The
resurrection did not make breaking news on CNN. After he rose from the dead,
Jesus was seen by some, but not by others; understood by some, but not by
others. Some got his meaning and it changed their lives, others were
indifferent to him, and still others understood what had happened, hardened
their hearts against it, and tried to destroy its truth.
Why
this difference? What makes some people see the resurrection while others do
not? What lets some understand the mystery and embrace it, while others are
left in indifference or hatred?
Hugo
of St. Victor used to say: Love is the eye! When we look at anything through
the eyes of love, we see correctly, understand, and properly appreciate its
mystery. The reverse is also true. When we look at anything through eyes that
are jaded, cynical, jealous, or bitter, we will not see correctly, will not
understand, and will not properly appreciate its mystery.
Two weeks ago, volunteers
from our parish cooked a homemade pork and mashed potato meal for the
“gentlemen,” the inmates from Attica. They have worked hard for seven months to
remodel and restore the rectory, stain glass windows of the church and the
parish school.
There darkness was the
consequences of their drug addiction, losing their freedom, not being with
their loved ones. However, on this special morning, the ladies of our parish
gave these men back their dignity and offered them the love of this community.
You should have seen the surprise on their faces as the homemade food was being
passed around the tables. A lightness came across their faces as they were
being fed real food from the hands of real people who offered it with the eye
of love. As one inmate remarked: “homemade beats prison food anytime.”
What characterizes Holy
Family Catholic Community is it oddness. Holy Family is home for people who are
out of step, unfashionable, and unconventional. Hanging in the air throughout
this catholic church is the heavenly smell of incense mingled with the piggy fragrance
of sweaty hardworking farmers and a messy shepherd who gets stuck in manure.
Christ is risen, though we might not see him. The
miraculous doesn’t force itself on us. It’s there, there to be seen, but
whether we see or not, and what precisely we do see, depends mainly upon what’s
going on inside our own hearts.
Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends that
they have the eye of love and
believe that He has risen. Blessed Easter to each of you and all the
members of your family.
