Easter

What does it mean to say that “Jesus is risen?” A translation, perhaps adapted especially for non-believers could be, “hope exists.” 

Jesus, I Trust in You

If we look deeply beneath all of our disordered desires, our brokenness and our selfish concerns what we discover ultimately is the hope that there exists unconditional love. Not only that unconditional love exists but that it is eternal and does not end after this life. The Easter proclamation that “Jesus Christ is risen” fulfills this hope deep within us. 

In many of the Resurrection accounts in the New Testament those to whom Jesus appears to are often found afraid (Mt 28:5), amazed (Mk16:5), seized with trembling and bewilderment (Mk 16:8), terrified (Lk:24:5), downcast (Lk 24:17), near despair (Lk 24:21), weeping (Jn 20:15) and lacking in faith (20:25). After their encounter with the Risen Lord they are all transformed from within because the ultimate hope of their souls is confirmed. Unconditional love exists and has blasted through space and time and is available to us for all eternity. How can one not be overwhelmed with joy at such good news?

God bless you,
Fr. Jeremiah Myriam Shryock, CFR

Sacred Heart Friary
Ft. Worth, TX
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Resurrection Musings: Christ’s Return

It’s a unique experience to live with Jesus. As friars our friaries (yes, that’s really what they’re called) all carry a chapel, and our chapels, of course, all house a tabernacle: this is where Jesus is present in the Eucharist always. In a real and mysterious way—a really mysterious way at that—we live under the same roof as the Lord. After having that experience for days and weeks and months and years, I’ve found that if I’m away for some time, I do miss Him very much. In fact, I’ve come to say that “home is where the tabernacle is” because Jesus is home. 

Yet, there comes a dreadful time every year when Jesus leaves. We are left alone in a friary with an empty chapel—with no Jesus. After Mass on Holy Thursday through Good Friday all the way until the evening of Holy Saturday, the chapel is stark, empty and easily avoided. Of course, it’s not without reason that we do this, and not just us but all Catholic Churches around the world; we enter into that severe, barren time in the history of the world when Jesus died. And this is the fruit: love—clinging-to-his-flesh and kissing-his-wounds kind of love of the resurrection! One year I was so overcome by joy and gratitude that I could hardly sit still in the chapel and I kept penning little reflections conveying this moment, a moment that history felt once and continues to feel like the happy waking from a recurring nightmare whenever one enters into the reality that death is more a beginning than an end. 

This is one such musing: 

To see you again, Jesus! I was without compass in your absence—no bearings, no hopes—restless and lonely. But you’re here now, and heaven is in reach; like an orphaned child, I am reaching. Lord, having you back in the tabernacle gives me reason to smile again. My heart quickens and I can laugh again. 

O mighty Resurrection, descend into my little heart that I may be transformed; a new creation, a new man alive with new life in a new way—living and new! 

Everything is different today, and I will never be the same again.

+ Br. Joseph Michael Fino, CFR
Most Blessed Sacrament Friary
Newark, NJ
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Holy Saturday

Your blood has finally dried upon your tired and mangled body. There is nothing left for you to give, you have been poured out to the point of death. It is finished. 

Pietà by Michelangelo, c. 1498

The beauty of your eyes has faded. The gentleness of your hands has been forgotten. The serenity of your smile has been extinguished. Could you still be our God? 

Who could have ever predicted it would end like this? Your passion has stolen all of our words. In you was all our joy, all our hope for life, and the answer to the question of our life. What you have revealed no man could ever fathom, you the eternal paradise, the place of infinite rapture . Now we wait like madmen, not knowing who we are, not knowing what will happen to us. Each second is an agonizing mystery and we die a thousand deaths reliving yesterdays nightmare. My God awake, come back and save us! Do not leave us in this wretched state of despair.

God bless you,
Fr. Jeremiah Myriam Shryock, CFR

Sacred Heart Friary
Ft. Worth, TX
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Good Friday

How can one adequately understand this day? It transcends our ability to comprehend. The absence of candles, holy water and the Eucharist in church sends a shock to our senses. He who is the “way, the truth and the life,” is gone. He has been betrayed, scourged, crowned with thorns and executed as if He was a criminal guilty of the most heinous crimes.

Tauberbischofsheimer Altar by Matthias Grünewald, c. 1523

Behold the love of God! A bruised and naked body, bloodied and gasping for air. He is an embarrassment to the crowds, a blasphemer to the Jews, a criminal to the Romans, yet to His mother and a few others He remains the savior of the world. 

Who then is this God? 

He is not the God we expect Him to be. He is quiet, docile, obedient and subject to human authority. We expect a God who is more like a warrior; instead we have a God who is a servant. We expect a God who would annihilate his enemies, yet He does not even fight back or say a word against them. It is only faith that can penetrate these depths. Our human intelligence stands before the Passion of Christ and humbly bows down in confusion.

God bless you,
Fr. Jeremiah Myriam Shryock, CFR

Sacred Heart Friary
Ft. Worth, TX
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The Garden—late, Thursday

Night’s come.

        From  root-ruptured earth, tired and split

Emerges a trunk—rough, darkened and stiff

I recline. The numbing scent of olives sweet

Unknots my muscles, though still, I cannot dream.

Dark are the moon-shadows stretching through the trees

Dim are their leaves and I am fast asleep

Quiet stirs—and I come awake—the night is strange

So strange…these heavy eyes can only wane.

And slow the moon-beams grow as shadows creep

What is this fatigue, this oppressive sleep?

Awake my soul. Let us awake the dawn

Get up, I say, before the hour’s gone!

Yet slumber cradles me in mangled roots

It’s come—the thief—and I can’t seem to move.

+ Br. Joseph Michael Fino, CFR

Most Blessed Sacrament Friary

Newark, NJ

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John 13:1-15 Holy Thursday

The Lord of all creation bends down to wash the feet of his disciples. How embarrassed they must have felt, confused, insecure and ashamed by the great “kenosis” that was occurring before them. Peter’s refusal, “you will never wash my feet,” seems not only appropriate but even necessary. Is it not man who should be serving God rather than God serving man? Is it not man who should be humble and lowly before God and not God being humble and lowly before man? God’s ways are never our ways. 

Isn’t this the “scandalous” truth of the Eucharist? God remains lowly and humble, stripped of his glory, silent and obedient before us. To our senses He is unrecognizable, yet God penetrates beneath our senses. In the Eucharist, with the eyes of faith, God speaks softly to our souls, he “washes” us again and again in the hopes that we can believe more firmly in this God who has emptied himself. What is true of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples is true of the Eucharist. His power lies in his humility, and his beauty is a self-offering that is complete, so much so that our eyes need to be readjusted and our hearts softened so as to see the glory that is before us.

God bless you,
Fr. Jeremiah Myriam Shryock, CFR

Sacred Heart Friary
Ft. Worth, TX
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A True Understanding of Judas

Wednesday of Holy Week is called Spy Wednesday because it commemorates the day Judas went to the Sanhedrin to confirm the plot to betray Jesus. It seems that Lady Gaga has taken the opportunity to release a twisted song about her love of Judas.

The Taking of Christ by Caravaggio, c. 1602

The mystery of Judas is very deep. Over the years many people have tried to expound on what happened with this iconic betrayer. The 1971 Rock Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, is another modern example which gets Judas wrong. Some people mistakenly think that poor Judas was doomed by fate and had no choice - a mere pawn.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church offers an important clarification of the issue:

"Jesus' violent death was not the result of chance in an unfortunate coincidence of circumstances, but is part of the mystery of God's plan, as St. Peter explains to the Jews of Jerusalem in his first sermon on Pentecost: 'This Jesus [was] delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God.'

This Biblical language does not mean that those who handed him over were merely passive players in a scenario written in advance by God. To God, all moments of time are present in their immediacy. When therefore he establishes his eternal plan of 'predestination', he includes in it each person's free response to his grace:

'In this city, in fact, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.' For the sake of accomplishing his plan of salvation, God permitted the acts that flowed from their blindness" (## 599, 600).

Seen in this light, there might be a deeper meaning to Judas. Could it be that our merciful Jesus was doing everything possible to win Judas back even before the betrayal? At the Last Supper Jesus mentioned the betrayal out loud. He also performed an affectionate gesture of offering a hand dipped morsel to Judas. This might have been Jesus reaching out to Judas, inviting him to rethink the satanic plans of his heart.

Judas and Peter both betray Jesus. Both Judas and Peter were remorseful for their betrayal. Peter's humble repentance leads to mercy and forgiveness. Judas' prideful remorse seems to lead to despair. Like Judas and Peter, we all betray Jesus every time we sin. Let us pray for the grace of true contrition for our sins, a contrition which leads to mercy and forgiveness!

Have a blessed Holy Triduum,
Fr. Luke Mary Fletcher, CFR
St. Joseph Friary, New York, New York

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Fasting From My Modern-Day Idols (part 2 of 3)

Some ‘good habits’ which I might want to start cultivating in my life may include:

Prayer: time alone in prayer, praying with others, praying prayers I really enjoy, praying in the car instead of radio/music, getting to a daily Mass or 2 in the week, Adoration (1 hr./wk.?), Rosary, Mercy Chaplet, listing things I’m grateful for & thanking God for them, sharing your frustrations & joys with Jesus, journaling, crying, kneeling, silence, Stations of the +, visiting a church, a priest or a religious.

Spiritual Food: reading the Bible (try James, Esther, 1st John, Luke, Job, or the Psalms) & a spiritual book, listening to a spiritual CD, silence, going on retreat, pilgrimage, visiting a religious community,

Relationships: time with family/spouse/children/parents/g-parents, etc., quality time with a friend (take a walk or drive, share a meal), re-connecting with someone I really should, reaching out to a person who needs it, asking forgiveness, praying for grace to forgive someone, expressing forgiveness, writing a letter, loving others.

These are just a few ideas. Let’s get started!

+Br. Philip Maria Allen, CFR
Most Blessed Sacrament Friary
Newark, NJ

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The Pope We Need

Amidst the eager anticipation of last week’s papal conclave, people all over the world “weighed in” as to what qualities the new Holy Father would need to possess. Certainly there is something natural about this. In fact, for the Cardinal-electors, those discussions were necessary. We live in a particular time with its own particular cultural, economic, socio-political and religious questions. The Church needs to grapple with these questions so that, led by the new Pope, she may preach the gospel to our modern age in a way that is intelligible and fruitful.

However, many of the pre-conclave discussions, both among the media and among faithful Catholics, devolved into lists of “papal-probables” and sure-fire predictions based heavily upon human understanding. Then, Pope Francis appeared on the balcony and it became clear that the Holy Spirit had not consulted our lists! It was a great reminder that God’s ways are not our ways! Though Cardinal Bergoglio was not at the top of too many lists, we were immediately won over by this seemingly humble, serene, and joyful man who greeted us with an affectionate, warm smile and the words “Buona Serra.” Indeed, Pope Francis is a living sign of the goodness, poverty and simplicity of his namesake, St. Francis of Assisi, and his embrace of the Franciscan spirit is an inspiration to the Church and to people everywhere!

The pope is not like the President of a country who runs for office or the CEO of a multi-national corporation who has climbed the corporate ladder. Rather, he is the Vicar of Christ on earth chosen by the Holy Spirit ultimately to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the coming of the Kingdom of God! I can think of no better way of doing this than leading the Church in the footsteps of the poor man of Assisi! Que Viva el Papa!

Pax et bonum,
Fr. Isaac Mary Spinharney, CFR
St. Joseph Friary
Harlem, NY

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Smoke and Fire

With all of the recent attention on the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, it is a good time to remember that "Where there's smoke, there's fire!" The white smoke indicates that we have a Pope. That smoke is caused by the fire of the Holy Spirit! The Church is the fireplace that holds the fire.

When Jesus established His Church, He included the office of leadership. The Pope is the Vicar or representative of the Lord. The Holy Spirit is at work in a special way through the office of the Papacy. All of this is God's design and hard to understand apart from faith. In Matthew 16 we see that the first Pope, Simon Peter, was guided by God the Father in proclaiming the truth about Jesus, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!" The Holy Spirit has been guiding Peter ever since!

Let us pray for Pope Francis! Saint Francis pray for him!

Praise the Lord!

Fr. Luke Mary Fletcher, CFR

St. Joseph Friary

Harlem, NY

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Fasting From My Modern-Day Idols (part 1 of 3)

If you’re like me, you may wonder: “What can I fast from or do this Lent that will make a lasting difference in my life?”

Some bad habits to begin breaking could be:

Texting (seriously? Yes!), game-playing (all kinds!), looking in the mirror, internet surfing, dilly-dallying, driving too fast, dressing immodestly, lust/porn, TV, music, gossip, judging, shopping, negativity, jealousy, curiosity, backbiting, complaining, wasting time, impatience, self-pity, self-love, indulging, smoking/drinking, talking on my phone (or just talking), disrespect & wrath, fretting, temper, being ‘picky’, road rage; my favorite ‘devices’ on which I’m WAY too dependent, “on-line time”, bad company, occasions of sin, staying away from church, confession, my spouse or children; my own thoughts, desires, will & “getting my own way”; MYSELF!!

If I’m too hard on myself, I should stop; if I’m a lazy lout, it’s time to get moving! What are some of your modern-day “idols?”

+Br. Philip Maria Allen, CFR
Most Blessed Sacrament Friary
Newark, NJ
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Measure Your Holiness: a quick (& accurate) test!

I was deeply convicted listening to a recent homily by a priest who
said: “You really only know ‘how holy’ you are or ‘how much you love
God’ by how much you love & pray for those you like the least (i.e.
your ‘enemies’).”

Whether it is a prominent public official, a co-worker, or even a family
member, ‘that’ person at the mere mention of whose name causes your
heart to tremble & blood pressure to skyrocket – am I praying for them?
Daily? By name? At Mass & in my Rosary? Offering sacrifices for them?
Making time to reach out to them? Doing what I would do for the person
who is most dear to me? Willing to DIE for them to help save their soul??!
Even if I don’t like it, the truth is: that IS the ‘measure’ of my love, the
measure of my holiness!! (*gulp* – YIKES!)

Not all my ‘good deeds’ or even my ‘good intentions’ will determine my
final judgment in God’s sight; but my love for the ‘least ones’ in my life
is essential. For Jesus said: “‘…Love your enemies and pray for those
who persecute you… For if you love those who love you, what reward
have you?’” (Mt 5:44, 46a) & “‘Truly, I say to you, as you did to one of
the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’” (Mt 25:40b) [RSV].
Lord Jesus, help me to love as You loved – preferring others to myself
and giving myself totally to all without counting the cost. Please grant
me this grace, for without Your Divine Mercy this is impossible. +Amen.

+Br. Philip Maria Allen, CFR
Most Blessed Sacrament Friary
Newark, NJ
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