Communication with Visitors* Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on us! April 1, Easter Monday (P.S. April 12) Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, Happy Easter! As the season of Lent draws to a close we fasten our attention upon Easter. We wish one another a Happy Easter, or Joyous Easter, or a Blessed Easter. By such a greeting we imply a turn from the weariness, the sin-awareness, the grief-laden, the dark-shrouded, the shame felt sorrow-burdened days of the Lent to the lightsome, heart-warm, soul-freed, strength filled, joy enhanced, love abounding day of Easter. On this day we exultingly cry, "This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad!" A day only the Lord can make; and so He did out of the love for the creatures created in His own image and likeness. On this day we shout, "Alleluia." This according to the Book of Revelation is the cry of the saints in heaven. At Easter it becomes the chant of Christian men and women here on earth. In this fashion does earth join heaven in its praise of God. What better, then, can we do, in this Easter Season, indeed, in all seasons, than fulfil the apt saying of St. Augustine, "A Christian should be an Alleluia from head to foot." Michael Lapierre, S.J. P.S. (April 12) During the week following the Easter Octave the Gospel readings center for the most part on the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus. Of Nicodemus we know little or nothing apart from what the writer of the Fourth Gospel tells us. Nicodemus was a Jew of some rank, a member of the Sanhedrin, and of the sect of the Pharisees. He comes Jesus by night not in hostile or aggressive but rather in an docile inquisitive manner to obtain some understanding of what he had heard and seen Jesus do. Jesus took at pains to set him right. He points out to Nicodemus what he needs to become his disciple, indicates to him the change of mind and heart required should he decide to accept his teaching and possess the life offered by the Father in the mission of his Son to this world. We do not know for certain what Nicodemus finally decided. We do know that on one occasion he came to the support of Jesus in declaring to his fellow members of the Sanhedrin, "According to our law we cannot condemn a man before hearing him and finding out what he has done." We also know that on the day of Jesus's crucifixion he, bearing "about one hundred pounds of spices, a mixture of myrrh and aloes, went with Joseph of Arimathea to prepare the body of Jesus for burial. The indications are, then, that Nicodemus was well disposed to Jesus and considered him by reason of his works to be one sent by God, but none that he was born anew into that life given us in the Spirit. While we admire his zeal for and quest of the truth, we leave him in his possession of it to the mercy of our loving and compassionate God.. * Fr. Michael Lapierre, S.J., and the editor John Cheng are currently taking part in this column. While the latter is doing January, March, May, etc., the former is partaking in February, April, June, etc. As usual, we take a summer break during July and August. The hymn in the background here is entitled "Let Heaven Rejoice And Earth Be Glad". Alleluia!
April 1, Easter Monday (P.S. April 12)
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Happy Easter! As the season of Lent draws to a close we fasten our attention upon Easter. We wish one another a Happy Easter, or Joyous Easter, or a Blessed Easter. By such a greeting we imply a turn from the weariness, the sin-awareness, the grief-laden, the dark-shrouded, the shame felt sorrow-burdened days of the Lent to the lightsome, heart-warm, soul-freed, strength filled, joy enhanced, love abounding day of Easter. On this day we exultingly cry, "This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad!" A day only the Lord can make; and so He did out of the love for the creatures created in His own image and likeness. On this day we shout, "Alleluia." This according to the Book of Revelation is the cry of the saints in heaven. At Easter it becomes the chant of Christian men and women here on earth. In this fashion does earth join heaven in its praise of God.
What better, then, can we do, in this Easter Season, indeed, in all seasons, than fulfil the apt saying of St. Augustine, "A Christian should be an Alleluia from head to foot."
Michael Lapierre, S.J.
P.S. (April 12)
During the week following the Easter Octave the Gospel readings center for the most part on the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus. Of Nicodemus we know little or nothing apart from what the writer of the Fourth Gospel tells us. Nicodemus was a Jew of some rank, a member of the Sanhedrin, and of the sect of the Pharisees. He comes Jesus by night not in hostile or aggressive but rather in an docile inquisitive manner to obtain some understanding of what he had heard and seen Jesus do. Jesus took at pains to set him right. He points out to Nicodemus what he needs to become his disciple, indicates to him the change of mind and heart required should he decide to accept his teaching and possess the life offered by the Father in the mission of his Son to this world. We do not know for certain what Nicodemus finally decided. We do know that on one occasion he came to the support of Jesus in declaring to his fellow members of the Sanhedrin, "According to our law we cannot condemn a man before hearing him and finding out what he has done." We also know that on the day of Jesus's crucifixion he, bearing "about one hundred pounds of spices, a mixture of myrrh and aloes, went with Joseph of Arimathea to prepare the body of Jesus for burial. The indications are, then, that Nicodemus was well disposed to Jesus and considered him by reason of his works to be one sent by God, but none that he was born anew into that life given us in the Spirit. While we admire his zeal for and quest of the truth, we leave him in his possession of it to the mercy of our loving and compassionate God..
* Fr. Michael Lapierre, S.J., and the editor John Cheng are currently taking part in this column. While the latter is doing January, March, May, etc., the former is partaking in February, April, June, etc. As usual, we take a summer break during July and August. The hymn in the background here is entitled "Let Heaven Rejoice And Earth Be Glad". Alleluia!