Living as Easter People

As we prepare for the Fifth Sunday of Easter, it was last year on the Fifth Sunday of Easter that our Holy Father, Pope Leo presided over the Mass which marked the beginning of his Papacy. Since then we have come to know a leader who is thoughtful, kind, deliberative, and wise. He is a man who can appear quiet and reserved or filled with a sense of humor. Above all he is man who is continuing in the line of Saint Peter, the first Pope, and leading the Church into an era of great hope and growth. Let us be united in thanking the Holy Spirit for the tremendous gift of sending him to lead our Church. 

As I write this, Father Dan, Mr. Bell, our school principal, and I have just returned from a day spent with the other pastors with a school, the principals, our Bishop, and some Diocesan staff. The day was spent mostly listening to a speaker who shared thoughts about incorporating the “Catholic World View” or “Catholic Intellectual Tradition” in our schools. The presentation was quite philosophical in content, but we were reminded that the Catholic educational system is the oldest, most comprehensive, and universal of all educational traditions. The speaker reminded us that the goal of Catholic education is to form people who understand and practice the art of contemplation. This includes a willingness to ask hard questions, understand the true nature of happiness, form oneself to be disciplined, and to live a life of virtue. I have to admit the speaker was one of the most challenging speakers I have listened to in quite a few years. He took most of us who are priests back to the years when we studied philosophy. Though the purpose of his presentation was to help us see what a Catholic School curriculum ought to look like, in the Catholic tradition, he also provided insights that we can use to reflect on how we personally are living our lives.

Being near the middle of the Easter season, it might be good to ask ourselves how the Easter season is going. While we generally have little trouble remembering when we are in the midst of Lent, the Easter Season can easily go by the wayside. At our day with the principals and pastors with schools, we had Mass with our Bishop. He used his homily to remind us that we are both in the Easter Season, but are also Easter People. He asked if we were still wishing people a “Happy Easter” and suggested that this is a greeting we could use anytime during the year. While the Easter Season is not penitential, as is Lent, we should still find ways to mark the season: prayer, celebration of the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist, and reading the Bible are particularly good Easter Season practices. Remember a few weeks ago when we read at Sunday Mass the story of two of Jesus’ disciples walking on the road near the place called Emmaus? We talked about how Jesus was recognized as he spoke with them (Prayer), in the Breaking of Bread (Eucharist), as he interpreted Scripture for them (Reading the Bible). We too can find ourselves recognizing Jesus as we participate in these great Easter Season practices. 

Finally, as I prepare to sign off for the night (when I often write these columns), watch for details for a Pilgrimage to Rome, Assisi, Siena, and Florence next April. I am joining with Father John Anderson, the Pastor at Immaculate Conception in New Richmond and Saint Patrick in Erin Prairie, to lead a pilgrimage in April, 2027. Information will be available in the coming weeks.