April 17-18, 2010
Third Sunday of Easter
Acts 5:27-41 Revelation 5:11-14 John 21:1-19
A recent episode of Oprah featured a conversation with the woman whose face had been brutally disfigured by a friend’s Chimpanzee. During the interview the woman lifted her veil and revealed her disfigurements publicly for the first time and they are indeed painful to behold. In the Scriptures last weekend we heard Jesus encouraging Thomas to touch his wounded hands and side…the marks of crucifixion still being present on the resurrected Jesus. But what of interior wounds, the sort such as Simon Peter must have been carrying? After all, when push came to shove and Jesus could have used a friend, it was Peter who denied, three times, even knowing Jesus! What sort of guilt must he have carried as news of the resurrection spread amongst the disciples? While others were excited and mystified, was Peter reticent and worried about what Jesus would have to say about his cowardly betrayals? This weekend we once again encounter the resurrected Jesus…not so much in a glorified manner….he is cooking breakfast on the beach over a charcoal fire, and we have a ‘come to Jesus’ moment for Peter. Rather than a scolding Jesus offers Peter a chance to recommit, to start over. Do you love me, do you love me, do you love me? Not unlike the cross-inflicted wounds on Jesus’ body, the interior wounds of Peter, the knowledge of the betrayals by which he had abandoned Jesus, would never be forgotten…but they were now balanced by his affirmations of love. Thus, the empty tomb of Easter, the miracle of the resurrection, is not about wiping away our memories or removing our scars/disfigurements….but recognizing that they need not hold us back. Remembering that the tomb was empty, that there was NOTHING there, we are likewise reminded that there is NOTHING that can prevent us from having a loving relationship with Jesus….even our sins and darkness’…and sometimes our love is that much deeper, knowing what we know about ourselves and the extent to which Jesus is willing to forgive us our failings, reminding us that we dwell within his heart…as long as we are willing to move forward and not judge ourselves simply by our disfigurements.
Thank you for joining our Corpus Christi family on this wonderful SPRING morning! Please take a Bulletin with you as you journey home: news about the May camp-out is included as well as other parish events. Next Saturday Bishop Tod will be joining us for our HAVEN Confirmation Mass at 5:00 p.m. Please keep our HAVEN youth in your prayers as they open themselves to gifts of the Holy Spirit! Next weekend we will also accept a second collection on behalf of the ‘Catholic Home Missions’ here in the United States, your generosity as always, will be appreciated. Finally, being the LAST WEEKEND of the month, next weekend will be our Food Collection opportunity for the South County Food Bank…please bring your non-perishable items with you. As we continue to unfold the mystery of Easter, remember, you are loved. FKB
