resurrected life with God that will satisfy the deepest hunger and wildest wonder and most persistent desire in our human spirit.

 

They are my Easter thoughts this year. Happy Easter!

Passion (Palm) Sunday, Cycle B - March 24, 2024

 Passion (Palm) Sunday – B 

March 24, 2024 – 8:30 and 11am

Our Lady of Grace Parish, Parkton

 

Who or What Was Responsible?

 

Who or what was responsible for this?

 

Who or what was responsible for attacking Jesus? Who or what was responsible for putting him through such awful suffering?

 

I don’t think we can name just one person or one factor. There were various people and various human tendencies that were responsible.   

 

The Crucifiers Then

 

For example, the civil ruler, the governor – Pilate – he knows that the person dragged before him is innocent. But justice is not his primary concern.

 

Keeping things under control and holding on to his position – this is what matters most to Pilate. The result: Jesus is crucified because of Pilate’s self-interest.

 

Next, the high priest is sincerely religious. He sees it as his duty to protect the faith from this man who questions the ritual and some teachings.

 

This high priest is like some others throughout history who have placed so much importance on a religious truth that they have missed the truth of humanity and compassion. The result: Jesus is crucified because of the high priest’s self-righteousness.

 

Then, Judas expects this Messiah to restore economic and political power. And yet, Jesus keeps talking about a kingdom built on humility and service.

 

Judas cannot take this any longer and decides to cash in and move on. The result: Jesus is crucified because of Judas’ misdirected ambition.

 

Finally, the onlookers watch Jesus stumble through the streets, with the crossbeam strapped to his shoulder. He is in great pain.

 

And yet, they just watch, and they do or say nothing. The result: Jesus is crucified because of the people’s indifference.

 

The Crucifiers Today

 

So, we hear the story of Jesus’ Passion, and we see that he is crucified not because of any single person or any single factor. 

 

Instead, he is crucified because of the convergence of various people and various factors. And maybe there is a difficult question here: Is this still happening today? 

 

Is Jesus being crucified today by our acting only for our self-interest and not also looking out for the overall good of the community? Is he being crucified by our self-righteousness which demonizes persons instead of focusing on behavior?

 

Is Jesus being crucified today by our misdirected ambition of always wanting more and not asking if we really have enough? And is he being crucified by our indifference when we just don’t even think about what we can do to assist those in need? 

 

Conclusion

 

So, yes, as we so often say and believe, Jesus died for our sins. 

 

The uncomfortable question may be this. Is he still being crucified today by the same sins that crucified him two thousand years ago? 

3rd Sunday of Lent, Cycle B - March 3, 2024

 3rd Sunday of Lent – Cycle B

March 3, 2024 – 5pm 

Our Lady of Grace Parish, Parkton      

 

Anger

 

So, a question: do you ever get angry? 

 

I admit that I feel angry at times. I don’t think I have to share what or whom I get angry at, but at times I do feel angry.

 

And probably we all feel angry at times. Today I want to share a few thoughts about this.

 

It is probably obvious that today’s gospel where Jesus is angry at the hypocrisy of some people leads me to this topic.

 

What to Do with Our Anger?

 

The first thing I want to say is that anger is a universal human emotion.

 

I was taught in my younger years that anger was bad and that I should confess it in confession. I have come to understand that anger in itself is not a bad thing.

 

Like other human emotions, it is in us and is just part of our humanity. The issue is not whether we feel angry.

 

The issue is what we do with our anger. The trick is that the actions or words that can flow from it need, to some extent, to be controlled.

 

From my reading, I am seeing three steps that are a process for dealing with our anger as God wants us to deal with it. These three steps all begin with the letter R: 1) Restrain, 2) Reframe, and 3) Respond.  

 

1.  Restrain 

 

First, we are to restrain our anger.

 

This doesn’t mean that we try to deny it or suppress it. We are not to pretend that we aren’t angry.

 

The Book of Proverbs in the Old Testament says this. “Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back” (Proverbs 29:11).

 

So, we don’t just let it all hang out. We don’t instantly get in the face of the person who triggers us.

 

As the old saying goes, we count to ten.  We first restrain our anger to try to deal with it in God’s way.

 

2.  Reframe 

 

Then, second, we often need to reframe our anger.

 

This action really flows from the restraining. The Letter of Saint James in the New Testament says this: “You must all be slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires” (James 1:19-20).

 

The idea is that we look inside ourselves before lashing out at the other person. We get in touch with what we are really angry about.

 

For example, am I angry because someone cut me off in traffic, or am I really angry because I have been feeling generally disrespected? Again, are you angry because your husband or wife was late, or are you really angry because you feel unimportant and have felt taken for granted? 

 

So, let’s go inside and get in touch with ourselves and our anger before we do anything else. This is what it means to reframe our anger to try to deal with it in God’s way.

 

3.   Respond

 

And then, third, we respond. 

 

So, on the one hand, we don’t bottle up our anger because it will fester and eventually just boil over. And, on the other hand, we don’t just react.

 

Reacting means that we instantly say or do something without reflecting about what we are going to say or do. Responding means that we act out of our deeper inner values and beliefs. 

 

So, we get in touch with all that is within us and then express ourselves and our anger in a constructive way. Saint Paul even says: “Now is the time to get rid of anger” (Colossians 3:8).    

 

We pick a time for expressing ourselves that looks workable for us and the other person, and we are mindful of how we say what we are going to say. This is what it means to respond and try to deal with anger in God’s way.

 

Conclusion

 

So, there is more that could be said; I have not said everything that can be said about anger.

 

Let’s just end with this. Anger is a human emotion that is okay but is often challenging to deal with. I think these three R words can at least help us to deal with anger in a God-like or Christ-like way: 1) Restrain, 2) Reframe, and 3) Respond.

  

 

 

Father Michael Schleupner

 

 

1st Sunday of Lent, Cycle B - February 18, 2024

 1st Sunday of Lent – B 

February 18, 2024 – 5pm 

Our Lady of Grace Parish, Parkton 

 

Normandy and Forces of Evil

 

About ten years ago, I was on a parish trip to France. 

 

One day we visited the Normandy coast. This, as you know, is where D-Day took place in World War II – eighty years ago. 

 

We went to Omaha Beach – part of the beach front where 6,000 Allied ships dropped off thousands and thousands of soldiers for the invasion of Europe. We stood on the top of the Nazi Sea Wall and could just imagine the terrible carnage that took place. 

 

We walked through the German artillery bunkers. But what moved me most was walking through the American Cemetery. 

 

There are 9,500 crosses or Stars of David over the remains of each dead American soldier. By the end of the Normandy campaign, there were 425,000 Allied and German troops killed, wounded, or missing.  

 

As I stood in that cemetery, I felt keenly aware of the great force of evil that the world was caught up in at that time. I felt very aware of the forces of evil that are much bigger than we are as individuals.

 

Lent and These Forces 

 

Maybe all of us have had this awareness of forces bigger than ourselves.

 

There are these powers in the world that just seem to swirl around us and maybe catch us up in them. Sometimes, we can be unaware of all of this, but then comes the Season of Lent.

 

Lent makes us aware that much of life is a complicated dance between good and evil, between light and darkness. Much of life is a conflict: between charity, justice, and peacefulness, on the one side, and then, self-absorption, injustice, and hostility, on the other side.  

 

Jesus and These Forces

 

Today’s gospel tells us that Jesus goes into the desert and wrestles with these forces of darkness.  

 

Jesus confronts the same choices that we confront. 

 

Ø Jesus chooses Faith in the Father in the face of temptation to believe in something else.

Ø He chooses a trusting Hope in the face of darkness.  

Ø And he chooses sacrificial acts of Love in the face of insult and rejection.

 

We and These Forces

 

The Season of Lent reminds us that we also must make choices in the face of the conflicting forces around us.

 

Jesus calls us to choose Faith. Sometimes we may question or doubt. 

 

But Jesus calls us to believe in the Almighty One and to be anchored here. He wants us to be in relationship with God through the Eucharist and to make sure we participate in this. 

 

And he also wants us to make time for personal prayer.  Jesus calls us to share this Faith with one other person today.

 

And then Jesus calls us to choose Hope. On a personal level, maybe we feel unjustly treated at work or unfairly talked about by others.

 

On a global level, there are major problems, like the two wars preoccupying us right now or the violence in our own country. But with all of this, the power of Hope lies not in what is around us but in what is within us.

 

The power of Hope lies in God’s constant presence within. Jesus calls us to share this Hope with one other person today.

 

And then Jesus calls us to choose Love. There is much demonization today of those who are different from us or who disagree with us.

 

And there is a lack of sensitivity to the life of the unborn and the life of children without proper food or health care. But with all of this, the power of Love flows from the One who is Love itself.  

 

This power of Love leads us to find common ground with other persons and to be open to the common good of our country and of our world. Jesus calls us to share this Love with one other person today.   

 

Conclusion

 

So, there are forces bigger than us and we have choices to make.

 

Lent makes us aware of this and makes us aware that our choices shape who we are as persons.  They have etern