April 25-26, 2009
Third Sunday of Easter
Acts 3:13-19 First John 2:1-5 Luke 24:35-48
If you were kidnapped, and your family asked to talk to you…is there a unique story not known by anyone else that would confirm to them that they were really talking to you? People who have experienced a ‘shared trauma’ or crisis, are frequently bound together for a lifetime because of their experience; witness the bonding that occurs between soldiers and law enforcement personnel following a violent experience of some sort. This week and last we are called to notice the WOUNDS of the Resurrected Jesus. Of particular note is that the wounds are still there….and in this there is special wisdom for us. Living as we do in a world that frequently encourages us to ‘forget’ our past, the Gospel encounter with the wounds of Jesus reminds us that our own personal wounds are frequently the ‘tabs’ to the hard learned wisdoms of our life. Our own wounds are reminders of our perseverance and adaptability in the midst of hurt and upset. Painful memories, when called to mind, will always be sad….they will never be happy or light. But, with the passage of time we can revisit them with greater understanding and grasp the changes that have occurred in our lives because of them. With hindsight, as we ‘touch our wounds’ we can also become aware of the presence of God who walked with us through our traumas…and start to understand that God is faithful…. ‘What God has done, God will continue to do.’ Thus, in the midst of present pain or crisis, the revisiting of past wounds can remind us that God is still with us… and as he walked with us out of those crisis….he will walk with us out of whatever is besetting us now. Keep in mind that our wounds are not necessarily for public sharing or disclosure….otherwise we run the risk of bring avoided at parties and known as the ‘woe-is-me’… ‘no one has suffered like me’ hogger of attention. Nonetheless, this weekend might be a gentle time to privately revisit our wounds of old….and come to a new appreciation of the Resurrected Jesus….who also had his share of wounds…but they didn’t stop him from being Resurrected.
April has flown by, here we are on the final weekend of the month and May beckons. Thank you for sharing this weekend with our Corpus Christi community. Please note that NEXT Saturday at the 5 pm Mass, 25 of our youth will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation from Bishop Estabrook, a Military Chaplain who frequently resides within Orange County and assists during Confirmation season. Also, with Mother’s Day fast approaching you will find the special Mother’s Day cards on the Concierge Shelves by which to enroll your moms, living or deceased in our special series of May Masses. By taking a Bulletin with you, lots of other things on our calendar may prick your interest…especially our upcoming POPs overnight camp-out on our lawn. As April showers become May flowers, remember, you are loved. FKB
