Fr. Mike's Gospel Reflection-Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025

“Mary Magdalene…ran and went to Simon Peter…Peter and the other disciple…both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first.”

Happy Easter! Welcome to St. Ed’s!

Did any of you run to church this morning? Excited children often run. I remember when my son went to Easter egg hunts when he was young – he ran from one place to another trying to collect as many eggs as he could. The most exciting times in sporting events are when players, horses, or greyhounds are running to defeat their competition. Running is an integral part of the Gospel that we read on Easter Sunday. Mary Magdalene runs from the tomb to the apostles, the apostles run back to the tomb, and John outruns Peter.

Mary went to the tomb with a simple desire: anoint the body of Jesus and shed a few tears of sadness and loss. When Mary saw the empty tomb, her first reaction was to think that someone had stolen the body of Jesus. Mary’s deep love for the Lord creates a sense of urgency. So, she feels the need to run to the apostles to tell them the life-changing news: the tomb was empty. Now it is Peter and John who have a sense of urgency. It is their turn to run back to the tomb to see why Mary is so concerned.

At that point, neither Peter, nor John, nor Mary nor the other women are certain about anything. Yet, the events of that morning caused all three to move from unbelief to confused thoughts of “maybe, just maybe,” to the grand statement from “the other disciple” who saw and believed that something amazing had happened. This is the point of faith – believing even when we are a little confused or uncertain; even when there is absolutely no proof; even when there are many doubts and unanswered questions.

Unlike Mary, Peter and John, we are not arriving at an empty tomb in a confused state. We are coming to a full church! Christ is not “missing.” He is PRESENT in the assembly, in the Word, and in the Eucharist. Just as it was for Mary, Peter, and John, this is life-changing!

If we did not run to church today, we probably should have! May the glory of the risen Lord deeply touch your lives! Happy Easter!

Fr. Mike

Fr. Mike's Gospel Reflection - Palm Sunday, April 13, 2025

Today the Church celebrates the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem acclaimed as the one sent by God to save and lead the Jewish people in fulfillment of their scripture.

Each of the four Gospels contains an almost identical account of Jesus entering into Jerusalem surrounded by an adoring crowd because each evangelist felt that it was essential to connect Jesus to the promises of salvation found in Hebrew Scripture. Often this entry is claimed to be “triumphal” but, in reality, Jesus is seated on a donkey in peasant clothing and with an extremely humble posture. Despite His humble appearance, the crowd repeatedly shouts: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”

Sadly, today’s Gospel also reminds us that the crowd’s adoration for Jesus is short-lived. His passion and death are near. The shouts of “Blessed is he who comes” become the shouts of “Crucify Him!” When I was about 10 years old, my aunt taught me to make crosses out of palm branches. It takes about 4 minutes to convert a simple palm branch into a fancy cross. It took about 4 days to convert the praise and joy of His entrance into an arrest and crucifixion.

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus is recognized by the humble and rejected by the arrogant. If we are humble enough to accept our King, we reflect to the world the good news of the true King living and reigning within us in triumph. Yet, it is difficult to maintain our humble, faithful hearts. In fact, even Christ’s disciples could not remain faithful and gave into fear and temptation. One betrayed Jesus; others fell asleep while the Lord was praying and suffering; one tried to settle matters with a sword; Peter, the “rock,” who loudly promised never to betray Jesus, denied Him three times; and, finally, all of the other disciples fled the scene.

This Holy Week, let’s reflect on whether we run away when events become challenging, whether our faith is a matter of convenience more than conviction, whether we have truly allowed Christ in our hearts, whether our pride prevents us from recognizing our humble King, and whether we accept the steadfast love which drove Christ from honor to humiliation and from death to eternal life. Blessed is He who comes!

Fr. Mike

Fr. Mike's Gospel Reflection - April 6, 2025

One of the great privileges of being a priest is the opportunity to administer the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is so humbling to participate in the forgiveness of sins and the restoration of the relationship that a person has with our Heavenly Father. The presence of the Holy Spirit in each encounter enables the priest to act as God’s instrument as he receives each confession of sins. As I witness the lifting of the burden of sin and the feeling of peace that overwhelms each penitent, I see God’s compassionate love and mercy revealed.

Sadly, many Catholics are reluctant to experience the “amazing grace” of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We tend to approach the Sacrament thinking that God might respond as humans do – with anger or pride or refusal to accept our sorrowful apology. Somehow, we fail to understand or appreciate God’s infinite love for us and His desire to forgive us no matter what sins we have committed.

Some may feel fearful, ashamed, or embarrassed; others deny the need for the sacrament, claiming that they can confess their sins to God directly and have no need of absolution from a priest. Others are simply “too busy” and can’t seem to find the time to wait in the confessional line. Some have let so much time pass (in some cases >50 years), that they believe that it would be impossible to return to the sacrament. FORTUNATELY, NONE OF THESE FEELINGS OR BELIEFS IS TRUE!

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is about God’s infinite love. As scripture tells us, God’s ways are not our ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are His ways higher than our ways. As we heard last week in the Parable of the Merciful Father, God NEVER stops waiting for us to return to Him and He NEVER refuses His forgiveness when we seek it. The sacrament is not about being judged or shamed or blamed. It is about being welcomed, embraced, and kissed by God. It is not about fear, but about the pure joy of knowing that the most important relationship in our lives can be perfectly restored simply by asking God to restore it.

Lent is almost over. Whether you have done much this Lent or nothing at all, consider receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It will change your life!

Fr. Mike