Easter Joy - A message to the SMSU students

A little teaching on the nature of the Easter Season
via View From the Ambo Podcast

2nd Thursday Easter 2020 - Obey

What is the balance of obedience between God and government? The apostles and the Gospel tell us - Follow God. Readings are found at https://ift.tt/3bxeSzw Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast

2nd Wednesday Easter 2020 - Darkness

Jesus Christ proclaims that God the Father loves us, but that those who do evil hide in darkness. Let us go to the light. Readings are found at https://ift.tt/2Vvc4xn Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast

Divine Mercy Sunday 2020 - Mercy

Jesus Christ is mercy - and He gives us what we need to thrive. Are we able to receive Him? Readings are found at https://ift.tt/34NiqLg Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast

Easter Saturday 2020 - Incredible

The disciples cannot believe Mary Magdalene not Cleopas and his companion, but can only believe the incredible news after their own encounters with the Risen Lord. Readings are found at https://ift.tt/3afCjMd Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast

Easter Friday 2020 - Normal

St. Peter returns to the normal and familiar - fishing - after the Resurrection, but there is no return. Everything has been transformed. Readings are found at https://ift.tt/3aeSWrA Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast

Easter Thursday 2020 - Proof

Jesus appears to the disciples and gives them what they need, most of all proof of His resurrection. He is willing to price Himself to us, if we are willing to receive Him. Readings are found at https://ift.tt/3cgrLhg Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast

Easter Wednesday 2020 - Recognized

Christ appears to two disciples, going home after the events of the first Easter Sunday, and they only recognize Him in the breaking of the bread. Do we recognize His presence with us? Readings are found at https://ift.tt/3er9jVk Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast

Easter Tuesday 2020 - Holding On

Mary Magdalene encounters the Risen Lord, but doesn’t recognize Him until He speaks her name, and us holding on to Him so that He can’t complete His mission. Do we hold on to the Lord too right? Readings are found at https://ift.tt/2XERY5j Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast

Divine Mercy Novena - Day 4

Prayer for Fourth Day of Divine Mercy Novena
Most compassionate Jesus, You are the Light of the whole world. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who do not believe in God and of those who as yet do not know You. Let the rays of Your grace enlighten them that they, too, together with us, may extol Your wonderful mercy; and do not let them escape from the abode which is Your Most Compassionate Heart.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who do not believe in You, and of those who as yet do not know You, but who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Draw them to the light of the Gospel. These souls do not know what great happiness it is to love You. Grant that they, too, may extol the generosity of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.

Easter 2020 - Dare To Hope

Christ is Risen. Do we dare to hope? Readings are found at https://ift.tt/3a6gOgF Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast

Great Silence

From the Office of Readings for Holy Saturday: Something strange is happening—there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness. The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. God has died in the flesh and hell trembles with fear. He has gone to search for our first parent, as for a lost sheep. Greatly desiring to visit those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, he has gone to free from sorrow the captives Adam and Eve, he who is both God and the son of Eve. The Lord approached them bearing the cross, the weapon that had won him the victory. At the sight of him Adam, the first man he had created, struck his breast in terror and cried out to everyone: ‘My Lord be with you all.’ Christ answered him: ‘And with your spirit.’ He took him by the hand and raised him up, saying: ‘Awake, O sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.’ I am your God, who for your sake have become your son. Out of love for you and for your descendants I now by my own authority command all who are held in bondage to come forth, all who are in darkness to be enlightened, all who are sleeping to arise. I order you, O sleeper, to awake. I did not create you to be held a prisoner in hell. Rise from the dead, for I am the life of the dead. Rise up, work of my hands, you who were created in my image. Rise, let us leave this place, for you are in me and I am in you; together we form only one person and we cannot be separated. For your sake I, your God, became your son; I, the Lord, took the form of a slave; I, whose home is above the heavens, descended to the earth and beneath the earth. For your sake, for the sake of man, I became like a man without help, free among the dead. For the sake of you, who left a garden, I was betrayed to the Jews in a garden, and I was crucified in a garden. See on my face the spittle I received in order to restore to you the life I once breathed into you. See there the marks of the blows I received in order to refashion your warped nature in my image. On my back see the marks of the scourging I endured to remove the burden of sin that weighs upon your back. See my hands, nailed firmly to a tree, for you who once wickedly stretched out your hand to a tree. I slept on the cross and a sword pierced my side for you who slept in paradise and brought forth Eve from your side. My side has healed the pain in yours. My sleep will rouse you from your sleep in hell. The sword that pierced me has sheathed the sword that was turned against you. Rise, let us leave this place. The enemy led you out of the earthly paradise. I will not restore you to that paradise, but I will enthrone you in heaven. I forbade you the tree that was only a symbol of life, but see, I who am life itself am now one with you. I appointed cherubim to guard you as slaves are guarded, but now I make them worship you as God. The throne formed by cherubim awaits you, its bearers swift and eager. The bridal chamber is adorned, the banquet is ready, the eternal dwelling places are prepared, the treasure houses of all good things lie open. The kingdom of heaven has been prepared for you from all eternity.

Good Friday 2020 - The Cross

Jesus's death on the cross is proof of His love for us and the answer to the evil in this world. Readings are found at https://ift.tt/3e3Lbro Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast

A beautiful Hymn from the Roman Missal for Good Friday

Faithful Cross the Saints rely on,
Noble tree beyond compare!Never was there such a scion,Never leaf or flower so rare.Sweet the timber, sweet the iron,Sweet the burden that they bear!
Cantors:Sing, my tongue, in exultationOf our banner and device!Make a solemn proclamationOf a triumph and its price:How the Savior of creationConquered by his sacrifice!
All:Faithful Cross the Saints rely on,Noble tree beyond compare!Never was there such a scion,Never leaf or flower so rare.
Cantors:For, when Adam first offended,Eating that forbidden fruit,Not all hopes of glory endedWith the serpent at the root:Broken nature would be mendedBy a second tree and shoot.
All:Sweet the timber, sweet the iron,Sweet the burden that they bear!
Cantors:Thus the tempter was outwittedBy a wisdom deeper still:Remedy and ailment fitted,Means to cure and means to kill;That the world might be acquitted,Christ would do his Father’s will.
All:Faithful Cross the Saints rely on,Noble tree beyond compare!Never was there such a scion,Never leaf or flower so rare.
Cantors:So the Father, out of pityFor our self-inflicted doom,Sent him from the heavenly cityWhen the holy time had come:He, the Son and the Almighty,Took our flesh in Mary’s womb.
All:Sweet the timber, sweet the iron,Sweet the burden that they bear!
Cantors:Hear a tiny baby crying,Founder of the seas and strands;See his virgin Mother tyingCloth around his feet and hands;Find him in a manger lyingTightly wrapped in swaddling-bands!
All:Faithful Cross the Saints rely on,Noble tree beyond compare!Never was there such a scion,Never leaf or flower so rare.
Cantors:So he came, the long-expected,Not in glory, not to reign;Only born to be rejected,Choosing hunger, toil and pain,Till the scaffold was erectedAnd the Paschal Lamb was slain.
All:Sweet the timber, sweet the iron,Sweet the burden that they bear!
Cantors:No disgrace was too abhorrent:Nailed and mocked and parched he died;Blood and water, double warrant,Issue from his wounded side,Washing in a mighty torrentEarth and stars and oceantide.
All:Faithful Cross the Saints rely on,Noble tree beyond compare!Never was there such a scion,Never leaf or flower so rare.
Cantors:Lofty timber, smooth your roughness,Flex your boughs for blossoming;Let your fibers lose their toughness,Gently let your tendrils cling;Lay aside your native gruffness,Clasp the body of your King!
All:Sweet the timber, sweet the iron,Sweet the burden that they bear!
Cantors:Noblest tree of all created,Richly jeweled and embossed:Post by Lamb’s blood consecrated;Spar that saves the tempest-tossed;Scaffold-beam which, elevated,Carries what the world has cost!
All:Faithful Cross the Saints rely on,Noble tree beyond compare!Never was there such a scion,Never leaf or flower so rare.
All:Wisdom, power, and adorationTo the blessed TrinityFor redemption and salvationThrough the Paschal Mystery,Now, in every generation,And for all eternity. Amen.

Communion by Desire

Minnesota, and many of the states, have extended ‘stay at home’ orders. Gathering with various others of all sizes, especially those over 10, are discouraged.
This puts a spin on life as normal for me as a priest, of course. We are not allowed to have public Masses, and especially as we are about to start the Sacred Triduum and Easter, this is hard. Harder still is the fasting from the Eucharist that the Faithful will need to extend.
I hear of the frustration. I hear, too, of the grasping at straws, the desire for parking lot Masses (which present a number of challenges to the sanctity of the Mass) or the desire for multiplication of Masses beyond the priests’ ability to meet and yet keep everyone safe and compliant. I hear of the request that we distribute the Eucharist in a hygienic way through using disposable items that could still pass on this virus or collect fragments of the Blessed Sacrament (and would need respectful treatment).
We have to remember that this novel corona virus is unique. While many who are exposed to it may have little to mild symptoms, some will have severe symptoms. While underlying health concerns are an aggravating matter, this is not always the case. It seems that this virus is a little fickle. On top of that, as we have heard, someone might be contagious before, if ever, being symptomatic. This means that they might pass on this virus without ever getting sick or even knowing they are contagious. Perhaps even the celebrant might be contagious, and we are touching the Eucharist at distribution, and then passing on the virus to others. We do not know (yet) who is contagious or who already has had it and now immune, or who is vulnerable to the severe symptoms. As a result, the best course of action seems to be the stay at home orders for the general population to give time for our hospitals to prepare. Hopefully, by the end of April, there will be antibody tests that will allow an easing of the restrictions except for perhaps those most vulnerable.
So we are required, at this time, to maintain this stay at home order. We may look back and say that what we did was difficult. At this point, without these restrictions, from what we understand, we are putting vulnerable lives at risk. We may never know how many lives we have saved by doing nothing… by staying home… by maintaining social distances. May we never find out that we were the cause of unnecessary exposure and perhaps even death by not taking the doctors and epidemiologists at their word.
As Catholics, we are required to attend Mass (yes, that is the requirement, not reception of the Blessed Sacrament). But there are conditions in which that obligation is lifted, mainly when we are putting ourselves or others at risk either because of difficult travel conditions or illness. While those that are contagious may not be ill, they could pass this virus on to the more vulnerable, therefore, Bishop LeVoir and many other bishops have dispensed from the obligation to attend Mass.
At the same time, we live in a wonderful time — we have resources that our ancestors would never have imagined. How many priests and bishops have their Masses live-streamed or recorded for playback! Certainly, it is not the same. As one who is in a parish with the capability to live-stream, it is difficult for me as a priest-celebrant to offer Mass with only the minimal people needed to live-stream it. But it is better than nothing. Here, Mass is still being offered in the place best.
Reception of the Eucharist is important. This Holy Thursday evening, we will mark the giving of the Eucharist as the memorial of Christ’s death and resurrection. As we receive His Body and Blood, we receive communion with Him. But this communion is not automatic, nor is it the only means of communion. We have to remember that Judas was at the Last Supper. He received from Christ Himself the first Eucharist. Yet he did not have communion. St. Peter, and nine other apostles for that matter, also received, but St. Peter would deny even knowing Jesus within hours and the others would run and hide. Only St. John remained at the foot of the cross. Only he experienced an immediate communion with the Lord. Certainly, after the Resurrection, when the sign of the Eucharist was fulfilled, though not fully understood, did the apostles experience a deeper communion, one that lead to their bold preaching and eventual martyrdom. Ironically, only St. John was spared death from martyrdom, though they tried. But he had a spiritual martyrdom — he desired union with the Lord in all things, even the Lord’s death.
And that concept of martyrdom by desire might help us understand the other point — the Eucharist is not the only means to communion. St. John experienced a spiritual martyrdom — he deeply desired to give witness to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ through his own death — but that was not God’s will. The Church teaches of the importance of Baptism. Baptism is the means in which we enter the Sacramental life of the Church. But it is possible to be saved, in ways known to God alone, without receiving this sacrament. Someone who is not yet baptized but dies in witness to Jesus Christ, therefore a martyr, is said to have experienced a baptism by blood. Their faith in Christ lead them to die for Him, and the Lord will save them. But there is another means: Someone who is preparing for Baptism, say in an RCIA program, who dies before the sacrament, might be saved in what the Church calls baptism by desire. Their desire for the sacrament is so great that, despite circumstances beyond their control, receive the graces that that sacrament imparts. See, God binds Himself to the Sacraments, but is not bound by them. He guarantees that they impart grace on those capable of receiving that grace, but that is not the only way He can give it.
The Lord has bound Himself to the Eucharist. He imparts the grace of communion with Himself (and all the saints, for that matter) in the reception of the Eucharist. But He can, and does give that grace through other means too. Again, that grace is not automatic — we must desire Him, union with Him, communion with Him and all in union with Him. We cannot continue to see the Eucharist as a commodity — a ‘something' I need. Rather, we need to see the Eucharist as He is - Christ who humbles Himself for us and our salvation. A Gift from Christ of Himself that we may have the grace of union with Him. Instead of seeing it as the only means of communion, we perhaps can see it as the primary means, the privileged means of communion. Perhaps, during this Great Fast, now extended into May, we can continue to grow in our desire the Eucharist for who He is — our Lord and Savior, and remember that while the majority of Catholics cannot receive Him Sacramentally, we can receive Him spiritually by deeply desiring Him. He will not allow His people to starve in their desire for communion. He will nourish them in ways mysterious.
I know that this is a difficult time. I know people are afraid, frustrated, and angry. But I also know that it does not have to be so. We can choose to let Christ reign in our hearts. The stone of His tomb could not stop His resurrection, nor can this virus. In fact, there is only one thing that can stop Jesus Christ from having power in our lives — us. Only when we desire He have no authority over us, that we have no communion with Him, is He thwarted from working in our lives and having communion with Him. Yes, - I desire Him in the Eucharist. But more importantly, I NEED Him.
When we are returned to the practice of public Mass (and we will), we may have a renewed joy to not only be in the presence of Christ and the congregation, but to be able to receive Him sacramentally, the most full sign that we have prepared our hearts by our communion by desire.
My Jesus,
I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things,
and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as if You were already there
and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You.
Amen.

Spy Wednesday 2020 - Who Is He?

Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, not knowing who Jesus truly was. How do we fail to recognized Jesus? Readings are found at https://ift.tt/3e3NxGS Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast

Holy Tuesday 2020 - Night

Judas receives a morsel from our Lord, and Satan enters, and St. John records it was night- why? Because Judas didn’t understand what he received. https://ift.tt/3e2r5Or Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast

Passion Sunday 2020 (10 am) - Relation

St. Peter and Judas display two different relationships with the Lord, and St. will give a third type. The type of relationship we have with the Lord will factor into how we accept Him. Readings are found at https://ift.tt/3bYxcl3 Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast

Passion Sunday 2020 - Grasp

We grasp on to false things, but Jesus did not. During this Holy Week, can we grasp on to Jesus? Readings are found at https://ift.tt/3bYxcl3 Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast

5th Wednesday Lent 2020 - Free

The three men are free in the furnace, and the pharisees were slaves. Where is our freedom? Readings are found at https://ift.tt/344XD5B Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast