Reflection

Daily Gospel Reading April 8^th 2020

Gospel                                      MT 26:14-25

One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot,
went to the chief priests and said,
“What are you willing to give me
if I hand him over to you?”
They paid him thirty pieces of silver,
and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread,
the disciples approached Jesus and said,
“Where do you want us to prepare
for you to eat the Passover?”
He said,
“Go into the city to a certain man and tell him,
‘The teacher says, "My appointed time draws near;
in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.”‘“
The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered,
and prepared the Passover.

When it was evening,
he reclined at table with the Twelve.
And while they were eating, he said,
“Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”
Deeply distressed at this,
they began to say to him one after another,
“Surely it is not I, Lord?”
He said in reply,
“He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me
is the one who will betray me.
The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him,
but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed.
It would be better for that man if he had never been born.”
Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply,
“Surely it is not I, Rabbi?”
He answered, “You have said so.”

See Reflection Below.

Dear Friends and Family,

            As we approach these Sacred Days, let us remember that the liturgies of the Triduum are really one long liturgical celebration that is stretched over the three days that precede Easter.  They each have their own character, purpose and challenge. As the Triduum draws near, we prepare ourselves and we ask the question, along with the disciples in today’s gospel, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 

            This question takes on a whole new meaning for us this year. We cannot gather with others for the common good.  We must stay in our homes for the safety and well being of others and ourselves.  So, we also ask the question, “Where, Lord?”  Friends, we must have patience and wait. This Holy Thursday, this Good Friday, this Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday will be like no other, but we must let it come to us and allow the mystery of the gift that Jesus brings, to enter our lives. It is painful that we are not together to celebrate at St. Augustin, but all we can do is be open to the gift of this time.

            The Church calls the Domestic Church to arise! What is the domestic church? This term refers to the family, the smallest body of gathered believers in Christ. Though recovered only recently, the term dates back to the first century AD. The Greek word ecclesiola referred to “little church.” The early Church understood that the home was fertile ground for discipleship, sanctification, and holiness. How will we live these sacred days in our home this year? How will we live these sacred days with our family, whether our family resides with us or we meet via the phone or social media?

            Let us remember our “prepared environment” that is St. Augustin. Let us remember in these sacred days, all of the other moments in the past decades, when the God of all history has walked with us and been present with us as a parish family:

·         at every baptism of a child,

·         with the young child who approaches the table of the Lord for the first time, and for each of us who long to receive his Body and Blood,

·         for those moments of healing and grace found in the confessional and at one’s bedside in the anointing of the sick,

·         for every bride and groom as they recite their vows and began their life together,

·         for every family that has been comforted as they mourn, and

·         all of those ordinary moments of life and parish celebrations that we have enjoyed as a community.

While we wait to for the day when we can gather together again, let us not forget our parish community. This community, even though we will not gather together physically, is still one.  

            Our dedicated staff is still working to provide resources and minister to those in need. Join me in mailing your tithe check or better yet, signing up to tithe directly from your checking account. In this way, our place that is prepared, is better able to provide spiritual and pastoral support for its members and to assist us in that time when we will gather in that place prepared to hear His Word proclaimed and to receive His Body and Blood.

            In the Jewish households, there is a tradition of cleaning the house for the Passover feast. My wife reminds me that this is a way that we can give great solemnity and importance to the feast of Easter in our home this year. How can we make our home even more beautiful to honor the feast of Easter? Yes, we will prepare special food, and we will wear clothes that reflect the celebration. But this year, we will give particular attention to our home and how it may be prepared as a place for us to celebrate with our Lord.