Today, this Fourth Sunday of Easter is known as “Good Shepherd Sunday.” I am an urban girl—I have always lived in the city or suburbs. The closest I have been to a shepherd is the pie named for it…  So I looked up “shepherd” in Websters’ (I just love the dictionary) and the definition was about caring and keeping sheep safe; or about moving a group of persons (ie: children) from one place to another; a pastor. So how do I, or may I, relate to this image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd when I have no actual experience with shepherds or sheep?

​If I focus on the first part of the definition from Webster’s—caring and keeping safe—I can understand this, as I trust that God guides me, and cares about how my choices shape the person I am. God wants the best for me, God wants me to be the best me He created me to be. I can follow that…

I also can understand, too, the part of the definition that talks about moving us from one place to another. God works at moving us from fear to love, from hatred to generosity, from selfishness to sacrifice, from sorrow to joy—if we let Him lead us. How may we be led? We need to listen to His voice in the Word, to eat at the table of the Lord, to pray constantly in all our moments, to open our eyes and ears to grace.

The words of the hymn “O King of Love My Shepherd Is” (#690 in our hymnal) speaks of all the things a good shepherd does: we lack nothing, goodness never fails, when we stray we are sought and cared for and (ultimately) brought “home” to a eat and drink our fill.  I can follow that, too. The last definition given for shepherd is pastor—a spiritual overseer—and this is just what I need God to be for me. So, is God your Good Shepherd? Food for thought.

Keep singing!

​Elizabeth Dyc

Nudity in Renaissance Art

​Adam and Eve covered themselves with fig leaves after the fall, to hide the nakedness of which they were ashamed. Christ, by His saving work, restores to humanity the Robe of Glory we forfeited through sin, so we will have no more need to hide, to cover ourselves with matter.

Genital display is thus a deliberate and meaningful motif in Renaissance art (e.g. Michelangelo’s statue of David, or his statue of the Risen Christ). In light of Christ, we are properly ordered in our person; lust-free; perfected. This is our ultimate destiny, and thanks to Renaissance art we get a glimpse of that which are destined for, if we but remain with Christ and allow Him to transform us in this life.

Disappearing From Sight

In our Gospel reading this weekend, we hear of the encounter the disciples on the road to Emmaus had with the Risen Christ, not recognizing who He was until at day’s end they were with Him at table. There Christ took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. As soon as Christ’s disciples recognize Him, He disappears from sight; they strain ahead to meet the Lord in the Breaking of the Bread (what we today call the Mass), for by It we are made Christ’s Body and undergo re-creation. Once we know who we are, Christ disappears, because if we are His Body we can’t see Him elsewhere.

Christ Defeated Death

Christ's defeat of death makes the entire “upside-down” of God’s kingdom viable. If there is nothing beyond this life, why should the last be first? Why should we love our enemies? How could one possibly say that we gain our lives by losing our lives?

But acknowledging this truth does not insulate us from grief, or serve as a break wall against fear. There is still pain and separation in death. Christ wept at the death of His friend, Lazarus. Christ did not say to us, “do not mourn, for there is no reason,” but rather, blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

And of fear, there is nothing quite like facing a real threat. Fear wells up involuntarily and we ask ourselves, “What do I really believe?” It is only because of faith and hope that we can move forward. Yes, there is pain and mystery ahead in this life. There is separation for a time in death. But is death the end? No. Thanks be to God, that is a lie.

​David J. Conrad

So, what guides you? What are you guided by? We hear Scripture today about paths and roads, and journeys. Many people today travel using a GPS system─a Global Positioning System─a satellite based navigation system in order to reach your destination, guiding you safely and with the assurance of arrival. How great would it be to have a GPS for the paths and roads that we travel in our life’s spiritual journey?

​Today we hear the Gospel story about two of Jesus’ disciples who meet Jesus (without recognizing Him) as they travel on the road to Emmaus. He explains the Scripture to them, but they only recognize Him later in the breaking of the bread. “Were not our hearts burning within us while He spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?”

St. Peter today reminds us to “conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your sojourning (this stopover life in our travel back to God)…” He tells us that to realize and understand that we have been saved by Christ’s blood means to act/speak/think/profess a Godly life. Our conversion is our GPS─our “Godly Positioning System.” If you are guided by God’s Word, fueled by the Eucharist, started up and driven by Worship for service of people, then you will arrive at your eternal destination. You will be guided on the paths and roads that we travel in life.

Like all systems, your GPS must be used on a regular basis in order to function for you as intended. It needs diagnostics and tune-ups in order to keep working well. The Psalm (#16) today says: “Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge…I bless the Lord who counsels me…I set the Lord ever before me; with Him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. You, O God, will show me the path of life…” Turn on and use your Godly Positioning System─your spiritual GPS─and you will arrive safely, and with assurance, at the heavenly banquet.

Keep singing!

Elizabeth Dyc

And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places (Matthew 24:6-7).

​And brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all for my name's sake (Mark 13:12-13).

Why do I share with you these unpleasant warnings of Jesus in the Easter season? To my mind, the thoughtful Christian cannot help but recall these warnings when making a cursory survey of our culture, domestic politics, geopolitical situation, and our Church. So where is the joy emblematic of the Easter season to be found?

By looking at our world differently.

Look from the perspective of the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus.

The title of this article comes from the motto of the Carthusian Order and reminds me we have to look at our time, as well as time past and yet to come, in light of the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus. Easter shows us that salvation history is the inner dynamic of history as we commonly think of it.  I’ll call history as we commonly think of it “surface history.” Deep below that history, driving it toward the purpose or finality God has intended for His creation from the start, is the One through Whom all things were made (cf. John 1:3), the crucified and risen Jesus. Thus, despite the tumult of our time (“the world spins!”), Easter joy is to permeate our lives, for we know that in everything God works for good with those who love him (Romans 8:28).

David J. Conrad

During the seven Sundays of the Easter Season, the Old Testament Reading (the first one) is replaced by a Reading from the Acts of the Apostles: the stories of the early Church and ministry after the Resurrection of Jesus. We hear how “many signs and wonders were done among the people at the hands of the apostles.” The faith of these followers of Jesus enabled them to carry out his mission and work, and “great numbers of men and women were added to them.”

​Today we hear the familiar Gospel story of “Doubting Thomas.” Jesus appears and does “many other signs.” Thomas comes to believe by what he experiences in the upper room, and Jesus reminds him [and us] that “those who have not seen, yet believe, are blessed.”

Daily we are called to walk by faith and not by sight; and yet all around us are signs and wonders of the acts of the disciples of Jesus for us to witness! We may see the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, working for the kingdom in the persons around us—right here at St. Aidan.

I am blessed to witness these “acts” of disciples of Jesus on a daily basis here in our parish: the charity and kindness, the dedication in varied ministries, the sharing, the love and respect among the staff, the volunteers and the parishioners. Like the song says: “We may not touch his hands and side” but we are surrounded by the signs and wonders of God! “Help then, O Lord, our unbelief, And may our faith abound.” Working in this parish has strengthened my belief in all that is good and Godly. “To call on you when you are near, And seek where you are found.” Found right here, at St. Aidan.

Keep singing!

Elizabeth Dyc

Enjoy a small selection of writings from across the ages, which reflect our Church’s pondering of the great and glorious mystery of Christ’s Resurrection, and its impact on us.

​David J. Conrad
_____

The herald of the day now sounds while all around is dark and still.  Before the night succumbs to dawn he wakes the trav’ler with his skill.

So let us hear his call and rise with eagerness to greet the dawn.  His crowing sounds within our ears and bids all ling’ring sleep be gone.

O Jesus, look on us with love and watch us when we fall or stray; if you but glance we are restored and tears will wash all guilt away.

O shine within our heart and mind and cast the sleep of night away, that gladly we may make your name in song the word to greet the day. (St. Ambrose - 4th century)
_____

“Come, you all: Enter into the joy of your Lord.  You the first and you the last, receive alike your reward.  You rich and you poor, dance together.  You strong and you weak, celebrate the day.  You who have kept the fast, and you who have not kept the fast, rejoice today!” (St. John Chrysostom - 4th to 5th century)
_____

“Our churches are crowded on the great paschal solemnity.  Even they that never think of entering the house of God on any other day of the year make an exception for Easter Sunday, as though they could not resist the power of the great mystery.  When their last hour comes, their celebration of Easter may draw down upon them the mercy of their Savior.” (Prosper Guéranger - 19th century)
_____

“Pass to thy Rendezvous of Light, pangless except for us - who slowly ford the Mystery which thou has leaped across!” (Emily Dickinson - 19th century)
_____

“Thanks to thee, O God, that I have risen today, to the rising of this life itself.  May it be to thine own glory, O God of every gift, and to the glory of my soul likewise.” (An Irish Blessing)

He is risen! He is risen indeed! This Easter morn we certainly have a reason for gladness and rejoicing! Today we hear Mary of Magdala tell us in the Gospel “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” She and the others who find the tomb empty “did not yet understand the Scripture that He had to rise from the dead.”

​That is the human way of things, the human way of understanding something, isn’t it? It is only later, when we have a chance to process events, that a light of understanding of what took place may shine. We have the advantage of time in this case, to look back and see and understand. We have twenty-twenty hindsight.

In contemplating resurrection, I checked out Webster’s Dictionary to see what it had to say: it said rising from the dead; to rise again. I am comforted in knowing that after death there is life—however you define death. It may be the death of a relationship, or death of sin, mistakes, bad choices. After death there is life—especially life in the Spirit. That is a comfort: knowing that I may rise from my follies and do better.

Our job as Believers, though, encompasses more than our daily deaths and is different than the challenge of those persons in the past. Our challenge is to shake off any complacency about being freed, to not take for granted the truth of our salvation. Rejoice! As resurrection people there is no place for despair and hopelessness. The list of our blessings is long! But first and foremost: Our Lord has risen and He has saved us! We have the promise of eternal peace and happiness with God.

Keep singing! Alleluia!

Elizabeth Dyc

Just a Note: Thank you and may God bless all the members of the St. Aidan Music Ministry—choirs, cantors and instrumentalists—who gave so generously of their time, talent and treasure in order to serve all the Holy Week liturgies! Please hug a ministry musician today for their hard work, love and dedication to this parish. Thanks so much!

In our faith journey as Catholic Christians, we have now arrived at the holiest week of our Church Year! We begin with the opening Hosannas for today, Palm/Passion Sunday: having traded last years’ old  palms (burned for ashes) for this years’ new palms as we commemorate Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem. We then turn toward the shadow of the cross and Calvary, the Triduum (Holy Thursday—the Mass of the Lord’s Supper and the Liturgy of Good Friday, the Lord’s Passion, The Way of the Cross, then the Great Easter Vigil)—containing all the important sacred symbols that express our faith and our belief.

​I look forward to the breaking of the bread and the foot washing on Holy Thursday; the veneration of the Cross that takes place on Good Friday, the Passion of the Lord! I love the fire and light of Christ brought into the Church and the return of Alleluias and the Gloria at the Easter Vigil. (Don’t forget to bring your bells!) Then on Easter Sunday we celebrate—“as members of the risen Christ, we have access to a new life, the very life of God” I know that my redeemer lives! (The Living Liturgy).

I am consoled by this holiest week of holy liturgies. The liturgies are literally a Pilgrimage to the Holy Land. I may not be able to afford the time, arrange the cessation of familial responsibilities, eke out the money, brave the danger, survive the impossibilities sometimes of travel—but, I will travel the Way of Jesus in this week ahead. By participating in all the liturgies I will have the opportunity to ‘relive’ the events that took place two thousand years ago: the time and place, the personal witness, the betrayals, the sacrifice and suffering, the joy in the Resurrection and the renewal of my own baptismal vows.

Holy Week is our opportunity to make a pilgrimage, a journey of faith. Like the Muslims who must visit Mecca, we are called to visit all the events of the amazing grace and mercy of God—the Passion, Death and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The cost is only time—no money, no tickets, no danger—and you can bring all the family along. Travel with us this week to Jerusalem, to Gethsemane, to Golgotha, to eternal salvation. Holy Week! We hope to see you!

Keep singing!

Elizabeth Dyc