How well do we know Jesus? We here today of two friends, people who had known Jesus, who walked with him, talked with him, ate meals with him probably every day for three years, didn’t recognize him even on a long walk down a dusty road. I have often wondered how this could be! How did they not know it was Jesus?
Jesus Christ Superstar!! How many remember that musical play? It played on Broadway in 1971 and became a musical movie in 1973. The play was written by an author who was attempting to tell the story of Christ in modern words and modern settings.
It does make one think about Jesus Christ and that is good. It asked many questions that young people were asking like the one passage from the play; “Jesus Christ Superstar, are you who they say you are?” That is where it stops, leaving that question hanging in the air.
The musical play holds your attention with lines like; “I don’t know how to love him!” Some ideas in the play mock, in a way, that which is sacred to us. But the biggest fault of Jesus Christ Superstar is that it leaves out the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It takes us up to Jesus’s death and leaves him there, dead. The musical play leaves out the whole purpose and triumph of our Lord’s life, His resurrection.
Jesus’ resurrection, which proves that he is truly God and that we will truly rise with him when he comes again, to us as Catholic Christians is not only a Superstar, he is our Super Savior. What happened to the disciples on the road to Emmaus is what happened in Jesus Christ Superstar, the play. They closed the book on Jesus before they read the last chapter. They left Jerusalem before they found out the true triumphant events of that first Easter.
There are some that do close the book before the last chapter. These are people who lose hope, seem discouraged with life itself, seem disappointed, disillusioned about this or that in the Catholic Church, and they start walking away. The saddest point is that they walk away from the very thing that will help them out in their confusion, their discouragement.
Do you know what that is? I believe you do know for you are here. They walk away from the Mass, the surest cure for all their troubles. In today’s gospel Jesus appears to two disciples who were sadly walking away from Jerusalem, which today means the Church, the Family of God. Jesus explains to them what the inspired words of God say about his coming. Then He breaks bread to open their eyes so that they recognize who he is. This is the Mass.
God’s inspired words are proclaimed from the bible today. We heard in both the Book of Acts and the Letter of St Peter and also in the gospel which refers to Jesus Christ’s Resurrection. In the second part of the Holy Sacrifice we “Break the bread, the bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus Christ, and is shared with all of us. This is the Mass.
This is what opens our eyes to commit ourselves in doing God’s work here on earth. We reach out to the lost souls, witnessing by how we live and how we treat one another. The mass allows us to see Jesus in others. That brings to mind a short story that actually happened to me. It is called:
“You took my place”.
One day, a man went to visit a church. He got there early, parked his car and got out. Another car pulled up near the driver, got out and said; “I always park there. You took my place.”
The visitor went inside for Sunday school, found an empty seat and sat down. A young lady from the church approached him and stated: “That’s my seat. You took my place!” The visitor was somewhat distressed by this rude welcome, but said nothing.
After Sunday school, the visitor went into the sanctuary and sat down. Another member walked up to him and said, “That’s where I always sit! You took my place.” The visitor was even more troubled by this treatment but he still said nothing.
Later as the congregation was praying for Christ to dwell among them, the visitor stood up, and his appearance began to change, Horrible scars became visible on his hands and on his sandaled feet. Someone from the congregation noticed him and called out; “What happened to you?” The visitor replied, as his hat became a crown of thorns, and a tear fell from his eye, “I took your Place.”
This same sort of rejection happened to me. I sat down in a church for mass. I got there early, so there were many seats empty. Right before mass started a man walked up to me and told me “My friends and I always sit here. Would you please move?” If this man was able to see Jesus in others would he of asked me to move?
When we look at others, do we see someone who is worthy of God’s love beyond measure, As God sees his begotten son, Jesus, As God sees us? Do we see Jesus who wants our love as much as we need his love? Or do we see just another person?The mass, in its fullness gives us the power to see Jesus in everyone.
Today throughout Western Washington, we kick off the Annual Catholic Appeal, a way in which we can see Jesus in everyone. It is a privilege and an honor when Father Rick asked if I would be a witness speaker on behalf of the Annual Catholic Appeal. Almost ten years ago, in fact it was March 2004, I heard God’s call for me to enter into formation to become a deacon.
After four years of intensive study that included many 5 page papers, classes in theology, Christology, Eschatology, bible study from Genesis to Revelation, theological anthropology, Christian History, Documents of Vatican II and many more subjects, I was ordained into the permanent diaconate on 2 May 2009, five years ago.
That would not have been possible if it weren’t for the generosity of all of you and the Church of Western Washington. I owe you a great debt of thanks. There are many men and women who would not have had the resources necessary to study for the diaconate, religious life, and most important to all of us, those who have heard the call to the priesthood. Thanks to the Annual Catholic Appeal, our men and women who have heard the call to service can enter into study for their ministry.
Not only does the Annual Catholic Appeal make available funds to educate our deacons, the religious and our priests, they supply funds for retired clergy and religious, youth and young adult evangelization, Catholic Schools, Catholic Community Services, and services for the most vulnerable in our society.
Our support of the Annual Catholic Appeal is essential in assisting the Church of Western Washington in its mission of evangelization by helping people, which is our mission as well. I encourage you to prayerfully consider your generous donation to this year’s Annual Catholic Appeal. Just imagine coming to our church, opening your car door and stepping onto pavement and not rock. This is a goal we can achieve through your generosity in the form of a rebate which is funds contributed over and beyond our goal. On behalf of all those who have benefited from your generosity in the past, I say thank you!
My sisters and brothers keep that book open. Do not close it before the last chapter of the story of Christ, his coming again in Glory to bring us to the Father. Let us not close the book like the author of Jesus Christ Superstar did in his play. For those who would not think of missing mass, the Emmaus story is a great encouragement.So let us see Jesus in others. You never know who might be in your presence sitting in your place, maybe Jesus himself.