Fr Kevin Kilgore

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Gospel: John 20: 1-9

On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. 

So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.”

So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.

When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.

Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the scripture that he had to rise from the dead.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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What a remarkable opportunity on the heels of Easter, to be standing in the very place where our Lord rose from the dead!

Don’t we all desperately need to be here? To see the empty tomb; to touch it; to adore it; to pray for our loved ones who’ve gone before us.

When we consider what’s happening around the world, certainly in Ukraine, it can feel like we’re stuck on Good Friday. Even here in Jerusalem there have been deadly clashes in the name of religion.

Our world’s known Good Friday. We’ve known Good Friday.

But the Holy Spirit is urging us to make that miraculous leap of faith from Good Friday to Easter Sunday – to hope and believe in the resurrection. It’s the very heart of our faith, and there’s no better place to profess our faith than right here.

In honor of the Lord’s victory over death, let’s profess the Apostles Creed, calling to mind our loved ones and all whom we’ve promised to pray for:

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I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth;
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son Our Lord,
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. (HERE).
He descended into Hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; (HERE).
He ascended into Heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God, the Father almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.

Amen.

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Image credits: (1) Learn Religions, Holy Sepulcher (2) Architectural Digest, The Empty Tomb, Holy Sepulcher (3) The Irish Times, The Empty Tomb

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Gospel:

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Our parish vision statement begins with the words, “All generations journeying together.”

So much of that inspiration comes from today’s Gospel, when Mary and Elizabeth embraced – right here. These expectant mothers represent “all generations.” 

Elizabeth, a barren, elderly woman married for many years. Mary, an unwed teenager. And their unborn children, John and Jesus, representing their hope for the future.

Though Mary and Elizabeth’s age and life experiences are different, they find in each other what they couldn’t have on their own: Community. Affirmation. Friendship. Belonging. Understanding.

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These are things I hope we’ve found together on this pilgrimage. They’re things I hope all parishioners find at St. Pius X as we “journey together.” 

Although we’re different ages and we come from different life experiences, like Mary and Elizabeth, God has brought us together. The Lord intends for us to find what we could not have on our own: Community. Affirmation. Friendship. Belonging. Understanding.

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May we carry the affirming, faithful, and communal spirit of Mary and Elizabeth forward so that we can show others what it feels like to be, “All generations journeying together with Jesus to satisfy our hungry hearts. Come and see!

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Image credits: (1) Wikipedia, Church of the Visitation (2) Israel Travel Center, Church of the Visitation (3) Custodia.org, Church of the Visitation

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Gospel: Luke 2: 1-14

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock.

The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear.

The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Part of the reason why we’ve made this pilgrimage is to see and touch the places where Jesus lived, ministered, died, and rose from the dead. Today, for example, we find ourselves right where Jesus was born!

These experiences are meant to strengthen our faith and understanding that he really lived, he really died, and he really was raised from the dead. Jesus was a real, historical person – not some figment of our imagination or a character in a fairy tale.

Saint Luke makes the same effort when writing his Gospel, at times listing historical events with painstaking detail. In today’s Gospel, for example, he writes:

“In those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus…when Quirinius was governor of Syria…And Joseph went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem.”

Luke wants the reader to be certain: Jesus of Nazareth was here.

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So, what’s special about his birthplace? Why did the Lord choose to become flesh here in Bethlehem?

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One reason is because “Bethlehem” means “house of bread.” 

From his birth, the Lord is setting the stage for what he will leave behind: his resurrected presence in the Eucharist.

Luke adds a further detail: Jesus was born in a trough. Just as animals receive nourishment from food placed in a trough, so we are meant to feed on Christ, who was born in Bethlehem, the “house of bread.”

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May our presence here today reaffirm what we already believe: Jesus wasn’t a figure from a fairy tale. He was – and is – real.

And we are about to receive Him now. (If you’re reading this online, know we’re carrying you to the altar today).

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Image credits: (1) History Hit, Basilica of the Nativity (2) OMHKSEA, Basilica of the Nativity (3) www.bethlehem-city.org