Month: April 2021

Easter Blessings from the Marist Brothers Center in Esopus

I enjoyed an early walk to the river this morning to watch the night become day and welcome into my life the hope that Jesus has risen and that we must live in hope. As I reflected on the journey of Jesus during these Holy days, many thoughts came to my mind. As we celebrated the liturgy of Holy Thursday, the annual ritual of the washing of the feet could not take place because of Covid restrictions. That ritual has always been my favorite part of the Tridiuum as it reminds us of how Jesus calls each of us to be true servant leaders. It was the only time that Jesus ever symbolically put on any vestment and the vestment that he chose to put on during that Last Supper was an apron. We too are called to be similar servants and must likewise embrace a church of the apron. 

As I walked the stations of the cross on Friday around our Brothers’ cemetery with my fellow Brothers and Lay Marists, I prayed in particular for three groups of people. First, as we reflected on the first station of Jesus being condemned, I thought about the countless children on our borders who have been condemned and separated from their families and placed in temporary prisons and other detention centers. Why should such innocent young children have to suffer this cruelty?

At the fifth station, when Simon helps Jesus carry his cross, I reflected on the many health care workers and first responders who have like Simon helped carry the terrible cross of Covid and walk with so many who have suffered and died from it. So many of these heroes will never known for the courageous and loving acts they performed over this past year, but they have witnessed for all of us how the gospel can be lived in one’s daily life.

Finally at the twelfth when remember Jesus’ death on the cross, I recalled the names of so many connected to our Marist Province that have died from the cross that Covid continues to be in our world. Later that day, I prayed at the graves of three of our Brothers buried in our cemetery who each died from Covid. Rest In Peace dear Bob, Gene and Don.

Yesterday during my morning walk, I prayed for so many in our world who face daily despair and wait in hope for signs of New Life. Our Homeless Brothers and Sisters so often are folks that daily live in a somewhat re-occurring tomb and wait for their heavy stones to be pushed back so that they might once again enjoy life.

But this morning as I watched the brilliant sunrise colors reflect and dance upon the Hudson River, I was only filled with hope and peace knowing our Lord truly is alive and walks with each of us. Let us live and be the Easter message of hope to all we know in the days ahead. Let us try to be a small flashlight in an often dark world. Let our song be one of rejoicing and Alleluia as we have so much to be grateful for in our lives.

Last night our national news reported yet another mass gun shooting in our country. This latest tragedy occurred in California and included a 9-year-old victim who died in the arms of his mother. I continue to be deeply saddened that we as a nation still do not value the life of so many innocent people, especially children, enough to demand the needed change in our national gun laws that might finally reduce the far too often mass shootings that continue to cripple our country. When will we learn and say enough is enough? How many more innocent and precious children will die from gun shootings before we finally act? 

As I went to bed last night, I prayed for that poor mother who lived through yesterday’s massacre while embracing her dying boy. I couldn’t help but also reflect on Mary, who on Good Friday many years ago, likewise held here innocent and bloodied dead son in her arms.  I prayed for Mary to give this grieving mother in California the strength to face the difficult days before her as she buries her son.

Many of us today will walk the stations of the cross as a way of remembering Jesus’ passion and suffering for us. His willingness to accept that faithful journey to Calvary allows us to move forward in hope that even in the midst of death, despair and overwhelming tragedies that Resurrection is still possible. We cannot have Easter Sunday morning without embracing the cross we celebrate today on this Good Friday. 

As we prayerfully walk those stations today and reflect on the life of our Lord, let us carry with us the needs of so many in our country and world who are themselves walking their own Calvary journey every day. As we ponder on our own journeys, let us pray that we might choose to be like Mary and follow Jesus even on the road to Calvary. She faithfully watched and endured Jesus’ Good Friday journey. She did not flee or abandon Jesus out of fears like many of the apostles but stood by that cross until He was taken down and placed in her loving and waiting arms. As we walk this Good Friday, let us do so as people who are not afraid to give witness to the power of the cross as we have come to know and believe that without it, we will not be able to enjoy the promise that the tombstone will indeed be opened on Easter morning and Christ will again be able to live in our hearts.