Easter 2020/ “Out of the Ashes”
Easter 2020/ “Out of the Ashes”
On this Easter morning, we see symbols all around that remind us of the meaning of this day. One of them is the egg. We color them. We also exchange chocolate eggs. Another sign of the Resurrection is the butterfly. The insect that seems to never die. The butterfly goes from egg to larva to the butterfly. Butterflies spends much of their lives in cocoons. And then, they burst forth in a splash of colors.
Another one of the symbols of Easter is the Phoenix. The Phoenix is a myth that is found in cultures throughout the world. The Phoenix is found in ancient Egyptian mythology, in Greek legend and Chinese literature. The consistent story in all these folk tales is amazing.
The Phoenix was said to be a large bird that resembled an eagle. The Phoenix was the most beautiful of birds with colorful plumage. The majestic bird would soar through the sky. Everyone admired its strength and its vigor. The Phoenix only had one fatal flaw which was that it had no mate. Only one Phoenix lived at a time. Because of that, it had to reproduce itself in a unique way.
The Phoenix would live for at least 500 years. Some stories had it living three times that long. But eventually it came time for the Phoenix to die. When it died it went of to a mountain where it built a nest of herbs and incense. The nest would burst into flame. The Phoenix would lay down in the flame where it was consumed. But after that, as the smoke ascended the Phoenix would rise out of the ashes flying into the sky for all to see. The Phoenix still lived.
The Phoenix was a sign of immortality. Because it miraculously would die only to rise again repeatedly. The story of the Phoenix was connected to the Sun which sets in the west only to rise in the east each morning.
The legend of the Phoenix seems especially apropos for us this Easter morning, not only because we reflect on the resurrection of Jesus, but because of what we have been through these last six weeks.
Six short weeks ago we came together on Ash Wednesday. We began our Lent by having Ashes smeared on our heads. We committed ourselves to Penance. When we were marked with ashes, we were reminded that we have only a brief time on this earth. The ashes symbolized death. Each Lent we commit to dying to self so that others may live.
Little did we know what we would face this Lent when we began the Lenten discipline. Death has been all around us because of the pandemic we find ourselves in. Yesterday we crossed another grim milestone. We have seen 20,000 deaths in our country from COVAD 19. Tens of thousands of people are sick in the United States. The statistics are on our television screens like the Grim Reapers scorecard.
We also know that we have been staying at home in isolation. Millions of people have lost jobs. We take heart that in some places, infections have leveled off, but there is no end in sight. We grieve for many. Some hoped that Easter Sunday would mark the end of this scourge. Unfortunately, this Easter Sunday we will see another record day of deaths.
We stand before the tomb this Easter morning wondering how long our vigil will last. And we ask ourselves is the resurrection real? Can we believe in it? Can we hope in it?
If we were those apostles on Easter morning. If we came to the tomb to find the stone rolled away. If we walked down into the tomb? If we saw that the tomb was empty? If we saw the burial clothes lying there neatly in place would we retreat in confusion? Or, would we be like the beloved disciple, would we see and believe? Our faith is being sorely tested this Easter morning. Everything seems to be in flames. Ashes seems to be all there is. But will something rise out of the ashes?
Jesus promised us that it would. We are worshipping because we believe. We don’t understand, but we believe. We recall Pope Francis’ words at a general audience recently. He said:
“Who among us has not experienced insecurity, loss and even doubts on their journey of faith? Everyone! We’ve all experienced this, me too. It is part of the journey of faith, it is part of or lives. This should not surprise us, because we are human beings, marked by fragility and limitations. We are weak, we all have limits: do not panic. We all have doubts.” But that does not mean that we are not people of faith.
As Jesus said once, “Blessed are those who have not seen, but still believe.” Like the apostles we are bewildered as we look at what is happening in our world, but we worship because we want to believe.
Dear Parishioners,
Happy Easter. I would like to thank you for your Easter greetings this past week. It is nice to be remembered. Today, I would like you to pray in a special way for a nurse named Lisa who is in the hospital suffering from COVAD 19 virus. All our medical professionals need our prayers today as they face a challenging time in this crisis.
We are trying to keep people involved at home as we live stream Mass. We blessed Easter water today and we will be distributing it at the back door of the rectory. Come any time this week, there will be a box marked Easter Water.
I would encourage you to take the water now and used the blessing on the next page to bless your home. We could pray for health for all in our household.
I would also encourage you to put an Easter symbol (A butterfly) on your door. This will reassure people that there are Christians in the world who hope in the Resurrection. I pray all will have Blessed Easter.
May the Risen Lord bring reassurance to all who are struggling.
Fr. Mark
Blessing for the Home
The house and rooms and family may be sprinkled with holy water, a reminder of baptism during the Easter Season. The leader than speaks the prayer of Blessing:
Lord,
We rejoice in the victory of your Son over death: by rising from the tomb to new life he gives us new hope and promise. Bless all the members of this household and surround them with your protection, that they may find comfort and peace in Jesus Christ, the paschal lamb, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen