Mountain Top Moments

Basking in the glow of the resurrection

04/22/2019

Matthew 28:8-15 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce the news to his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had happened. The chief priests assembled with the elders and took counsel; then they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep.’ And if this gets to the ears of the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” The soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has circulated among the Jews to the present day.

We have just concluded a truly extraordinary Holy Week, and I would like to hit a few highlights. Indeed, our whole Christian life we do nothing but hit highlights of Holy Week because anything good that happens in our lives always flows from the events of that wondrous week. If we step back and survey the liturgical landscape we’ll see that Holy Week is the mountain top of the whole year, in the sense that everything before leads up to it, and everything after flows down from it. The Catholic calendar year begins with Advent and the Birth of Jesus in Bethlehem at Christmas. That’s a sort of spiritual sea level. But the year gradually grows and intensifies through Lent into Holy Week and finally reaches the apex and zenith at the Resurrection. That’s our spiritual Mount Everest. The rest of the year we’re climbing down as we go through Pentecost, Ordinary Time and finally the Feast of Christ the King, the last Sunday before Advent. That is the larger landscape where we walk. Now let me hit five highlights of the five major moments of Mount Everest.

First, Palm Sunday commenced Holy Week with the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, the City of David, because he’s the heir to the throne. Our Lord rides in as king, the son of David, but he’s a humble king because he’s on the back of a donkey. All the triumphalism of Palm Sunday is touched with tragedy.  Jesus knows well where this week will lead: the cruelty of the crucifixion. I love Palm Sunday because the church is packed at all the Masses. Whenever we give something away for free, like palm branches, the people line up for miles. But I’m glad they come, whatever their motives, because we’re cresting the mountain top.

Second, on Monday we celebrated the Chrism Mass at the Cathedral in Little Rock. I love the chance to see all my brother priests in the diocese, whom I don’t see for most of the year. We’re spread out all over the state. Did you know there are 132 priests serving over 155,911 Catholics in Arkansas? Of those 132 priests, 97 are diocesan (like me) and 35 are religious (like the Benedictines, for instance). I also learned that the average age of the clergy in our diocese is 49. I knew I was an average priest, but I didn’t think I was that average. We are blessed with truly holy priests. They are not perfect priests, but they love the Lord and they love his people. The priests are the sherpas that carry our bags to the top of the mountain; we’d never see the peek without our priests.

Thirdly, we celebrated Holy Thursday, and the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. On that blessed night the Lord Jesus celebrated Passover (like a devout Jew) and left two great gifts for his Church: the Eucharist of his Body and Blood, and the institution of the priesthood. The two are inextricably linked. If there’s one thing priests should do well, even if we screw up everything else, it is celebrate the Mass. In virtually every sacristy in the world hangs a little inspirational quotation that says: “Priest of God, celebrate this Mass as if it were you first Mass, as if it were your last Mass, as if it were your only Mass.” That’s why I prepare a homily for every Mass: what if this is my last Mass? Every Mass should feel like a mountain top moment for a Catholic.

Fourthly, we entered Good Friday and the Passion of our Savior, his saving and savage death on the Cross. Here at I.C., we always have an English service at 3 p.m., and a Spanish service at 5 p.m. This year the Spanish service actually took four hours, so naturally, I let Fr. Stephen take it. He truly felt some sacrifice on Good Friday. Even though our English service is in the middle of the work day, the church was packed. Why? Well, because our people wanted to crowd on the mountain top of Golgotha, where God’s love for us becomes naked for all the world to see. Jesus said in John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for his friends.”

And fifthly and finally, Holy Saturday, the Easter Vigil and Resurrection Sunday. As you know, our beloved former pastor, Msgr. John O’Donnell passed away on Holy Saturday. That lovable and laughing Irishman got the last laugh, though, as he celebrated Good Friday on earth, but Easter Sunday in heaven. Also at the Easter Vigil, which Fr. Stephen flawlessly conducted, we welcomed 21 new Catholics into the fold. I am sure they all feel like they are standing on the mountain top today.

My friends, as we begin our descent down the mountain, don’t forget where you have been last week. Remember the mountain top moments, especially when you are walking through the valley of tears.

Praised be Jesus Christ!