Our readings for this Third Sunday of Easter are here. (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041424.cfm). The Third Sunday of Easter we are visiting the Mass of:
- April 5, 2018 Noon
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The poems Fr Dennis referenced are:
- April 5, 1974 by Richard Wilbur, Noon Mass on April 15, 2018 Cycle B
- Room Service English Muffins by Kim Dower, Noon Mass on April 15, 2018 Cycle B
In 2018, we reflected on —
Easter is a time to delve into what the Resurrection means.
Jesus seems a bit different
| Before the Resurrection | After the Resurrection | |
| Offering a greeting of Peace / Shalom, as recorded in any of the gospel accounts | Rare, if it is ever mentioned at all, even though this, accompanied by outstretched or extended arms, was a standard greeting of the day | In almost every appearance mentioned, Jesus offers this greeting, as if to say “It’s okay. Calm down” to a group of friends who had utterly abandoned him. |
Jesus needs help proving that he is not just a ghost — eating fish is a good counterpoint!
Jesus is more like a friend now than “teacher”
- He does not review / prove / or re-prove anything re the crucifixion and resurrection.
- He is more like a friend, and “we know this together.”
- Much of his time is spent hanging out with friends and having meals (no big miracles or healings akin to prior to the Crucifixion).
What are other ways you experience Jesus differently in the gospels pre- and post-Resurrection?
[rl — while it was just last week on the spiritual blog that we discussed the following poem; it was three years between uses by Fr Dennis!]
Today’s poems are April 5, 1974 by Richard Wilbur and Room Service English Muffins by Kim Dower.
- Easter was April 5, 1974 in 2015, and this was also the date that Hank Aaron set the homerun record. (The latter doesn’t particularly fit the poem, but people have puzzled whether April 5, 1974 was a particular date of importance or simply the day the poem was written, making it important enough.) ‘Tis a good poem, one of an older style of poetry with rhymes in couplets.
- The poem reminds D2 of the Resurrection with
- the couplets of rocks twitching and blurring — “Was matter getting out of hand // And making free with natural law”
- a dreamy quality with, like the Resurrection, the unexpected ghostly appearances
- the juxtaposition of the content of the poem is ordinary — flowers spring up in spring, the departure of winter” and the inherent extraordinariness of the happenings
In Room Service English Muffins by Kim Dower find the comfort in the disrupted routine and preferences during travel and movement. That comfort and reassurance is like Jesus in the Resurrection — always with us.
Our image today was created by the late Fr Sieger Koder (1925-2015), a German priest, WWII veteran, smith, and artist. He retired from active priestly pastoral duties in 1995, but continued his artistry until he passed in 2015. A gift of another 20 years to us all. The Europeans have created a number of books offering retreat-like meditations using his work.
The featured image today is his “The Meal,” from the Lenten veil Hope for the Excluded, 1996.
The Surest Sign 