April 6, 2003
God Embedded
Palm
Sunday
Last
year on Palm Sunday we noticed the massive traffic jams and parking
problems that kept people from getting to church. We also had several
hundred people standing outside the school chapel for the 11:45 mass
since there was no more room inside. So we’re trying to make things
easier by moving the masses at the school into Code Auditorium which
is larger than the chapel and by moving the Family Mass Celebration
to the school on Palm Sunday only. (Procession to begin at 9:30 at Drexel
Ave school-- but I’d suggest getting there at 9:15.)
We’re moving the Palm Sunday Pancake breakfast to May 4th as part
of an Easter Season Communion Breakfast.
Also note:
The 10am Mass in church will not be the family mass, but a more simple
celebration on Palm Sunday and the regular 9am Mass in the school chapel
will start at 8:30am in Code Auditorium to allow for the extra time
it takes to celebrate this feast.
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Past Columns:
March 30: Pastoral Visits
March 23: Turning Tables
March
16: Transfiguring Imagination
March
9: Beasts and Angels
March 2: Lent and Imagination
Feb 23: Sorrow
Far and Wide
Feb 16: Saints
Feb 9: Columbia Lessons
Feb2: Giving At A Difficult
Time
Jan 26: Penny Power
& Catholic Schools
Jan19: Yet Another
Year
Jan 12: Stealing Jesus
Jan5: The Wise Still Come
From Afar
Columns from 2002
Last Monday we had a Tenebrae Service at
which one of our parishioners , Paul Martirano, a Navy commander, spoke
about what it was like to be a member of the armed services, a father
and husband, and a Catholic. In a moving reflection he spoke of the heartbreak
of war and the ardent desire for this conflict with Iraq to be over soon.
He told of how chaplains were flown from ship to ship to lead sailors
in prayer and how God was “embedded” in the midst of their mission.
We’ve all been hearing about how reporters
are “embedded” with the troops during this war, but it struck
me that it is very important to recognize where God is embedded. For children
whose parents are deployed, for husbands and wives whose spouses are deployed,
for parents whose children are deployed, it is a comforting thought to
consider that their loved ones are not alone -- God is embedded with them.
And God is embedded with us too. Scripture tells us that they “Word
became flesh and dwelt among us” -- perhaps today, the gospel writer
would have said that the “Word became flesh and was embedded among
us.” The reason Jesus came into the world is so that we know that
we are not alone, that god isn’t merely looking at us from a distance,
but is living among us on our front lines.
So as we consider what our world could be
like if it was more deeply rooted in Christ, perhaps our next step is
to realize that Jesus is indeed embedded with us -- watching us, guiding
us, helping us. If only we would take notice of his presence next to us,
we would be speaking and acting in different ways that would help heal
what is sick in our lives.
Next week is Holy Week. It is a time when
we remember how Jesus was so deeply embedded in our human condition that
he embraced even death in order to set us free. Our hearts and prayers
go out to all those who are engaged in military action throughout the
world, that soon they will be free of the burden and harm of war and that
the peace Jesus came to give will be a reality this Easter.
And if you know of a family whose loved one
is serving overseas, please take some time to reach out to them as a sign
that Jesus, embedded in our community, cares about them with love.
You are Person
