April 7, 2018

Easter S

April 7, 2018:  Easter Saturday

  • "Boundless mercy" sign pin:  "A remarkable sign was done through Peter and John" (1st reading); preview of tomorrow's Divine Mercy Sunday
  • 'Flags' tie:  Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel (gospel) [I would have worn the 'flags with radio code shirt I wore last year but had to be dressier to play at Mass this afternoon.  BTW radio code has words for digits too.]
  • '?' tie pin:  "What are we to do with these men?"  (1st reading)
  • 'Hand' tie pin:  The Lord's exalted right hand has struck with power.  (psalm)
  • 'Silverware' tie bar:  While they were at table, Jesus appeared to the Eleven (gospel)
  • 'Heart' pin:  Jesus rebuked them for their hardness of heart (gospel)
  • White shirt and socks:  Easter day and season
Listen

Pope Francis
To Prado priests:  Follow in the steps of your founder, Bl. Antoine Chevrier, struck by the poverty of the most deprived of his time, close to them so they could come to know and love Christ.  You're imbued with his love for Jesus and zeal for evangelization.  Our age also knows poverty, material and spiritual; many experience all kinds of suffering, injury, misery, and anxiety.  The poor are often distant from the Church and the consolations of the Gospel.  The Church relies on you to reach them.
Your pastoral action is a charism that touches me and is at the heart of the missionary renewal the Church is called to.  “Speak of Jesus Christ with the same intensity of faith as Father Chevrier....  The poor have the right to hear about Christ; they have the right to the totality of the Gospel” (John Paul II).  Most poor people are open to faith; they need God.  Not giving them spiritual attention is the worst type of discrimination.
Return to your founder's inspiration; meditate on his life, and ask his intercession.  His intense spiritual experience of compassion for the poor, understanding and sharing their sufferings, and contemplating of the humility of Christ who became one of them, was the source of his apostolic zeal.  This will give you a missionary dynamism.
To Brescia youth:  True listening includes openness to change, walking together, and sharing dreams.  Listen to Jesus, change something within you, and adopt his dream, God's Kingdom, loving God and one another and forming a family of brothers and sisters with God as Father, who loves his children and is full of joy at the return of the lost.
When Jesus says you need to deny yourself to follow him, he doesn't mean hate life, desires, the body and relationships; they're all good.  Abandon the ‘old man’ in you, the ego that goes after your own interest, often masked behind a pleasant façade.  Many are slaves of egoism, attached to riches and vices.
Jesus died to free us from the slavery of sin that kills us from within.  But to free us, he needs our collaboration, repentance, humility, and love.  Those who trust him are rewarded with surprising experiences, such the joy of feeling the beauty of his Word, being attracted to the Mass, being with God in silence before the Eucharist, experiencing him in the suffering, sick, and abandoned.  The Lord also gives courage to go against the current without judging others.  These help you empty yourself and be filled with him.
Young St. Francis of Assisi was full of worldly dreams, but after Jesus spoke to him from the crucifix, he embraced the Jesus' dream, stripped himself of the ‘old man,’ denied his egoistic self, welcomed Jesus humble, poor, simple, merciful, and joyful, and admired the beauty of creatures.
Read
  • Acts 4:13-21  The leaders, amazed at Peter and John's boldness and the cured man, ordered Peter and John not to teach in Jesus' name.  Peter and John:  “We can't not speak about what we've seen and heard.”  They released them; they couldn't punish them because of everyone praising God for what happened.
  • Ps 118:1, 14-15ab, 16-21  "I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me."  God's mercy endures forever.  The Lord is powerful; I'll declare his works.
  • Mk 16:9-15  Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene.  She told his companions, but they didn't believe.  Then he appeared to two more; they told the others, but they didn't believe either.  Then he appeared to them all at table and rebuked them because they hadn't believed.  “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to everyone.”
Reflect
    The Risen Christ appearing to Mary Magdalen
    Rembrandt
    (more appearances of the Risen Christ)
  • One Bread, One Body:  "Raising faith or raising hell?"  The apostles didn't have faith in the risen Christ even after Mary Magdalene and the two disciples who met Jesus on the road.  Then the risen Jesus himself rebuked the apostles for their lack of faith.  Faith is so high a priority for God that he himself deals with our lack of it.  Many blame evil on things but not on lack of faith.  At Mass we pray that the Lord look "on our sins but on the faith of the Church."  Like Jesus, focus on faith.  God is sending you the Holy Spirit to increase, deepen, and strengthen your faith; he gives you the gift of faith and the fruit of the Spirit called faith.  May you receive the Easter gift of greater faith.
  • Passionist:  We celebrate the life and legacy of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., recalling his life and its tragic ending 50 years ago.  He proclaimed non-violence despite the violence and injustice surrounding him and his followers.  May we believe better in Easter, the Resurrection, eternal life, and new life today.
    John Baptist de la Salle/ Leger
  • DailyScripture.net:  "Go preach the Gospel...":  The first to the tomb to pay her respects, and the first to see the risen Lord, was a woman known for her demonized living!  Unfortunately, the disciples didn't believe her.  Jesus scolded his apostles because of their stubborn hearts.  The Lord makes his presence known to us through the work of the Holy Spirit, giving us faith to know him personally and understand his death and resurrection.  Jesus commissioned his apostles to go preach the gospel to all creation; Christ gives this "great commission" to the whole church.  All believers are to be heralds of the good news and ambassadors for Christ.  The Lord works in and through us by the power of his Spirit.
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April 6, 2018

Easter F

April 6, 2018:  Easter Friday

See 16 connections with today?Legend  below
Listen

Pope Francis prayer intention
The economy shouldn't increase profits by reducing the workforce and so adding to the ranks of the excluded; it must place the human person first, doing everything possible to ensure opportunities of dignified work.  Pray that economists have the courage to reject an economy of exclusion and open new paths.
Read
  • Acts 4:1-12  After the cripple had been cured, leaders questioned Peter and John:  “By what power have you done this?”  Peter:  “In the name of Jesus Christ whom you crucified and God raised, the stone you rejected that became the cornerstone.  There's no salvation through anyone else.”
Animate
  • Ps 118:1-2, 4, 22-27a  "The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone."  His mercy endures forever.  This is the day the Lord made; rejoice in it.
  • Jn 21:1-14  Peter with other disciples at Sea of Tiberias:  “I'm going fishing.”  They caught nothing.  At dawn, Jesus was on the shore, but they didn't know it was Jesus:  “Cast the net over the right side.”  They did and couldn't pull it in.  “It's the Lord.”  Peter jumped into the sea; they dragged in 153 big fish.  Jesus:  “Come, have breakfast.”
Reflect
  • One Bread, One Body:  "The tomb of sin":  Peter recognized the risen Christ when he repented of going back into fishing.  Thousands were baptized when they repented.  After his Resurrection, Jesus commanded his apostles to preach repentance and to forgive sins. Our repentance is key to meeting Christ.  Contrition and sorrow for sin open us to the risen Christ.  Repentance leads to risen life.  May we come out of the tomb of sin into the light of Christ.
    St. Peter healing the crippled beggar
  • Passionist:  Pope Francis warns against “spiritual dementia.”  Jesus must have been frustrated when the disciples argued over who was the greatest, asked him to silence others healing in his name, and were terrified when he died despite his advance warnings.  After he died, they forgot basic things he taught them.  They wondered whether their experience of him had been real.  They failed to recognize him when he stood in their midst, walked with them, or cooked breakfast for them.  We too can forget the challenges of the gospel in favor what we're comfortable with.  We can embrace the God of love but hang onto our “religion” of judgment and rules.  We embrace community so long as they're people like us.  We're in favor of justice so long as we don't have to get our hands dirty working for it.  We condemn, hold onto grudges, and believe in our own righteousness.  Spiritual dementia?  What can I do today to improve my cognition of the gospel and memory of the challenges of faith, and live my faith better?
    The second miraculous draught of fish/ Tissot
  • DailyScripture.net:  Jesus revealed himself again":  Peter was probably returning to his fishing career, discouraged after Jesus' crucifixion.  He was last commanded to let down his net after a futile night of fishing at the beginning of Jesus' ministry.  This time John recognized the Lord first, then Peter leaps to the Lord.  Do I run to the Lord when I meet setbacks, disappointments, or trials?"
Dress Legend
  • '?' tie pin:  Leaders questioned Peter and John (1st reading)
  • 'Hands' pin:  Sadducees laid hands on Peter and John (1st reading)
  • 'Stone' tie pin:  Christ, stone you rejected become the cornerstone;... (1st reading, psalm)
  • 'Eyeball' pin:  ...it's wonderful in our eyes (psalm)
  • 'Boundless mercy' pin:  The Lord's mercy endures forever (psalm)
  • 'Street light' tie bar:  The Lord God has given us light (psalm)
  • 'Fishing pole' tie bar:  “I'm going fishing” (gospel)
  • 'Boat' tie bar:  "They got into the boat" (gospel)
  • 'Fire' pin:  "They saw a charcoal fire" (gospel)
  • 'Fishes' tie:  153 fish caught; Jesus cooked fish (gospel)
  • 'Silverware' tie bar:  "Come, have breakfast" (gospel)
  • 'Wheat' pin:  Jesus gave them the bread... (gospel)
  • 'Resurrection cross' (no Jesus), white shirt and socks:  Easter day and season
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April 5, 2018

Easter Th

April 5, 2018:  Easter Thursday

See about 2 dozen connections with today?
Legend below
Listen
Read
  • Acts 3:11-26  Peter at Solomon's Portico after cripple's healing:  “Why are you amazed, and why do you look at us as if we cured him?  God glorified Jesus; you killed him, but God raised him.  Faith in Jesus cured the man.  God fulfilled the prophecies that his Christ would suffer.  Repent and be converted so your sins may be wiped away and God may send you Jesus, and in your offspring all shall be blessed.”
  • Ps 8:2ab, 5-9  "O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!"  You've crowned him and given him dominion over created things.
  • Lk 24:35-48  They recounted how they recognized Jesus in the breaking of bread.  Jesus came:  “Peace!” but they thought him a ghost.  “Look at my hands and feet, and touch me; a ghost has no flesh or bones.”  They were joyful and amazed.  “Have you anything to eat?”  They gave him fish, and he ate it.  “I told you everything about me in the law, prophets, and psalms must be fulfilled....  It is written the Christ would suffer and rise, and that repentance would be preached to all.  You're witnesses.”
Reflect
  • Creighton:  As Easter people we walk with the apostles.  Our readings tell of miracles performed by the apostles as they try to explain the implications of what just happened.  Our gospel recounts Jesus returning to the apostles after his resurrection and sharing a meal with them.  In the readings after Easter many witness incredible things and see the apostles' acts resulting in healing, but don't get it.  How often do we look for a “savior” in the wrong places?  Feeling at home with who and where you are and what you're doing is worth more than all that money can buy; the challenge is not the quest for success but the quest to create inner peace by being faithful to who we truly are, created wonderfully by God (Matthew Kelly Perfectly Yourself).  Our greatest gift is that God loves us in ways we can't begin to understand....
    The appearance of Christ at the Cenacle/ Tissot
  • Passionist:  The Emmaus story, begun yesterday and concluded today, is about the discovery of Christ and coming to faith, starting camly and subtly and gradually illumining blindness.  The awareness changes the heart before the mind can process what's happening.   They wake up to say, “Jesus has been walking with me and I didn’t even realize it!”  They were trying to make sense of the cross, as many still do.  “Everything written about me in the Law, prophets, and psalms had to be fulfilled.”  For Jesus to move from dialogue to fulfillment must have rocked some people’s world.  Luke portrayed Jesus as knowing he was fulfilling what was written about him.  The Word made flesh was to build on the integrity of the written Word.  The Risen Christ opened their minds to the understanding of Scripture.  Thank God for those who have opened our minds....
  • DailyScripture.net:  Jesus opened their minds to understand the Scriptures":  We can be like the apostles, not believing unless we see with our own eyes.  Jesus assures his disciples he's not a ghost, showing them the marks of his crucifixion, eating, and explaining how the Scriptures foretold his rising.
"As he showed them real hands and a real side, he ate with his disciples, walked with Cleophas, conversed with men, reclined at supper, with real hands broke and offered bread...  Don't put the Lord's power on the level of magic tricks, so he may appear to have been what he wasn't, and may be thought to have eaten without teeth, walked without feet, broken bread without hands, spoken without a tongue, and showed a side that had no ribs" (Jerome, Letter to Pammachius against John of Jerusalem 34).
The gospel doesn't end with the cross:  Through the cross Jesus defeated our enemies and won pardon for our sins, opening heaven to us.  The cross led to life, victory, power to overcome everything that would stand in the way of God's love and truth.  As the first disciples were commissioned to proclaim the good news, so are we called to be witnesses of the resurrection....
Dress legend
  • 'Butterfly' pin:  "God raised Jesus from the dead" (1st reading)
  • 'Car with mouth' pin:  God brought to fulfillment what he'd announced through the prophets' mouth (1st reading)
  • 'Olympics' tie pin:  Repentance will be preached to all nations (1st reading)
  • 'Eyeball' pin:  "Why do you look so intently at us?" (1st reading)
  • 'Angel' pin:  "You made people little less than the angels..." (psalm)
  • 'Crown' tie bar:  "...and crowned them with glory and honor,..." (psalm)
  • 'Feet' pin:  "...putting all things under their feet,..." (psalm); "look at my... feet" (gospel)
  • 'Sheep' tie bar, 'beast' and 'bird' pins:  "Sheep, beasts, birds..." (psalm)
  • 'Wheat' pin:  Jesus' disciples recognized him in the breaking of the bread (gospel)
  • 'Peace sign' tie bar:  “Peace be with you.” (gospel)
  • '?', 'heart' tie pins:  "Why do questions arise in your hearts?" (gospel)
  • 'Skeleton' tie pin:  "A ghost doesn't have flesh and bones as you see I have." (gospel)
  • 'Hands' pin:  "Look at my hands" (gospel); "You gave him rule over the works of your hands" (psalm); "You 'handed' Jesus over and denied him" (1st reading)
  • 'Fishes' tie: "They gave him a piece of fish" (gospel); The Lord gave people... fish (psalm)
  • 'Walker' tie pin:  Cripple who now walks (1st reading)
  • White shirt (and socks):  Color of day and season
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April 4, 2018

Easter W

April 4, 2018:  Easter Wednesday

See about 2 dozen connections with today?
Legend below
Listen
Easter flowers speak of joy and gladness:  the joy we feel in the Risen Christ, our justification, the Church's holiness.  We celebrate every day this week like Easter Sunday.
At Mass, the blessing after the concluding prayer follows a Trinitarian formula; Mass ends in the name of the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit, like it starts.  But the end of Mass is only the beginning of our Christian witness.  We go to Mass to participate in the Lord's Passion and Resurrection, then live better as Christians.  Mass should lead us to participate more in the life of Christ, to act as he did; this is sanctity.  Christ's presence in the Eucharist doesn't end with the Mass, but continues in the tabernacle for the Communion of the sick and for adoration, which helps us remain in Christ.
Mass is like a wheat grain that grows in our life, maturing in good works, in attitudes that make us more like Jesus.  When we go to Mass regularly, we grow in union with Christ and separated more from sin.  Frequent participation renews and strengthens our bonds with one another.  Mass leads us to see Christ in our brothers and sisters, where he waits to be recognized, served, honored, and loved by us.  Bearing the treasure of union with Christ in earthen vessels, we're always in need of returning to the altar, till at last we taste the beatitude of the Lamb's wedding feast in paradise.
Read
    Supper at Emmaus/ Ter Brugghen
  • Acts 3:1-10  A man crippled from birth begged Peter and John for alms at the temple gate.  Peter:  “I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have I give you:  in the name of Jesus Christ, walk.”  Peter raised him up, and he stood, walked around, and went into the temple with them, walking and jumping and praising God.  People recognized him as the one who used to beg at the gate and were amazed.
  • Ps 105:1-4, 6-9  "Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord."  Make known his deeds.  Sing praise.  Serve him constantly.  He is our God and remembers his covenant.
  • Lk 24:13-35  While two disciples were going to Emmaus, Jesus drew near and walked with them, but they didn't recognize him.  “What are you talking about?” / “Don't you know what happened to Jesus?...” / “How slow you are to believe!...”  He interpreted the Scriptures, they urged “Stay,” and he did.  At table he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them; their eyes were opened, they recognized him, and he vanished.  “Our hearts were burning as he opened the Scriptures to us!”  They returned to Jerusalem, found the Eleven and others saying, “The Lord has been raised!”  The two recounted what had taken place and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
Reflect
  • Creighton:  Recall a time of darkness, despair, confusion, desolation, grief, sorrow, loneliness?  This is how I imagine Cleopas and his companion on the way from Jerusalem to Emmaus.  Then, someone walks beside them, asks about their sorrow, listens to their despair and confusion, and accompanies them on their journey.  They invite him to stay and share a meal, then recognize the 'stranger' as Jesus.
In the midst of desolation, do we welcome those who accompany us and let them walk with us?  Do we allow Jesus to be our companion?  Do we accompany those around us experiencing despair and confusion?  How can we listen to and walk with them?
  • One Bread, One Body:  "How Jesus gives us Easter":  Jesus wants to come to us in a new way and manifest his glory.  He may come to us as a stranger criticizing us and saying: "You fools!"  Jesus may open our eyes to him by interpreting the Scriptures and breaking the bread of the Eucharist.  He may meet us in prayer or when we accept his grace to heal or invite a stranger to supper.  We meet the risen Christ by obeying him.  We'll be at the right place at the right time to see him if we go where and do and say what he wants us to and are what he wants us to be.  We may have to swallow our pride when criticized, pray when we don't feel like it, and do things we're not used to doing or aren't comfortable with.  "Doing our own thing" isolates us from him, but denying ourselves frees us from selfishness and leads us forth into his light.  Let the Lord give you Easter:  obey and meet him."
    Emmaus Road/ Gerloff
  • Passionist:  Easter celebrates life and growth.  Today's readings proclaim the Life, Growth, and Meaning that are ours in the Risen Lord.  The 1st reading relates the ministry of Peter and John praying at the temple after the Resurrection, meeting a crippled beggar.  Peter tells him, "I have neither silver nor gold, but I give you what I have:  in the name of Jesus Christ, rise and walk!"  In the gospel, disciples meet the risen Jesus on the road to Emmaus but don't recognize him till the breaking of the bread.  Once they do, they run to tell the others.
The Risen Christ meets us on the road today.  As we seek meaning and encouragement, the risen Jesus reminds us that his love is stronger than suffering and death.  "We belong to a Pilgrim People whose 'alleluias' are a bit off-key" (Fr. Eugene Maly).  Alleluia anyway!

  • DailyScripture.net:  "Our hearts burned while he opened the Scriptures to us":  Jesus' death scattered his disciples and shattered their hopes and dreams; they saw the cross as defeat until the Risen Lord appeared to them and gave them understanding.  The disciples "were so disturbed when they saw him on the cross that they forgot his teaching, didn't look for his resurrection, and failed to keep his promises in mind" (Augustine, Sermon 235.1).  "Their eyes were obstructed, that they should not recognize him until the breaking of the bread. And thus, ignorant that Christ would rise again, their eyes were hindered.  Not that the truth himself was misleading them, but they couldn't perceive it" (Harmony of the Gospels 3, 25, 72).  The Risen Lord is ready to speak to us and give us understanding.  How often do we recognize him?
Dress legend
  • 'Eyeball' tie pin:  "Look at us" (1st reading); "their eyes were opened" (gospel)
  • 'Coin' button:  Beggar (1st reading)
  • Silver and gold-colored accessories:  "I have neither silver and gold" (1st reading)
  • 'Walking person' tie pin:  "Rise and walk!" (1st reading), disciples en route to Emmaus (gospel)
  • 'Hand' tie pin:  "Our chief priests handed Jesus over" (gospel); Peter took him by the hand and raised him up,... (1st reading)
  • 'Feet' pin:  ...and his feet grew strong. (1st reading)
  • 'Scroll' pin:  The Lord remembers his covenant (psalm)
  • '?' tie pin:  Emmaus disciples' and Jesus' questions to one another (gospel)
  • 'Accordion' pin:  Great instrument for El Peregrino de Emaús (gospel :-)
  • 'Ruler' tie bar, 'crucifix' tie pin:  "Our rulers had Jesus crucified" (gospel)
  • 'Angel' pin:  "The women reported they saw angels announcing Jesus was alive..." (gospel)
  • 'Heart' pin:  Rejoice, hearts that seek God (psalm); "you slow of heart"; "our hearts were burning" (gospel)
  • 'Silverware' tie bar:  While at table, Jesus took bread... (gospel)
  • 'Clown' tie:  Jesus to disciples:  "Oh, how foolish you are!" (gospel)
  • 'Wheat' pin:  Jesus took bread...; their eyes were opened in its breaking (gospel)
  • 'Fire' pin:  "Weren't our hearts burning?"  (gospel)
  • White shirt and socks:  Easter day and season
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April 3, 2018

Easter T

April 3, 2018:  Easter Tuesday

See ten connections with today?
Legend below
Listen
For Psalm 33
  • Acts 2:36-41  Peter / Jews:  “God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ.” / “What are we to do?” / “Repent and be baptized to receive forgiveness and the Holy Spirit.”  Those who accepted his message were baptized, about 3,000 that day.
  • Ps 33:4-5, 18-20, 22  "The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord."  We wait for the Lord, our help and shield.  May your kindness be upon us who hope in you.
  • Jn 20:11-18  Mary Magdalene, weeping, bent into the tomb and saw two angels:  “Why are you weeping?” / “They've taken my Lord....”  She turned and saw Jesus but didn't know it was Jesus. / “Woman, why are you weeping?” / “If you know, tell me where you laid him.” / “Mary!” / “Teacher!” / “Go tell my brothers, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”  Mary went, announced, “I have seen the Lord,” and reported what he told her.
Reflect
  • Creighton:  "Repent; rejoice; report":  These themes in today's readings sum up Lent, Easter, and beyond in a coherent response.  We know we need to repent of our sins every day.  Peter reminded the Apostles that it was necessary to repent to receive the Holy Spirit and realize the promise made to us.  If we live in those promises, we'll rejoice in the Lord's kindness.  Just as we need to repent daily, so too we need to rejoice daily, focusing our hope in the Lord.  The earth is full of the Lord's goodness.  It's good to rise proclaiming, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it!”  We're no good to ourselves or anyone else if we don't rejoice.  Our rejoicing is not motivated by how well things go but by how certain we are that the Lord loves us.  Like Mary, we are to report what Jesus has told us.  God is with us!  Easter is about sharing the good news.  My life should show I'm authentic about my shortcomings but confident in my efforts to live a loving, good life.  If repent, rejoice, and report, we'll live in the promise of the resurrection.
    Christ's Appearance to Mary Magdalene
    after the Resurrection
    (Ivanov)
  • One Bread, One Body:  "Victory garden":  Mary Magdalene stood at the foot of the cross.  Jesus was crucified and buried in a garden.  Jesus had prophesied that "unless a wheat grain falls to the earth and dies, it remains just a grain, but if it dies, it produces much fruit."  This garden contained the ground in which Jesus' dead body was sown. What rose was glorious, mysteriously different from what was buried.  Mary Magdalene was still following Jesus after he died; if anyone could be expected to recognize him, it would be Mary, but she thought he was the gardener.  She eventually recognized him because she was seeking him, she took the narrow gate through the cross to find him, and in entering through the gate of the crucified she found a garden.  Mary was right: Jesus is the Gardener.  When we lay down our lives for him and give him our all, he gives us life, pouring out the Spirit on us so we may grow and bear fruit.  May we receive the Spirit, live the risen life, and grow in the garden of God.
    Noli me tangere/ Fra Angelico
  • Passionist:  Today's gospel evokes a sense of loss followed by awareness of discovery and life.  I hear in Mary's voice a cry from one in shock at the loss of her Lord and on the verge of panic and despair.  Yet the word Jesus spoke, “Mary,” opened her eyes.  A simple calling out of her name by one who loved her changed her forever.  We're invited to listen carefully for the calling of our name by the Risen Lord.  If we hear the Lord call us by name, we'll never be the same!
    Noli me tangere/ Raggi,
    from Bernini's design
    More Noli me tangere art
  • DailyScripture.net:  "I have seen the Lord!"  It's easy to miss the Lord when we focus on ourselves.  Mary didn't recognize the Lord at first because she focused on the empty tomb and her grief.  Once the Master called her by name, she recognized him.  Mary's "I have seen the Lord" is the essence of Christianity:  it's not enough to know about the Lord; we have to know him personally.  In the resurrection we encounter the Lord who loves us personally, shares his glory with us, and gives us eyes of faith to see the truth of his resurrection and victory.  The resurrection is the foundation of our hope, hope we'll see God face to face and share his glory and joy. "Without seeing him you love him; though you don't see him, you believe and rejoice.  As the outcome of your faith, you obtain salvation...."
Dress legend
  • 'Dove' pin:  "You'll receive the Holy Spirit" (1st reading)
    Noli me tangere/ Fontana
  • 'Pierced hearts' suspenders:  When the Jews heard Peter, they were cut to the heart (1st reading)
  • 'Phone' tie bar:  "The promise is made to... whomever the Lord will call.” (1st reading)
  • 'Calculator' tie:  "About 3,000 were added that day" (1st reading)
  • 'Clock' pin:  We wait for the Lord (psalm)
  • 'Eyeball' tie pin:  "The Lord's eyes are on those who fear and hope in him" (psalm); "I have seen the Lord" (gospel)
  • 'Plant' pin: Mary thought Jesus was the gardener (gospel)
  • Two 'angel' pins:  Mary Magdalene saw two angels,... (gospel)
  • 'Feet' pin:  ...one at the head, one at the feet (gospel)
  • Blue and white shirt, white socks:  White for Easter day and season, blue for waters of baptism (1st reading)
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