A Week Both Holy And Wholesome

To the Editor,

For millions of the world’s people, we are in the midst of the most reflective, discussed, inspiring, somber, yet happy weeks of the year. Imagine, a person hailed as royalty on a Sunday with palm branches and halleluias, communing at Passover with his friends on the following Thursday – friends whom he would eventually commission to perform the most powerful works yet seen by humanity (JN. 14/14) – healing, teaching, encouraging, loving, forgiving, feeding, sheltering, cleansing. Consider this man who, on a Friday named “Good,” would endure a terrible trail and indignation before being stretched out on a cross of wood which he himself had carried. At the end of that journey, he would be nailed to, and raised upon, that cross, be mocked and observed to die – continuing to ask forgiveness for his persecutors, not for the Jews nor only for the Romans and their judicial system, but for all sinners, including ourselves.

We know, thank God (and only God), that the story did not end there. A new day of the Lord would come called Easter Sunday… with the witnesses’ focusing on an empty tomb, and, in spite of its name, celebrating not the sun but “The Son.” It is through the spirit of this Son and in His Name that we, and all of our ancestors, as well as all of those who will follow in our steps and inherit the faith, will be lifted up – on the last day. In this spirit of Easter and Passover, may we now be open to serve all who keep finding empty tombs (in the greater Newtown area) and bring them to the fullness of life’s meaning (both wholeness and holiness). Amen, Alleluia, Amen!

The Reverend Leo McIlrath

Corpus Christi: a catholic community

13 Sugarloaf Road, Sandy Hook                                   April 18, 2000