At an Easter afternoon party at my neighbor Mike’s house, an 11 year old, a beloved child of a beautiful mom and dad said; "I don’t know why this is such a special day… why is this day different?" I was a little shocked. "it’s Easter". "So?" she asked, and I was struck by how many in our world might ask "why is this day special? why are we so joyful?" Why is this day special? I remember walking into Little Flower (St Theresa) church in Coral Gables and dragging my fingers through the Holy Water font and having them come up dry. Then I noticed it was dark. No lights on in the church. Then as I looked for lights, I noticed no candles lit in front of the Saints’ statues, St Theresa, St Joseph… no candles. In fact the beloved saints were covered with purple cloth. Gulp. As I walked up the main aisle, the Crucifix, so large and beautiful over the main altar, was covered with a purple cloth, and the tabernacle door was open, the tabernacle empty. "He isn’t here," my Mom whispered. This is the stuff of movies. The 8 year old clutches her mother’s hand and wonders, what just happened here? Well to this day I remember that scene vividly as I drink in the scent of candles and incense except on the holiest days of the year between Palm Sunday and Holy Saturday in the evening. Those purple draped statues were scary to an 8 year old. Today I realize they symbolize along with the other services the reality of a world without God and Jesus Christ when "He isn’t here." On Wednesday of this last week I joined parishioners at St Augustine church near the University of Miami in a service called Tenebrae. A menorah of sorts with 7 candles is all lit up, and as the service proceeds, the candles are extinguished one by one. Normally the service is readings from the Lamentations of Jeremiah. This night it was readings from the Gospels. A woman pours our precious oils on the feet of Jesus, another woman cries on his feet and dries his feet with her tears… The women poured out all they had on his feet and then he poured out all he had (his life, his blood) to ransom us from death. "One of you will betray me" he says to his beloved (to us). He allows us to get to the point of betrayal. That’s what free will is all about. He leaves that last step to us…. Judas didn’t turn back; Peter did… Both betrayed and Judas killed himself out of despair; Peter cried his sorrow and repentance. "You have had 5 husbands," he said, "and the man you are living with is not your husband!" Gulp, the Samaritan woman at the well breathes, caught in another lie! "This son of mine was dead, but now he has returned… he is found!" And so the night proceeded, with stories of how far Jesus bends (to the ground) for us, and how joyous he is when we turn. And he commands: "Get into the boat!" he said to the 12… and "This I command you, ‘Love one another’" Only one candle remained lighted, and then, whoosh, it was blown out and we sat stunned, in darkness. Even the sanctuary light was dark as, "He isn’t there"… What would life be like without Jesus Christ? And so I praised God for my faith. Let us pray, and let us tell the little ones who Jesus Christ is. He is life. He is Promise. He is the beginning and the end. He is God who knew our names when we were in the womb. He is the light that fills the darkness, if we allow it! People hate the light and they do not talk about it because the light commands obedience and love. "I command you… Love one another." Why is this day special, little one? Today is special because our brother by Baptism, let himself be taken by the powers of death and then he destroyed the chains of death that draw me down… that if I wish, and he does will this, that I will rise after death and join him in Paradise. Believe in Him. Get to know Him. I will show you how: just ask. God bless you.
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