A Time of (Re)Conversion

This Saturday I’ll be attending the Easter Vigil at St. Joe’s in NYC, where two of my friends will be received into full communion with the Church.  One was raised Catholic, but never Confirmed, and the other is converting from a Christian denomination.  It’s pretty incredible to think that every year, all across the world, conversions are taking place in (nearly) every Catholic Church on the Saturday before Easter.

And just to give you a flavor of the scale I’m talking about: in 2007 there were 49,415 adult baptisms and 87,363 people received into full communion with the Church in the United States alone (according to the Official Catholic Directory).  Those are some pretty huge numbers, considering the US is now a country missionaries get sent to and not just from.

But there’s just something so moving about seeing even just one person join the Church.  Watching someone who has spent months studying, finally receive the Eucharist for the first time, is really emotional.  Not only is it a moment that particular person will never forget, but it’s also a moment of revitalization and in many ways, reconversion for me.  It’s a reminder of just how powerful the Eucharist is, and how very blessed I am to be able to receive Jesus that way.

I love that the Church waits to welcome new converts until the Easter Vigil.  It’s all so fitting: as we prepare to celebrate Jesus rising from the dead, we also celebrate those who have joined the Church and found new life in His bride.  Just another reason to love this time of the year!

My Struggle With Palm Sunday

So here it is, Palm Sunday.  I always feel a little queasy going to Mass on this day because I know what’s coming.  We read the Passion narrative (from Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on Sunday to His Crucifixion on Good Friday) and those of us attending play the part of the crowd.  Thus we recite lines such as “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” and taunts of, “He saved others, let Him save Himself if He is the chosen one, the Christ of God.”

I know that I’m a sinner and Jesus died for me, but the connection between my sins and Jesus’ crucifixion is so clear on Palm Sunday, there’s no ignoring it.  And even though I say “Crucify Him!” every time I sin, there’s just something about reading the Passion narrative and saying it out loud that is so very, very disturbing.  It’s easy to explain away my “small” sins on a day to day basis and to deny their true impact, but they’re not explained away today.  On Palm Sunday my sins are there on the Cross – the reason Jesus is being crucified.   And though I cringe as I type this, it’s the truth.

Jesus is on the cross because of every swear I’ve ever said, every stupid thing I’ve said or done in anger, every thought I’ve had that objectified another person, every lie I’ve told, and every accusation I’ve made against God.  He’s up there because of me – plain and simple.

But we do, after all, call the day of Jesus’ Passion “Good Friday.”  And though perhaps from what I’ve written “good” may not seem like the appropriate adjective, that’s because we’ve only looked at half of the equation.  Yes we’ve sinned and are responsible for Jesus’ Crucifixion – but how lucky we are to have a Redeemer who loves us so much!  Whose love is so strong not even death could contain it!  Who sees all of our faults and weaknesses and still says, “Father forgive them, they know not what they do.”

So I must agree Good Friday is an apt name, because though it is a day of sorrow, it’s also the day Jesus demonstrated His undying love for each and everyone of us.  It’s the day the veil of the temple was torn, the New Covenant forged, and the path cleared for our adoption as children of God.  Good indeed!

See Also: Great (and failed) Expectations on Palm Sunday

Caffeinated Randomness

So it’s Friday again which means another dose of Caffeinated Randomness in keeping with the lovely Andrea’s idea from Under Grace and Under Coffee.

I must cop to being in a terrible mood because today I received notice for jury duty exactly when I was supposed to be visiting my friend in Oxford.  So my ruminations probably won’t be as peppy as usual

• It’s entirely possible I’m a Twitter-holic.  I spend waaay too much time on it (check out my account) and waste hours looking for people to follow.  Is there a 12 step program for this?

• Just bought a new capo for my guitar and I love love love it.  So much easier to use than the one I had (and makes “Hate That I Love You” sound so good!)

• I’m currently taking “Principles of Biblical Study” and “Philosophy of the Human Person” and can’t seem to get myself to study or listen to the classes.  When did I get so unmotivated?

• Palm Sunday is my least favorite Mass of the entire year.  I wonder if this make me a bad Catholic… ; )

• Special thank yous to Shane, Andrea, Julie, Kyle and Heather for being so kind as to correspond with me!  God bless you all!

Have a great weekend everybody!

The Yes(es) that Changed the World

Since it is March 25, exactly 9 months away from Christmas and Jesus’ birth, we remember the Annunciation.  An event that changed the world forever.

I love the Annunciation because it is all about saying yes to God despite the risks and consequences.  It’s about putting His will above everything else, no matter the personal cost.  Mary’s yes to carrying Jesus came with the risks of being stoned to death for adultery.  Jesus’ yes to the Incarnation came with the knowledge that it would lead to His Crucifixion.

But despite any concern for themselves, they each willed their Father’s plan.  Mary’s yes to God gave her the honor of being the Mother of God and the Church.  And Jesus’ yes would redeem humanity.  Phew – imagine if either had said no!

And it was all made possible with a simple yes to God.  “Let it be done to me according to Your word.”  Simple words that changed history.  Simple words I often find myself repeating in my feeble attempts to live according to God’s plan.  Simple words that initiated the ultimate proof of God’s love for us.  Definitely a day worth celebrating!

P.S. Many apologies for any incoherencies in this post – I’m running on far too little sleep and I have no doubts it affects my writing ability…but writing about the Annunciation on the 26th is just not the same!