Eschatological Origins and Ends at the 12:20 NN Mass!

Dear Friends,

___

What bittersweet bookends accompanied Tuesday's 12:20 NN Mass! I had just finished vesting for Mass when a very dear friend of mine approached me before Mass to tell me the good news that she and her husband were 'expecting.' I am aware that this very good couple had been hoping and praying for this good news for some time now.

___

Throughout the Mass, while praying the words of consecration, I'd look over in her general direction and see complete and total joy on her face; filling the entire church with a look of 'Transfigured' grace. She made my day on Tuesday, and just seeing her joy empowered me to be a truly Eucharistic person, a person of true thanksgiving.

___

Upon arriving at the priory to 'di-vest,' I noticed that my phone was blinking. Checking the voice mail, Sr. Marilyn from St. Vincent had called during the Mass to notify me that one of my inmate-parishioners had been admitted to the hospital and was in need of some pastoral care. Upon arriving at St. Vincent 15 minutes later, I was surprised to see the gaunt face of this particular inmate who attends both the 8:15 and 9:30 Masses each Thursday morning.

___

He had been quite sick for some time now. Many of the employees and guards at GBCI had registered concern about this man because he looked so tough. As many of you are aware due to the media, GBCI has been in emergency lock down for over four weeks now, so I was unaware of this inmate's recent illness. My 'parishioner' informed me that tests have shown that he was filled with cancer -- lung, pancreatic and bone.

___

The words that he uttered coupled with the sight of the GBCI guard armed at the door and the inmate's ankles cuffed to the bed's foot board made this scene seem so lifeless, so futile. As I returned to the college after that brief visit at St. Vincent, I recalled the gospel of the day: Jesus reminds us how the Pharisees are certainly knowledgeable of what discipleship requires, but they are slow to understand what sort of 'personal sacrifice' the Christian life demands. Jesus challenges and affirms the disciples of yesterday and today. The challenge: this life is filled with all sorts of crosses. The affirmation: Christ understands our crosses; he bore one himself; we are never alone in our suffering.

___

Had these two episodes simply bookended a regular noontime lunch at the priory or union, the bittersweet roller coaster ride might have been a bit dizzy-ing. But the news immediately preceded and followed Mass, the "font and summit" of our Christian-Catholic heritage. While my thoughts or quick reflections blogged here might seem to minimize the intensity of such great news and such terrible news, I believe that by placing all of life's events -- both positive and negative -- within a Christocentric framework helps one handle all the triumphs and tragedies that this life reveals.

___

What's your story this week? Was it marked by life, joy, happiness or new life? Or was it filled with sadness, uncertainty or despair? The cross of Jesus Christ not only reminds us of Christ's own sufferings, but of his solidarity with us amidst such bittersweet moments in life. As we continue to bathe in this life -- often times punctuated by milestone moments of origins and ends -- we remember to pray for and celebrate the good news that, "God's flock is in our midst, give it a shepherd's care!

___

Yours in Ss. Norbert & Joseph,

___

Father James Baraniak, O. Praem.