Joy

Last week, I posted about the Easter Triduum, and that post was well-read; I'm glad that so many stopped by and got something out of it.

For me, having entered so deeply into the observance of Holy Week, contemplating the mystery of the Lord's Passion in its totality, and feeling the weight of my own cross, in a particular way in preparing for those celebrations, I was struck with awe at the Easter Vigil's proclamation of the resurrection - I got to share in those first disciples' wonder when the lights came on and we sung the Gloria and then celebrated the "fullness of time" and the height of the Paschal mystery in the Resurrection.

I also knew that my best friend was preparing to begin the Easter Vigil at her own parish, at which she would be baptized, confirmed, and receive Holy Communion for the first time. Our closeness first as academic colleagues and student leaders, which deepened into a supportive and trusting friendship, is now complemented by full communion in the Body of Christ, the Church, and it is an awesome occasion for rejoicing!

Yesterday I read a blog post (also from Easter Sunday) by an audacious student leader whom I met through the University Honors Program at Cal State Long Beach, someone whose talent for creative writing I've enjoyed via her blog. She has written about heartbreak and the challenges of law school as she chases her dreams, trying to hang on to good friends and cope with betrayal. But this time, she wrote about rediscovering her Catholic faith over the preceding several weeks, and the little old woman she refers to as her "Chicago abuelita" (Spanish for grandmother) who both inspired her and was inspired by her. This is the kind of story that likewise brings me joy and indeed the whole Church, in some mysterious way, is improved by this opening of one more heart, created for God's love, to receive it more fully.

And even further, I received an email from a young woman I met while studying abroad in Switzerland; it is a funny story. A colleague in the study-abroad program caught the train with me to Geneva one Sunday so that we could both attend our respective services. As he and I met up afterward and were beginning to look for a place to eat, two young women stopped us to ask for directions... we basically said that we were also new to the town and we hadn't yet seen the street they mentioned. When we parted ways, we had not taken but a few steps when we saw the street they were looking for, so we ran back to show them. It turns out they were also looking for a place to eat, that had been recommended them, and they invited us to join them. Brunch was fabulous and we swapped contact information; though they were Lebanese and in Switzerland for various reasons, it may have been somewhat odd to pretend that we might keep in touch. As it turns out, I have kept in touch with one of them over the almost 4 years now since we met there. Back to my point: I received this email from her this morning sharing a positive development in her personal life that gave her much joy, but more than just sharing in her happiness over her own situation, she also expressed a kind of zealous excitement in encouraging me to continue along this path of priestly formation, offering her prayers and thanking me for mine and those of my Dominican sister, and also taking inspiration from the parents of St. Therese de Lisieux in our common "fight for sanctity" (her words).

This convergence of so many causes for rejoicing, at the height of the Church's calendar and these moments of profound conversion and grace in the lives of these wonderful people really struck me this week!

I notice I've only spoken of women thus far (odd for a seminarian?)... two of my Oblate brothers also experienced some deeply moving events that were cause for rejoicing and which they shared with me over the past week: one, a recognition of how I participated (unknowingly) in his coming to terms with a serious event in his life, and another, just in the simple yet honest and deeply truthful sharing of our experience of growth in religious life.

It is said in the Gospels that there is much rejoicing in heaven over one repentant sinner than 99 righteous without need for repentance. It is also said that the whole Church feels both the sufferings and joys of each of its members, through the mysterious communion of the Body of Christ. This is something we can hear and ponder, but, because it is mystery, we often do not grasp its gravity. This week, I experienced very deeply the sense of ripples of joy spreading over the whole Church, humbly receiving them as the very real and profoundly impactful experiences of these particular people that I know. The element of suffering is, unfortunately, present as well, and I ask that you please join me in prayer for those who have died recently, among them, the sister of a brother Oblate, who lived a full life and leaves him as the only survivor of his immediate family; and the grandmother of a college dorm-mate; may they rest in peace.

Now, like Mary at the Finding of Jesus in the temple, let us "ponder these things" in our hearts, and look forward, with Easter Joy, to the coming of the Holy Spirit and the commemoration of the birth of the Church, who we are!

Love the Immaculata!
Mariam cogita, Mariam invoca