It's still Easter!

 

A funny fellow asks a friend, "What's the shortest length of time?" "One second," the friend answers. "No," the funny guy says, "The space between when the traffic light turns green and the horn behind you honks." We understand. But it's pretty pathetic too. 

At Easter, the Church is out of step with this impatient culture. Easter has an octave — too much to say and celebrate for one Sunday, so it overflows into eight days —  then a further overflow to fifty. Here's a lovely, Eastern liturgical hymn which imagines an Easter morning angel announcing to the Mother of Jesus that her Son is risen from the dead.

The angel cried to the Lady full of grace:

 Rejoice, O Pure Virgin!

Again I say:

Rejoice! Your Son is risen from his three days in the tomb!

 With Himself He has raised all the dead!

Rejoice, all you people!

Shine! Shine! O New Jerusalem!

The glory of the Lord has shown on you!

Dance now and be glad, O Zion!

Be radiant, O Pure Theotokos,

 in the Resurrection of your Son!

• The angel says it twice — again! 
• And not only is Christ Risen but so are all the dead. Rejoicing is for everyone — the whole world. 
• The Church, as New Jerusalem, is invited to bask in the bright-shining of Easter. We're supposed to be the ones who announce to the world what's true for everyone.
• Don't these brilliant Ukrainian eggs reflect that radiant shining: stylized crosses, a spotted galloping horse, encircling vines...
• We're invited even to dance for joy. Can we imagine? Zion is another word for Jerusalem. 
• Jerusalem is an international city. How sad when we exclude. How un-Christly.
• Mary is addressed as Mother of God (Theotokos). 
• There are nine exclamation points in the hymn's verses. I think of them as surprise marks! Are we numb to the Resurrection? Have we lost our sense of wonder, delight and surprise?

Intercessions ~ Seventh Sunday of Easter

Mary creates an atmosphere of faith,/ humility,/ prayer,/ compassion and loving service around Jesus./ May we live in that atmosphere always./ We pray to the Lord.

This Mother's Day/ we pray for the strengthening and endurance of mothers around the world./ For mothers who are living in great insecurity or vulnerability./ And for the children of the world to be welcomed,/ protected and helped./ We pray to the Lord.  

Tuesday is the Feast of Saint Isidore the Farmer./ We pray blessings for those who grow and supply our food./ May we be good stewards of the water and land God has given us as a life-sustaining gift./ We pray to the Lord

Tuesday is also the International Day of Families./ Grant healing to families weakened by addiction,/ dysfunction,/ unemployment and fighting./ Give safe-haven to families displaced or worn down by war and poverty./ We pray to the Lord.

Wednesday is International Day of Living  Together in Peace Day./ We pray boldly for those who make decisions about war and peace./ And may we be reconcilers and agents of justice/ which is the first ingredient of peace./ We pray to the Lord.

May we have some experience of deep gratitude every day,/ take nothing for granted/ and live generously/ as we have been given much./ We pray to the Lord.

Intercessions ~ Sixth Sunday of Easter

In the new month of May/ we pray for the children who will receive their First Holy Communion./ May we be among the clean of heart./ We pray to the Lord.

At the start of May we pray for those who will celebrate birthdays,/ anniversaries and other days of remembrance./ Grant them peace,/ good health and safety./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for the healing of the broken-hearted./ For those who are oppressors,/ dividers,/ war-makers and exploiters./ Bless the work of rescuers,/ reconcilers/ and the advocates of mercy and justice./ We pray to the Lord.

Renew families where there are little children and young people./ Give parents the strength they need and long for,/ and gifts of patience and wisdom./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for the Korea's,/ North and South/ who like ourselves are nations placed under the patronage of Mary's Immaculate Conception./ May the impending peace talks be fruitful./ We pray to the Lord.

Thursday is the Feast of St. Damien de Veuster,/ the Leper Priest of Molokai./ May the Church excel in announcing the befriending love of God in Christ./ May no one suffer exclusion./ We pray to the Lord.

Intercessions ~ Fifth Sunday of Easter

May is Mary's Month:/ Mary,/ the first disciple/ who carried Christ within her through the hill country to visit elder-relative, Elizabeth./ May we realize how truly we carry Christ within ourselves./ May we learn to see Christ in others./ We pray to the Lord.

Pope Francis visits Egypt this weekend./ May his words of reconciliation and justice be heard by all./ May even those who protest his visit/ come to embrace his invitation for a peaceful Middle East./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for our country in its many internal problems and concerns:/ its infrastructure,/ health care,/ mental health,/ veteran and elder care,/ gun violence and drug addiction./ We ask for the help and healing we need./ We pray to the Lord.

Tuesday is the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker./ We pray blessings for those whose work benefits us./ For the un-employed and under-employed./ For the disabled who cannot work./ For those whose work is dangerous,/ exhausting or un-just./ We pray to the Lord.

Bless the young children who receive their First Holy Communion in May./ May our hearts be as pure today as they were the day of our own First Communion./ We pray to the Lord. 

Give strength and healing to our families./ Grant what is needed for their well-being,/ success and growth./ We pray for the sick/ and those who suffer chronic pain or depression./ We pray to the Lord.

Intercessions ~ Fourth Sunday of Easter

Today is Earth Day./ We pray for the healing of our planet where it is poisoned,/ trashed and exploited./ May we each find our way to help in the rescue of the great gift God has given for our pleasure and God's glory./ We pray to the Lord.

Pope Francis travels to Egypt this coming weekend./ We pray for his safety/ and ask that his visit would bring about new peace efforts,/ understanding and reconciliation./ We pray to the Lord.

Racism is the original sin of our country./ We pray boldly for our cure,/ asking for the forgiveness of this national sin./ May we learn  to love other people well./ We pray to the Lord.

All the world longs for good government./ We pray for leaders who are not corrupted,/ but moral people,/ intelligent,/ humble of heart,/ compassionate/ and generous servants./ We pray to the Lord.

In the Easter time/ grant that we would not lose our joy./ Protect us from anxiety/ and the angry cynicism which steals our energies/ and keeps us from the heart-awareness that leads to service./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for prisoners,/ the sick and the dying,/ those with special needs,/ their families and any who help./ For the people who are victimized,/ abused,/ cheated,/ or left without support and friendship./ We pray to the Lord.

Intercessions ~ Seventh Sunday of Easter

Normandy, France ~ American Cemetery

Amid the growing trend of populist nationalism,/ Pope Francis warns of the virus of polarization and hostility in the Church and around the world./ We ask for the Spirit-Gifts of healing and unity./ We pray to the Lord.

It is Memorial Day weekend./ We pray for all who have died in the country's many wars./ Give us insight/ and the generous will to create a peaceful world./ We pray to the Lord.

In these spring days of lengthening and strengthening light,/ we ask for that heavenly light which leads us to see clearly the value and dignity of each human person./ We pray to the Lord.

As our hemisphere greens and flowers,/ we pray to be good stewards of the paradise God has given as our home./ Heal us of the exploitation and wasteful greed that destroys./ We pray to the Lord.

As the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins,/ we pray for its themes to be shared and felt around the world:/ soul-purification,/ spiritual elevation,/ charity and prayer./ We pray to the Lord.

In Manchester and in Cairo,/ terrorist attacks have left dozens dead and injured/ including many children and young people./ Comfort those who are traumatized,/ saddened and afraid./ Bless those who continue to help and restore./ We pray to the Lord.

Intercessions ~ Sixth Sunday of Easter

The American Red Cross was founded today in 1881./ We pray enduring strength for this organization/ and all who participate in its important work of emergency assistance and disaster relief./ We pray to the Lord. 

We ask blessings for Pope Francis and President Trump as they meet this week./ May their time together in the Vatican bear the fruit of peace and healing for our country./ We pray to the Lord.

In the first lesson today we heard:/ "So there was much joy in that city."/ Restore joy where people suffer deep losses,/ where there is grief,/ domestic violence,/ destruction,/ loneliness and war./ We pray to the Lord. 

We pray for the governments of the world,/ asking for conversion/ and the safety of citizens where there is corruption,/ repression and the violation of human rights./ We pray to the Lord.

Mindful of those who are around us at Mass today,/ we ask for health,/ safety,/ the deepening of faith,/ and help in their struggles and challenges./ We pray to the Lord.

For the safety of travelers,/ health for the sick,/ comfort for mourners,/ a welcome for each child,/ inner healing and a change of heart for prisoners./ We pray to the Lord.

Intercessions ~ Fifth Sunday of Easter

Fra Angelico ~ The Annunciation ~ 1440

Today we pray for mothers who mourn the loss of a child./ For mothers who are unable to properly care for or protect their children./ For mothers who need to be renewed in strength,/ joy and hope./ We pray to the Lord.

In May/ we remember Mary singing of God who lifts up the lowly from the dust./ We pray for a just world/ which recognizes the dignity and value of each human person./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray boldly for soldiers and sailors of every nation/ to return home in peace to their families and neighbors./ We pray to the Lord.

In May we pray for the children who will receive their First Holy Communion:/ may they approach the Lord's table often,/ growing in faith and love./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray too for those who will be ordained deacons and priests this month,/ asking for them to grow in the virtues and skills they will need to serve the Church well./ We pray to the Lord.

The news from Washington this week is troubling./ We pray for the nation's restoration and healing,/ asking for government officials who in truth/ will work only for the public good./ We pray to the Lord.

Bring consolation and help to those who live where life is ruined by war,/ sickness,/ violence,/ death,/ widespread addiction,/ destruction and corruption./ We pray to the Lord.

Intercessions ~ Fourth Sunday of Easter

Stefan Lochner ~ Madonna in the Rose Garden

May is Mary's Month./ We pray not simply to admire her,/ but that we would see an increase of her virtues within us:/ her humility,/ willingness,/ generosity and trust./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for a peaceful resolution to the growing tensions between our own country and North Korea./ For countries ruined by war/ which kills civilians,/ destroys cities and despoils the land./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for those whose lives have been disrupted by floods,/ fires,/ tornadoes and other disasters./ With gratitude,/ we ask for the strengthening of rescuers and helpers./ We pray to the Lord.

Monday through Wednesday of this week remembers the 1945 end of the War in Europe./ Give us the desire and will to reconcile and heal the problems which stress our weary planet./ We pray to the Lord.

As spring days lengthen,/ we ask for the Risen Christ to bring light to darkened hearts and minds,/ light where there are lies,/ greed/ and secrets which conceal any dark agenda./ We pray to the Lord.

Strengthen those who are exhausted by work,/ conflict or injustice./ Console the sick and the wounded/ and bless those who help them./ Heal the minds which are troubled with bitter contention and hate./ We pray to the Lord.

Intercessions ~ Third Sunday of Easter

Pope Francis visits Egypt this weekend/ standing in friendship with persecuted Coptic Christians/ and in dialogue with Muslim leaders./ We pray for his safety,/ asking that his visit would bear the fruit of peace./ We pray to the Lord.

We ask for the brightness of the Risen Christ to shine in dark hearts:/ in the military-industrial complex,/ in politicians and clerics,/ in government,/ the judiciary system and finance industry./ We pray to the Lord.

Twenty million people in Somalia,/ South Sudan,/ Nigeria and Yemen are threatened with starvation/ among them more than a million children./ We pray for them/ and wherever children are orphaned,/ abandoned or in crisis./ We pray to the Lord.

The Risen Christ was recognized in the breaking of the bread./ We ask a blessing on our Eucharistic worship/ and that we would see Christ also in those around us at Mass:/ the children,/ the newcomer and visitor,/ those who are worn down or alone./ We pray for those who stay away from Mass./ We pray to the Lord.

We seem increasingly to see each other no longer as Americans/ but as divided Republicans and Democrats./ We ask for a new national community,/ with a renewed sense of what is best for all - not just some./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for the many in our country held in the tight grip of drug addiction./ We pray for those who produce,/ smuggle and sell drugs./ And for those who mourn the loss of loved ones lost to this dark aspect of life today./ We pray to the Lord.

Finally we pray for any who have died since last Easter./ For deceased soldiers and sailors,/ aid workers and rescuers,/ family and friends./ We pray to the Lord.

The Easter Earthquake ~ The Angel Like Lightning

Painted high on the wall, this is the "White Angel" of the 13th century, Serbian Milesevo Monastery. Were we to visit, we would see the Myrrh-bearing women to the right and the soldiers fallen like dead men beneath the angel's feet. Here is the Gospel account.

On the night after the sabbath, at the hour when dawn broke on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalen and the other Mary came near to contemplate the tomb. And suddenly there was a great trembling of the earth, because an angel of the Lord came to the place, descending from heaven, and rolled away the stone and sat over it; his face shone like lightning, and his garments were white as snow; so that the guards trembled for fear of him, and were like dead men. Matthew 28: 1-4

This translation speaks of a great trembling of the earth while others speak of an earthquake. Remember just a few verses before, at the moment of Jesus' death we read:

And all at once, the veil of the temple was torn this way and that from top to bottom, and the earth shook, and the rocks parted asunder. Matthew 27: 31

God is shaking things up dramatically. The temple curtain is torn from top to bottom. Meaning? Now, in the open heart of Christ, and the open and empty tomb of Christ, everyone has access to God. There are no more barriers or designations required.

But also, do I need a personal Easter-Earthquake? A shaking up of my thinking: my partisan world view, my too-little thinking, my small thoughts of others, my childish thinking, my hard-headed thinking. Maybe my inner world of guilt or pessimism needs to be parted asunder.

And then there is this amazing angel descended from heaven. This is not a mellow, shoulder patting "there, there" angel, but with a face like lightning and a robe, blazing like the sun-reflecting snow.

Then the angel explained things to the women, as another angel explained the plan to Joseph at the start of the Gospel. What a surprise, as the women had gone only to "contemplate the tomb" - to mourn Jesus.  The angel said: "not dead, but alive" and the women get it, and filled with a sense of urgency, they run. 

What does all of this mean? God is glorious! God is awesome! God is attractive and beautiful! God can't contain himself and wants only to share himself with us. 

Let's be attentive to anything in religion that wants to tame God - take the surprise out of God: tame and tepid hymn singing, tame sermons, tame prayers. We live in a silly culture where, if we pay attention to the commercials, the only thing we should run for is a bladder emergency or to be first on the buffet or Black Friday line. But do I ever feel dazzled by God, awed by God, enough to make me run - at least interiorly?

Intercessions ~ Second Sunday of Easter ~ Divine Mercy

Original Divine Mercy Image

Today is Divine Mercy Sunday./ We pray to learn and live God's kindness,/ rediscovering courtesy/ and a generous consideration of others./ We pray to the Lord.

The world is living in great tension these days./ We pray for the calming of passions/ asking for world leaders to use good sense and restraint./ We pray to the Lord.

We join Pope Francis in his Easter prayer/ asking for the conversion of those hearts which spread terror,/ violence and death,/ and those hearts which make and traffic in weapons./ We pray to the Lord.

We ask for Christians,/ Jews and Muslims,/ and all people of good will to be agents of healing,/ reconciliation and fairness./ We pray to the Lord.

May the world's children be welcomed,/ comforted and loved./ Bless parents with the insights and skills needed to raise up their children well./ We pray to the Lord.

In the Easter time we pray for the safety of travelers,/ for the sick and those who care for them,/ for students and teachers,/ family and friends,/ and for those who live without hope or joy./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for those who have died since last Easter/ to see the Risen Jesus face to face./ For mourners,/ the homeless/ and the friendless./ We pray to the Lord.

"I demand from you deeds of mercy, you must not shrink from this or try to excuse or absolve yourself from it." Diary of Sister Faustina 742

Rue Anemone and Easter Expectation

This delicate Rue Anemone is blooming along the edge of the woods here. Its range spans from east to west about a third of the country and comes in pure white or white with pink tints. I feel lucky to have the pink-tinted kind. 

Rue Anemone is frequently found in the stories of ancient mythology and is sometimes called wind flower as it is imagined to open only in breezes and winds. But it further symbolizes expectation, which is lovely for the Easter Season we're in these days. I'm thinking of the priest's Mass-prayer, Libera Nos, prayed immediately after the Our Father. The old translation is linguistically more accessible:

Deliver us, Lord, from every evil, and grant us peace in our day. In your mercy keep us free from sin and protect us from all anxiety as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

As we wait in joyful hope. Joyful expectation. And for the Christian this means: I trust that God has won. Remember the Easter hymn?

The strife is o'er the battle done;
Now is the Victor's triumph won;
Now be the song of praise begun:
Alleluia!

Death's mightiest pow'rs have done their worst,
And Jesus has his foes dispersed;
Let shouts of praise and joy outburst:
Alleluia!

He closed the yawning gates of hell;
The bars from heav'ns high portals fell;
Let hymns of praise his triumph tell:
Alleluia!

On the third morn he rose again,
Glorious in majesty to reign;
O let us swell the joyful strain:
Alleluia!

We live with the Easter myrrh-bearing women who came to the tomb at sunrise. Sunrise is symbolically the time of the greatest contest - a cosmic contest - when light pushes the darkness away. It is a time of great tension, but surety as well. 

To live on this planet is to live in that tension. But if we believe that Jesus is risen from the dead in his body, that his Resurrection is not a hallucination or wishful thinking, then everything is different for us. 

Intercessions ~ Third Sunday of Easter

We pray for Pope Francis as he prepares to release his encyclical on the global climate./ Already bitter voices are raised against him and what he might say to us./ For the rediscovery of docility in our often fearful and angry world./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for the nations of the world and for those in government who propose to lead./ We pray for those in every society who are forgotten, of no importance,/ unsupported,/ unprotected./ We pray to the Lord.

There are presently many wars are being fought around the world,/ all of which impact terribly on children./ We pray for them: children who are refugees,/ wounded,/ fearful,/ out of school,/ damaged emotionally./ We pray to the Lord.

As human persons/ existing alongside angels,/ We ask that our worship would be authentic,/ heart-felt and free./ We pray to the Lord.

In the Easter time we pray for unity in the Church/ that we would keep our hearts fixed on Jesus-Risen/ asking to know how we might serve him truly./ We pray to the Lord.

In the Springtime of our hemisphere/ we pray for those who have no experience of joy:/ for families trapped in argument and violence,/ for the elderly who are forgotten,/ for those who are active in addictions,/ for those who suffer chronic pain or sickness./ We pray to the Lord.

And finally we pray at Easter/ for those who have died to know the joy of being greeted by the bright face of the Resurrected Jesus./ We pray to the Lord.

Blue Angels in the Easter Season

AN ONLINE NEWS SERVICE indicated that 218,000 people packed Jones Beach to capacity to witness the 2012 Bethpage Air Show featuring the Navy fighter planes called the Blue Angels. A basic model Blue Angel costs 21 million dollars. Enhanced with weapons equipment, the cost bumps to 56 million. It annually costs 40 million dollars to maintain the squadron of six planes. The fuel bill for one show costs 21 million or  112 million for the show season. It costs 86 million dollars in fuel to train a squadron. 

The machine is dubbed the best fighter plane in the world. Americans love to talk that way, "We have the best health care in the world, " "We have the best education in the world." "We have the best military in the world." "We have the best cars in the world." "We have the best system of government in the world."  That's empire talk and Jesus knew all about empire. Jesus only talks about the Kingdom of God (the rule of God) and the need to establish, promote and extend it.

When I read about the Blue Angels I thought that's not cool ~ an angel is a messenger from heaven. Angels come to tell us about the things of God. Angels are the entourage of Jesus at his Conception and Birth, in his desert-fasting, in the Garden of Gethsemane, on Easter morning at the empty tomb, as he ascended into heaven. A Blue Angel screams a terrifying and deafening scream. Blue Angels are killing machines doubling as acrobatic entertainment.

Some of us will remember that during the Soviet years, huge parades formed in Moscow on May 1 as a display for the world of Soviet military might. And as Americans we poked fun at it - making caricatures of the Soviet leaders in their medals and hats reviewing the parade of power from atop Lenin's tomb. But isn't the Bethpage Air show, with is flashy theatrics in the sky, an American version of the same thing? Oh, in this sad world of struggle what else could we do with all that tax money? Maybe eradicate childhood polio which is making a resurgence in vulnerable parts of the world. Let's use imagination to answer that question.

The online news article came with some video of Long Islanders declaring their wonder and awe at the Blue Angel show. Some of the interview-ees were young children. I thought of the shepherds of Christmas night looking up wide-eyed, at God's Christmas display in the sky, announcing the Birth of the Prince of Peace - Jesus of Bethlehem.

While shepherds watched their flocks by night,
all seated on the ground;
the angel of the Lord came down,
and glory shone around,
and glory shone around.