Since we are travellers and pilgrims in the world, let us ever ponder on the end of the road, that is of our life, for the end of our roadway is our home (St Columban, 8th sermon).
Showing posts with label Andrea del Verrocchio. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Andrea del Verrocchio. Show all posts
GospelJohn 20:19-31 (English Standard
Version, Anglicised)
On the evening of that day, the first day of the
week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ When he
had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were
glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As
the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.’ And when he had said this,
he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive
the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any,
it is withheld.’
Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was
not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen
the Lord’. But he said to them, ‘Unless I see in his hands the mark of the
nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into
his side, I will never believe.’
Eight days later, his disciples were inside again,
and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood
among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your
finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side.
Do not disbelieve, but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’
Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are
those who have not seen and yet have believed.’
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of
the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so
that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by
believing you may have life in his name.
It is true that Jesus says to St Thomas in today's Gospel, Do not disbelieve, but believe. But for many years I have thought that scholars and others have been unfair to this apostle. The expression 'Doubting Thomas' has come down to us in the English language to describe someone who is sceptical, who doesn't believe unless he sees.
That would describe Thomas at one level. But he said, Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe. He had the insight that if Jesus was truly risen he would carry the scars of his crucifixion. He seemed to grasp the extent of the sufferings of Jesus to redeem us sinners. And when he meets the Risen Lord eight days later he makes the most explicit act of faith in the whole Bible: My Lord and my God!
I learned this prayer when I was very young and it is part of the fibre of the Catholic faith here in Ireland. When the Mass promulgated in 1969 by Pope St Paul VI came out it introduced something new: the Acclamation after the Consecration. When the priest says The Mystery of Faith the people answer by singing or saying one of four acclamations. However, here in Ireland we have a fifth, the Act of Faith of St Thomas in today's Gospel: My Lord and my God! This is the one I always ask the people to use now when celebrating a public Mass, unless the choir has prepared one of the others acclamations. (The priest doesn't sing or say the acclamation as it belongs to the congregation / choir.)
When I was growing up the Mass was what's known now as the Traditional Latin Mass or 'TLM'. There were no official acclamations after the Consecration then but there was for me a very powerful unofficial one here in Ireland: the 'communal cough'. People literally held their breaths during the Consecration because they truly believed that through the power of the Holy Spirit acting through the priest the bread and wine became the Body and Blood of Christ, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity as we learned in kindergarten. After the elevation of the Precious Blood everyone coughed, letting out the tension of their awe-filled faith during the Consecration. This 'communal cough' was full, active participation in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and a deep expression of the faith of the whole community. The priest and people were fully united in worshipping God the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ.
In a meditation on the Easter Vigil published in Magnificat and also on Aleteiaon Thursday, English mystic Caryll Houselander (1901 - 1954) captured for me something of this awe, of the faith that people had in the reality of the bread and wine becoming the Body and Blood of Christ during the Mass. Here is the last part of her meditation. (Emphases are mine).
Once again bread and wine and water are brought into the sanctuary, and a Host is consecrated. At the elevation a peal of little bells rings out. It is not only worship of the soul, but the soul expressed through the body. The priest prostrates himself, beats his breast, lifts his arms up to heaven, makes the sign of the cross, speaks the mysterious words: 'This is my Body.' The congregation joins in this worship, and it is expressed by the body of each one: they know that when the words of consecration are spoken, the Word made flesh is there for each one of them; the same glory pours into the difficult worship of the old rheumatic woman at the back of the church as into the priest who is lifting up God in his hands. The glory of the Incarnation is equally in the aching of the old woman’s bones and the young priest’s ecstasy. The glory is not confined to the church where the Mass is offered: it extends in ring upon ring of light and circles the world.
St Thomas saw the glory of the Incarnation in the scars on the hands, feet and side of the Risen Lord. And his Act of Faith extends in ring upon ring of light and circles the world.
GospelJohn 20:19-31 (English Standard Version,
Anglicised)
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the
doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus
came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”When he
had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the
disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am
sending you.”And
when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.If you
forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness
from any, it is withheld.”
Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called
the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came.So the
other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to
them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my
finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will
never believe.”
Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was
with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them
and said, “Peace be with you.”Then he said
to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands;
and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my
God!”Jesus said to
him, “Have you believed because you have seen
me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Now Jesus did many other signs in the
presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;but
these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the
Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have
life in his name.
I carry a scar on one of my hips from surgery when I was 17. I can't
even remember which hip, without checking. But the scar is there, along with a couple of smaller
scars from accidents when I was young. I hardly ever think about them. But they
are there. St Thomas's instinct was right: Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe. He knew that if the Lord was truly
risen he would carry the scars of his suffering. And he carries them for all
eternity.
Scars are reminders of wounds that were. The Risen Body of
Christ carries the scars of his Passion and Crucifixion but they are no longer
wounds. But the Body of Christ that is the Church is being wounded
daily. The world that God created is being wounded daily. In the first reading
during the Easter Vigil (Genesis 1:27,31)
we heard these words: So God created man in his image,in the image of God he created him; male
and female he created them . . . God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. But today we see much that he had made and
that was very good destroyed or being destroyed. We see
countless persons created in his image, in the image of God, being
killed in endless conflicts. In 1 Cointhians 6:19-20 we
read: Or do you
not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you
have from God? You are not your own,for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in
your body.
On
Easter Monday 2017 four
members of a Catholic family were shot dead in
Quetta, Pakistan, by members of the so-called Islamic State. The victims
were Pervaiz Masih, Tariq Masih, Imran Masih and Firdous Bibi. They were killed because
each was a temple of the
Holy Spirit, a follower of Jesus, a Christian.
Pope Francis: Easter Sunday, Mass and Urbi et Orbi
In his Urbi et Orbi message last Sunday Pope Francis said [my emphases], The witnesses report an important detail: the risen Jesus bears the marks of the wounds in his hands, feet and side. These wounds are the everlasting seal of his love for us. All those who experience a painful trial in body or spirit can find refuge in these wounds and, through them, receive the grace of the hope that does not disappoint.
In his message Pope Francis spoke to a world deeply affected by the current Covid-19 pandemic that has turned our world upside-down in so many ways. Here, for example, are his words to young people: The risen Jesus is also hope for all those young people forced to go long periods without attending school or university, or spending time with their friends. Experiencing real human relationships, not just virtual relationships, is something that everyone needs, especially at an age when a person’s character and personality is being formed. We realized this clearly last Friday, in the Stations of the Cross composed by the children. I express my closeness to young people throughout the world and, in these days, especially to the young people of Myanmar committed to supporting democracy and making their voices heard peacefully, in the knowledge that hatred can be dispelled only by love.
These words about the importance of experiencing real human relationships resonates very strongly with me. A good friend who read these Sunday Reflections every week and occasionally posted a comment died unexpectedly on Holy Saturday. His name was Liam Hayden and we first met when we started in O'Connell Schools, Dublin, in 1951, in Second Class (Grade Two). We were both in the B section.
Liam Hayden
Liam and I were in different sections for most of the ten years we were in the school, and were friendly with each other, but not pals. I really came to know him as a friend after an unexpected encounter with him and his wife Moira in 1976 while home from the Philippines. I had spent a week with the Legion of Mary in Pewsey, Wiltshire, England, in the summer of 1966, when I was still in the seminary, and Moira was in our group. Liam and Moira met some years later through their involvement with the Legion of Mary and were utterly dedicated to the work of the Legion in Dublin, especially in the two hostels of the Legion in Dublin for people who are basically homeless, Morning Star Hostel for men and Regina Coeli Hostel for women.
Though Liam and I became close friends only as adults, the foundation of that friendship was our being classmates at the age of 8. So many youngsters throughout the world today are missing out on that experience, being wounded by that lack. Yet the scars that Jesus carries for all eternity are the everlasting seal of his love for us, as Pope Francis put it. And the pain of loss that Liam's wife, his six children and 30 grandchildren - and so many others - are now feeling will become in time scars which will be a reminder of the love of Jesus for them in this life through Liam as a husband, as a father, as a grandfather and as a friend especially of those on the fringes of society. Please remember Liam and his family in your prayers.
Perhaps we can consciously unite the wounds we presently carry with the wounded Jesus on the Cross and unite the scars we carry from previous wounds with the Risen Lord Jesus whom Thomas recognised by those very scars. And we can join St Thomas in that great act of faith, My Lord and my God.
Authentic beauty,
however, unlocks the yearning of the human heart, the profound desire to know,
to love, to go towards the Other, to reach for the Beyond.
The Glasgow Orpheus Choir had its origins in a working men's club in Glasgow, Scotland, and existed from 1901 until 1951 when Sir Hugh Roberton, its conductor for 50 years, retired. It was succeeded by the Glasgow Orpheus Choir. Sir Hugh wrote, The Orpheus was a real choir of real people, people big enough to dedicate themselves selflessly to a noble purpose, and it never took its audiences cheaply, nor did it ever descend to tricks or exhibitionism.
The Grimethorpe Colliery Band was formed in 1917 in South Yorkshire, England. Most of its members were full-time coal-miners. The colliery closed in 1992. The members now, as far as I know, are full-time musicians. There were many bands in Britain, like the Grimethorpe, connected with mines and with factories.
Sir Hugh, in his introduction to the song above, says of his own composition: I think the music fits the words, if it does not match them in excellence. It does indeed match them in excellence and can stand on its own, as the beautiful performance of the Grimethorpe Colliery Band shows.
I learned the original poem by Katharine Tynan Hinkson in Fourth Class (Grade Four) and the same year learned to sing it in our school choir under the direction of Mrs Agnes Boylan, the mother of Dom Eugene Boylan OCSO, the well-known spiritual writer. Mrs Boylan was in her 70s then and was like everyone's favourite grandmother, a person who took great delight in us and in the large flamboyant hats she always wore, like the late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother of England.
Readings(Jerusalem Bible: Australia,
England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan,
Scotland, South Africa)
GospelJohn 20:19 - 31 (New Revised Standard
Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition)
When it was
evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house
where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and
stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father
has sent me, so I send you.’ When he had said this,
he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if
you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’
But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus
came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’
But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put
my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.’
A
week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them.
Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace
be with you.’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my
hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen
me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his
disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that
Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may
have life in his name.
I carry a scar on one of my hips from surgery when I was 17. I can't even remember which hip. But the scar is there, along with a couple of smaller scars from accidents when I was young. I hardly ever think about them. But they are there. St Thomas's instinct was right: Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe. He knew that if the Lord was truly risen he would carry the scars of his suffering. And he carries them for all eternity. Scars are reminders of wounds that were. The Risen Body of Christ carries the scars of his Passion and Crucifixion but they are no longer wounds. But the Body of Christ that is the Church is being wounded daily. The world that God created is being wounded daily. In the first reading during the Easter Vigil (Genesis 1: 1 - 2:2) we heard these words: So God created humankindin his image,in the image of God he created them;male and female he created them . . . God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. But today we see much that he had made and that was very good destroyed or being destroyed. We see countless persons created in his image, in the image of God, being killed in endless conflicts. In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 we read: Or do you not know that your body is a templeof the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own?For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body. On Easter Monday this year four members of a Catholic family were shot dead in Quetta, Pakistan, by members of the so-called Islamic State. The victims were Pervaiz Masih, Tariq Masih, Imran Masih and Firdous Bibi. They were killed because each was a templeof the Holy Spirit, a follower of Jesus, a Christian.
After leading the recitation of the Regina Caelion Easter Monday 2015 (Regina Caeli replaces the Angelus during the Easter Season) Pope Francis spoke especially about the persecution of Christians today. He went so far as to say, They are our martyrs of today, and there are many; we can say that there are more than in the first century.
Today is the last day of the Easter Octave, which Pope Francis spoke about before reciting the Regina Caeli on that Easter Monday: We are in the days of the Octave of Easter, during which we accompany the joyful climate of the Resurrection. It is curious: the Liturgy considers the entire Octave as one single day, to help us to enter into the mystery, so that His grace is imprinted into our hearts and into our lives. Easter is the event that brought the radical novelty for every human being, for history and for the world: the triumph of life over death; it is the feast of reawakening and regeneration. Let us allow our existence to be conquered and transformed by the Resurrection!
As St Thomas believed when he saw the scars that Jesus carried after his Resurrection, may we see the wounds of the Body of Christ, the wounds of God's creation, the wounds of those made in the image of God, the wounds of so many persecuted Christians, each a temple of the Holy Spirit, so that we too may believe and say, My Lord and my God!
And may that faith be lived in tending the wounds of others - and allowing others to tend to our own wounds.
Regina caeli, laetare, alleluia
Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia,
Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia,
Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.
