Fr Kevin Kilgore

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Gospel: John 19:25-34

Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother
            and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas,
            and Mary of Magdala.
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved,
            he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.”
Then he said to the disciple,
            “Behold, your mother.”
And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
After this, aware that everything was now finished,
            in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled,
            Jesus said, “I thirst.”
There was a vessel filled with common wine.
So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop
            and put it up to his mouth.
When Jesus had taken the wine, he said,
            “It is finished.”
And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.

Now since it was preparation day,
            in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath,
            for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one,
            the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken
            and they be taken down.
So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first
            and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus.
But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead,
            they did not break his legs,
            but one soldier thrust his lance into his side,
            and immediately Blood and water flowed out.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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The death of Jesus ushers in the rarest moment in scripture. It’s the only three days in history where God seems totally absent; nowhere to be found. 

As John says in today’s Gospel, “And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.”

Imagine Jesus wrapped in burial cloths, tucked away in a dark and dusty tomb, concealed by a heavy stone.

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In some sense, Mary becomes a unique source of consolation; she is the closest anyone will get to Jesus during those sorrowful days, because she knew him best. Only Mary was with the Lord for all thirty-three years of his earthly life, from the womb to the tomb.

During those hidden years in Nazareth, Mary watched him grow. She learned his habits; marveled at his heart; soaked in his wisdom; studied his mannerisms; and sought to become ever more like her Son.

There she became his first disciple.

If anyone could speak on his behalf during those days of his absence, it’d be Mary, which is why Jesus says to John in today’s Gospel, “Behold, your mother.” 

As the Lord slips into death, Mary will stay and keep watch.

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So, what does this feast of Mary, Mother of the Church, mean for us today?

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She not only offers us the promise of her intercession, she also models for us what a life of complete fidelity to Christ looks like from womb to tomb.

May we, the Church – the body of Christ on earth – continue to learn from her example, who never abandoned the Lord.

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To Mary, we pray:

Hail Mary, full of grace the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death, amen.

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Image credits: (1) Catholic Heart and Mind (2) Christ on the Cross with John and Mary, Marco Pino c 1570 (3) Oblates of St. Joseph

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Gospel: John 20: 19-23

On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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One day, a boy asked his father, “Dad, where is God? I’ve looked everywhere – under my bed, in my closet, in my desk at school. I can’t find him.”

So, the father told his son a tale. “My boy,” he said, “one day the devil was speaking with his helpers. He asked them, ‘Where can we hide God?’”

One of his helpers replied, “Let’s hide God on the highest mountain!”

Another replied, “Let’s hide God at the bottom of the sea!”

A third suggested, “No. Let’s hide God within each person. They’ll never look for him there.”

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Herein lies both the great challenge and responsibility of Christianity, to bear Christ – in a sense to be Christ – in the world. As last week’s Feast of the Ascension reminded us, “this Jesus whom you are looking for has been taken up into heaven” (Acts 1:1).

If we want to find Jesus now, then we must look within ourselves and within one another. As Saint Paul writes, “You are the body of Christ, and individually members of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27).

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In today’s Gospel, the sun is setting as the disciples are hiding somewhere in Jerusalem behind locked doors.

The evening darkness mirrors the state of their hearts; the light of Christ is dimming within. They are anxious and afraid, feelings reinforced by their doors being locked.

Suddenly, Jesus appears to them and says, “Peace be with you.” 

Frightened, they gaze upon his body and see this is undoubtedly the same man who was nailed to a cross.

Then he breathes on them, and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” This divine exhale evokes the Book of Genesis, when God breathed life into Adam’s nostrils, making him a living being. 

Much like Adam, the disciples have become a new creation. But they have received more than physical life; they have received the Holy Spirit, who drives out their fear and grief, replacing it with enthusiasm, empowering them to continue Christ’s ministry on earth. 

This word, enthusiasm, comes from the Greek, en theos, meaning, “God within.” God is now actively dwelling within their hearts… And what a difference it makes.

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In the bright light of day, Peter bursts out of that locked inner room and preaches Christ Crucified. In fact, he seeks out the same crowds who called for Christ’s death and, in his first public sermon, says to them:

“This man, Jesus, you killed, using lawless men to crucify him. But God raised him up!” (Acts 2:23-24).

This abrupt change in Peter’s behavior from cowardice to unstoppable courage is incomprehensible unless Peter has seen the Risen Lord and has received the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

His enthusiasm never “peters” out. In fact, none of the disciples tire or forsake their ministry. Rather, they exhibit the same intensity and conviction as Peter – some for several decades – until they are martyred for their faith. 

They preach in public. They heal the sick. They convert and baptize souls. The Apostle James does so in Jerusalem, leading the local church forward, while others like Thomas go out as far as India, spreading the Good News.

Along the way, many are repeatedly tortured, imprisoned, and rejected. Still, they never quit. Rather, they inspire others to follow their example, handing on the Holy Spirit to the next generation.

All of these early Christians embody the words of the prophet Jeremiah, “Your WORD is like a fire in my bones; woe to me if I do not preach it!” (Jeremiah 20:9)

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This begs the question: What are we enthusiastic about?

Often we interpret this word to mean, “passionate” or “devoted to.” Thus, parents could say they’re enthusiastic about their children – and rightly so. Some are enthusiastic about their career, politics, or sports. 

Are we also enthusiastic about Jesus? Is our faith like a fire in our bones? 

This is what our world so desperately needs today – enthusiastic Christian witnesses; people who are “God-centered” and aren’t afraid to show it.

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“Let’s hide God within each person,” a cunning helper says to the devil. “They will never look for him there.”

Or will we?

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Image credits: (1) Dominican Friars, English.op.org (2) Train Yourself Ministry (3) Love Is Ministry

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Gospel: John 21: 15-19

After Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and eaten breakfast with them, 
he said to Simon Peter,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”
Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
He then said to Simon Peter a second time,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” 
He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
He said to him the third time,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time,
“Do you love me?” and he said to him,
“Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger,
you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; 
but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands,
and someone else will dress you
and lead you where you do not want to go.”
He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God.
And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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“Do you love me more than these?”

There are two possible meanings of Christ’s question to Peter. 

We might imagine the Risen Lord standing next to Peter’s boat, holding Peter’s fishing nets in his hands. Symbolically caught in Christ’s grip is Peter’s livelihood, his past, and the family he works so hard to feed.

Are you ready to give up your past, your comfort, your steady career, your future, even your family for my sake? Do you love me more than these?

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On a deeper level, Christ was likely referencing the night of his betrayal. Although Peter proclaimed at the Last Supper, “Though all may have their faith in you shaken, mine will never be,” he still fearfully denied knowing Jesus three times that night.

This was their chance at reconciliation. 

And so, Peter humbly confesses, “Lord, you know everything you know that I love you.”

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Love implies responsibility. Consider what Peter’s love for Christ brought him.

First and foremost, it came with the call to feed Christ’s sheep – and in so doing, to leave his life behind. For the next and final thirty years of his life, Peter will possess the keys to the kingdom, preaching to the nations, while leading the Church on earth.

Secondly, it brought him a cross. The day came when Peter was called to die like his Lord. But, feeling unworthy of leaving this life in the same manner as his Master, he asked to be turned upside down.

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While none of us may ever occupy the chair of Peter, or be asked to die for our faith, we can all learn from his example.

If we love the Lord, then we, too, must follow the path of surrender. Along our faith journeys, there will be people and things – even good ones – which we must part with in order to serve the highest good, Jesus Christ.

And along this path, there will always be a cross – a cost – for being Christ’s disciple.

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“Do you love me more than these?” Yes, Lord, let me show not only in word, but above all, in action.

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Image credits: (1) Adam Cappa, Facebook (2) Pasce Mea Oves, Nicholas Poussin (3) Dreamstime.com