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     In most Catholic households, it is a tradition to have a depiction of the Last Supper in the dining room.  However, in the parish house, I have hung a print of Caravaggio’s second Supper at Emmaus. It’s a bit more subdued than the 1602 version, but I like it. In fact, I like everything about the Emmaus story.

           Principally, I like how the story is constructed. The framework in which the narrative unfolds is unmistakably the same as the Order of the Mass. Our first hint comes from the punchline about how they recognized him “in the breaking of the bread.” Indeed, “fractio panis” was a sort of buzz word for the Mass in the early Church. An early Christian would have picked up on the reference immediately.

           You will recall that the Order of the Mass has four main parts in which we gather, we share our stories, we break the bread, and we are sent forth. Officially, these are known as the Introductory Rites, the Liturgy of the Word, the Liturgy of the Eucharist and the Dismissal. Just as the Mass is timeless in its relevance, reading the story within this framework can help us understand it and apply it to our present circumstances.

           The story opens with the two disciples heading away from Jerusalem to a place called Emmaus. Emmaus was a small resort town not far from Jerusalem, sort of like Girdwood is to Anchorage. The appearance of the Risen Christ as they walk along discussing the passion and death of Jesus is consistent with his earlier saying, “wherever two or three are gathering in my name, there I am in their midst.” So they are, and so he is.

           I think it is important for us to remember this in our present circumstances. While am heartened by the gradual lifting of certain health restrictions, in reality it will be some time before it is safe for us to gather as a parish community. It is comforting to know that Christ does not abandon us during this time. Christ is truly risen, and he certainly more powerful than any microbe. When we pray together in our homes, when we video conference with our small groups or FaceTime with our prayer partners, Christ is in our midst, just as he was for the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Where two or three of us are gathered in his name, by any means, Christ is present in our midst. He is truly risen, even if we sometimes do not recognize him right away.

           There is no shame in that. The two disciples did not recognize him either. I love how Jesus is so coy in drawing them out of themselves. It’s a simple exchange: “Hey, guys! What’s up? What are you talking about?”

           “Are you the only one in Jerusalem who doesn’t know about the things that have gone on there?

           “What things?”

           At this point, the disciples have a choice. They can change the subject, lest they reveal themselves as disciples of Jesus, or they can share their story and the questions of faith that they are dealing with. They choose the latter and that’s when things get real. 

           So they share their experience of the passion and death of Christ, but they don’t know what to make of it. Fair enough.  Who would? So Jesus goes to work putting their experience into context as he explains everything that referred to him in the scriptures and how the Christ had to suffer. What an incredible Liturgy of the Word that must have been!  Can you imagine having the scriptures explained to you by the very Incarnate Word of God?! What a privilege. What a gift!

           In these past weeks, we too have been given the unique privilege and gift of time to encounter Christ more deeply in the sacred scriptures. What an opportunity to take some of that time and set it aside to spend some time with the Word. There are lots of ways to do this. Here are just a few suggestions. 

– Take ten minutes every day, perhaps right after dinner, to read the Gospel of Luke to each other. Have a different person in the house read each day, maybe reading a chapter or a section each evening.

– On the weekend, do the same thing with the Sunday readings.  Have one person read and each listener share one thing from the sacred text that stood out for them. 

– View an online course at formed.org or Word on Fire.

Just like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, we have the gift of time to spend with the Word.  Let’s not waste it.

           The story goes on. As they near the village Jesus toys with them again, perhaps testing their faith. He pretends to continue on, but the two disciples prevail and they all sit down for supper. What happens next is at once simple and amazing. As he had done so many times before, Jesus takes what is before him and transforms it into the means of grace.

           Our first clue comes when the words used to describe his actons are exactly the same ones that Luke uses earlier to describe the Last Supper. 

           …he took bread, said the blessing,

           broke it, and gave it to them.

The reference is unmistakable—for the two disciples, for the early Church, and now for us. Jesus is doing exactly what he did at the Last Supper. This is the Eucharist, Christ truly and substantially present in the appearance of bread and wine. 

           Many scholars think that is why he vanished from their sight. Present in the sacrament, his physical presence is simply not necessary.  From now on, it is in the fractio panis, the breaking of the bread, where he is recognized by those who believe in him. Powerful stuff.

           They don’t seem to have realized it, but the power of this moment is exactly what they were yearning for earlier during their ambulatory Liturgy of Word.  I’m struck by the phrase “Were not our hearts burning within us…?”  Their encounter with Christ in the scriptures leads to a burning desire for more intimate union with Christ. This finds its fullest expression in the Eucharist.

           So what about us?  What about now?  Perhaps in one sense, some real spiritual good can come from this extended Eucharistic fast, this COVID-19 “Inter-MISSION.” Are not our hearts burning within us?  Perhaps absence does make the heart grow fonder in a holy longing for deeper intimacy and full communion with Christ and his Church

           It is important to remember that the while the reception of Holy Communion is the fullest expression of our union with Christ, we must distinguish between the relationship itself and the expression of the that relationship.

           Married couples give us a good example of this. My mom and dad had a great marriage of 47 years. Being of good Irish and Danish stock, they were not overly public in their displays of affection…but they did have eight kids, so that says something. They had a deep, loving and fruitful relationship.  But there were times when they were separated from each other, sometimes for weeks at a time. During those times, there were no hugs, no kisses, nor anything else that goes along with showing how much they loved each other. But their relationship was deeper and more profound than their inability to express it. It did not cease to exist simply because they could not be with each other for a period of time. In some ways, it grew deeper so that its expression was all the more profound when they were finally reunited. Did I mention that they had eight kids? 

           So it is in our relationship with Christ and the Eucharist. There is the reality of our relationship with Christ, and there the expression of that relationship in the Eucharist.  At present, we may be separated for a time, but will that not make our reunion all the more powerful?  Are not our hearts burning within us? That may not be such a bad thing for now.

           A second thought – as soon as they recognize him in the breaking of the bread, he “vanished from their sight.” 

           In a certain sense, because we cannot gather for Mass, we may be tempted to feel that Christ has disappeared from our midst, that he is somehow absent. But is he really?

           Listen to the text again. It simply says, “…he vanished from their sight.” It does not say that he abandoned them. Otherwise, how could he say elsewhere, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age”? He did not abandon them then, and he does not abandon us now.  For “nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.”

           Now, after all this, the two disciples could have remained where they were, contemplating in wonder all that had just happened. But they do not. They cannot! They are compelled to share their experience of the Resurrection with others.

           So it is with each of us. Sure, we may be hunkered down, but as the meme says, the church isn’t empty, “The Church is deployed.” Right now we are where we are because God needs us in our homes in our neighborhoods for a reason.

           Perhaps it is to check in on an elderly or infirmed neighbor. Perhaps to get back in touch with loved ones, maybe even the ones under your own roof. Perhaps to be a witness of the Resurrection in a way that you have never thought possible before.

           The two disciples on the road to Emmaus can teach us much in our present circumstances. Understood within the framework of the Order of the Mass, we see

1) that whenever and wherever two or three are gathered in his name, Christ indeed is in their midst. It was true for them; it is true for us.

2) that an encounter with the Word of God evokes in us a holy longing where our hearts are burning within us for deeper intimacy with our Lord. It was true for them; it is true for us. 

3) that while our relationship with Christ is best expressed in the sacred assembly it is not limited only to it, any more than the relationship of a married couple is defined solely by their ability to express it. “Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.” It was true for them; it is true for us.

4) that even now we are sent into the world, or at least that little part of the world in which we find ourselves, to be witnesses of the resurrection because that is where God needs us to be. It was true for them; it is true for us.

           Like the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, we all have a choice to make. When asked, we can change the topic or we can face our fears and reveal ourselves as disciples of Jesus Christ. 

           My prayer for us, is that like them, we do not shy away from our calling; but that we share our story to be numbered among the saints as witnesses of the resurrection.    

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For a video recording of the Mass for Divine Mercy Sunday, as well as daily Mass, check out the St. Pat’s FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/stpatsak/

The Sunday Masses are also posted on the St. Pat’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCce6fxZKR1vqgyhuTO7e7VA

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My friends,

This weekend the Church concludes the Octave of Easter

as we celebrate the 2^nd Sunday of Easter,

now referred to as Divine Mercy Sunday. 

As I was reflecting on our readings today,

I noted an interesting feature

about this Gospel scene in that ———

the Risen Christ retained the scars of the Passion on his body. 

I think it’s quite extraordinary. 

Jesus had a transformed,

exaulted, glorious risen body that

could pass through doors —— yet he kept the scars. 

Now, Christ could have miraculously

erased those scars after the Resurrection but

He chose not to. 

They were his personal “signature”.

They helped identify him.

Most of us can often recognize someone

who has changed dramatically over the years

by certain marks and scars. 

It was only

when the apostles saw the scars in his hands and side that

they realized that

this was the Jesus of Nazareth they knew,

The Jesus of Nazareth they had spent 3 years walking with,

The Jesus of Nazareth that had been their teacher. 

In reality, I believe

that’s why Thomas wanted to see the scars.

Personally, whenever we see a scar

on our knee, finger, face or chest,

we remember how it got there. 

Maybe we got these scars from

our own negligence

or that of others. 

Some scars came intentionally through surgery or

accidentally from a sports injury

and others maybe from violence. 

Some of those scars are on the outside

while others are on the inside,

but each one has a story. 

I believe the Risen Lord kept his scars as the evidence of his love.

They also help us

keep his Passion and Death joined with his resurrection. 

It can be spiritually distorting to separate them. 

If we emphasize the sufferings of Jesus,

it is important to remember that

those sufferings lead to his resurrection. 

If we reflect solely on the resurrection of Jesus,

we need to remember that

the road to new and eternal life was through a crucifixion and death. 

The Passion, Death and Resurrection of Christ are all linked. 

Theologians call this fusion — this uniting of the Passion.

Death and Resurrection of Christ

the “Paschal Mystery.”

Jesus’ scars are also a promise. 

The Risen Lord showed his apostles His scars

and He still has them, to show us that

through him we can have healing and spiritual victory.

Jesus knows the stories behind all our wounds,

the ones on the outside and the ones on the inside. 

Catholics — Christians do not have immunity to wounds. 

People slander us as they do others;

people harm us as they do others;

people oppose us as they do others;

people deceive us as they do everybody else. 

The scars of Jesus should give us the confidence that

real victory comes from doing God’s will. 

The scars of the Risen Christ

give us strength that

comes from knowing

we are on the side of the Risen and victorious Christ.

None of the circumstances

outside that locked room

in today’s gospel reading changed

after the apostles received the peace

that Jesus offered them. 

They still had to face the same situations they faced

before he entered the locked room. 

They still had to face the authorities. 

They still had to risk going out into the streets. 

They still had to face the crowds who crucified Jesus. 

They still had to face trials and troubles —— as each of us do.

The change

occurred inside the room and inside them.

Jesus gave them a strength

and a peace

which they could not generate on their own. 

Just as the Apostles recognized Jesus by his scars ——

so will Jesus, in his Divine Mercy, recognize us by our scars.

When we reveal our scars,

when we open whatever wounds we have

to the healing power of Christ’s truth and grace,

they can become places of strength. 

That will be true of the church

as well as of our lives.

My friends, the scars of Jesus

give us hope,

strength and confidence that,

through him, and by his divine mercy

our wounds can heal

and even become places of new strength and grace

for ourselves and for others.

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For a video recording of the Mass for Divine Mercy Sunday, as well as daily Mass, check out the St. Pat’s FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/stpatsak/

The Sunday Masses are also posted on the St. Pat’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCce6fxZKR1vqgyhuTO7e7VA

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    I am struck by a stark contrast in the greetings of Jesus before the resurrection and after. Whether he is calling the first disciples or healing the daughter of Jairus, or walking to them across the turbulent waters,  before the resurrection, Jesus can most often be heard saying to his disciples, “Do not be afraid!” But after the resurrection, he simply says, “Peace be with you.”

       I think it is very important for us to pay attention to this change of greeting and what it means for us Christians, especially when so much of human interactions today now take place against a backdrop of fear—fear of infection, fear of overwhelming our health care system, fear of unemployment, of economic collapse, etc. 

First, we need to talk about fear. Fear can be healthy. Healthy, rational fear is essential for survival. It keeps us from naively petting the grizzly bear or straying too close to the edge of the cliff. Much of what we are afraid of at present in society is healthy and rational. It helps us make good, rational decisions to prevent the spread of this little microscopic monster and the dire consequences that could follow. 

Nevertheless, even if the present phenomenon is healthy, rational fear, it is vitally important that we do not let even this fear define us. That is not our call as disciples of Christ, witnesses of the resurrection.

Before the resurrection, there was a lot to be afraid of in the first century. Life was a lot shorter and tougher. Much of this was a reflection that in the spiritual realm, things were not rightly ordered. The relationship between God and humanity was gravely injured as a result of original sin. Thus, the devil and his minions had a lot more influence.

Enter Jesus the Christ, who by his passion, death, and resurrection, reconciled all creation to the Father. He not only restored the relationship between God and humanity, but elevated it to a level of unimaginable intimacy. So much so, that we can now enter into a spiritual and real communion with the Divine. In the most important relationship of all, things are as they should be. Thus, the peace Christ gives is deeper and greater than that of the world. It’s a subtle, but important distinction. It is one thing to be free from fear. It is a much greater thing to be at peace. Yet, by the very grace of the resurrection of Christ, even in the midst of a fearful world, we Christians proclaim the hope of the resurrection so that we may all move from “Do not be afraid.” to “Peace be with you.”  The world needs us to do so now more than ever. 

(Here’ s a preview of my article in upcoming edition of the the Catholic Anchor. )

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What does it mean to be a “good Catholic” not only in ordinary times, but especially in the extraordinary times in which we now live? The primary duty of the faithful is “to preserve and foster communion with the Church,” (Canon 209 §1).  But how does one do that when the ordinary means of grace are not readily available? A meditative review of the Precepts of the Church (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2041-2043) can help us find an answer.

You shall attend Mass on Sundays and on holy days of obligation.

          By decree of the Apostolic Administrator, all public Masses and other gatherings are suspended until it is once again safe to do so. It is important to remember that while the faithful are dispensed from the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and holy days, the obligation “to keep holy the sabbath” remains. Sundays should be special. There are many creative ways of doing this. Many households have set up little chapels in the home where they gather for common prayer. Sometimes these will be around the TV or computer monitor so they can participate in a livestreamed Mass. No matter what we do, it is essential that Sundays be set aside to commemorate the Resurrection of the Lord and to rest from those activities that would impede the sanctification of the Lord’s Day. 

You shall confess your sins at least once a year.

          Throughout the Archdiocese, priests are still hearing confessions by appointment in a way that preserves social distancing. During this time, it is advisable to request confession only when one is aware of serious sin. Unfortunately, it is not possible to go to confession via the telephone or other electronic means as it is impossible to guarantee the Seal of the Confessional. Still, the faithful should not be shy about requesting this sacrament when they really need it. 

          The same holds true for requests for Anointing of the Sick and Viaticum in danger of death. The priests of the Archdiocese and especially the chaplains at Providence are going out of their way to make sure that people who are in danger of death are being taken care of. When physical contact is simply not safe or not possible, the granting of the Apostolic Pardon is used. 

You shall humbly receive your Creator in Holy Communion at least during the Easter season.

          As mentioned before, the faithful are dispensed at present from the “Easter Duty” as it is known. Let us pray that it will once again be safe to gather by Pentecost. Now is a good time to be in spiritual solidarity with all those parishes throughout Alaska who have never had frequent access to the Eucharist.

You shall observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by the Church.

          Fasting and abstinence from meat are only required Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Fridays of Lent are the only days of abstinence. Nevertheless, every Friday of the year is to be observed as a day of prayer, penance and reparation. While the Church no longer mandates what form that will take, Catholics should perform some act of prayer and penance every Friday. A good idea might be to pray, to fast, to abstain from meat, to volunteer, or to do some other reasonable act of penance or charity in behalf of those medical professionals who are sacrificing so much for others at this time. Get creative.

You shall help to provide for the material needs of the Church, each according to his abilities.

          Fulfilling this obligation is fulfilled by a reasonable, deliberate and sacrificial commitment of one’s time, talent, and treasure. This will involve an honest appraisal of one’s available time and financial means. Given the present circumstances, there are many opportunities for gifts of time and talent, such as delivery of meals to the doorstep of elderly or infirm neighbors and parishioners, as well as prayer chains and phone trees to promote fellowship and communion.

          Most parishes have the opportunity for online giving, which is safest and most secure means of financial support. If that is not available, one should mail their envelope to the parish. Never send cash. Many parishes have secure drop boxes where parishioners can leave their donation. The churches may be closed for now, but the payroll and the bills are still due. 

          These extraordinary times can be an extraordinary means of grace. The Precepts of the Church give us a helpful framework for creative ways to preserve and foster communion within the Body of Christ so that we may emerge from the solitude of this pandemic closer to Christ and to one another. 

Fr. Leo Walsh is a pastor, pilot, theologian and canon lawyer.  He is currently Pastor of St. Patrick’s Parish in Muldoon and Adjutant Judicial Vicar of the Archdiocese of Anchorage.

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For a video recording of the Mass for Easter Sunday, as well as daily Mass, check out the St. Pat’s FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/stpatsak/

The Sunday Masses are also posted on the St. Pat’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCce6fxZKR1vqgyhuTO7e7VA

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    I don’t run much anymore. Ten years of football and fifteen years of rugby have left me with a bit of stenosis which makes running or jogging an iffy proposition. But I could not help noticing that there are a lot of people running around the resurrection account we read today. Mary runs from the tomb to the disciples! Peter and John run back to the tomb! So much activity. The casual observer could not help but wonder what it was all about.

     No doubt it is about a lot of things. Mary is running because she is afraid that the body of Jesus has been moved by some unknown persons, perhaps the Jewish authorities or the Romans. Peter and John probably have the same concerns. They need to investigate things immediately, and so off they go at full tilt. 

       But as John enters the tomb after Peter, it starts to become about something else. “…he saw and believed.”

       The thing is, we’re not quite sure what he believed. It’s unclear because in the very next line we are told that “they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead.” (Jn 20, 8-9) 

       Actually, I take a lot of comfort from the belief of Peter and John in the midst of perplexity. The modern, analytic worldview wants to understand everything before it will believe anything. But Peter and John show us that is not the way it works. The resurrection and our faith in it is first and foremost about relationships; and relationships do not lend themselves to scientific analysis.

       Don’t believe me? Try this little experiment. Walk up to your spouse or girlfriend, etc., and say to them. “At last I finally understand you. I know all of your likes and dislikes, your values and aspirations. I know all there is to know about you. Now I can trust you.” Let me know how that works out for you.  Or instead you can say this, “You know, after all these years you still amaze me!” 

       Because the resurrection of Jesus is about his relationship with the Father and with us, it cannot be analyzed scientifically. Instead, we talk about it in terms of ‘sacred mystery,’ a relationship or set of relationships that is larger than us, of which we are a part, and which is part of us. In this sense, we can see how it works for all relationship. You don’t solve your family.  You are part of your family and genetically, psychologically, sociologically your family is a part of you. Likewise you don’t solve your Body of Christ.  You are part of the Body of Christ, and through the sacred mysteries we celebrate, Body of Christ is part of you. Now let’s bump it up a notch to our God who is relationship itself. We are told by John in no uncertain terms that when one dwells in God, God dwells in him or her through  indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which is the very relationship between the Father and Son. Through the Body of Christ, the Church, we are invited into that very relationship. We belong.

       In this context it becomes clear that belonging precedes believing and believing precedes understanding. So it perfectly reasonable that John could believe without understanding because of his relationship with Christ. In due time, he will come to understand and the fruits of his reflections permeate his writings. 

       I would go one step farther. Because of my relationship with Christ and the Body of Christ, his Church, I think that the resurrection of Christ is not just a reasonable proposition, but indeed and IMPERATIVE one for the sake of all humanity!  

What do I mean by this?  Simply put, in the light of the corona virus and COVID -19, never before in my life or in the memory of any of my contemporaries, have we ever seen the human race so paralyzed with fear on such a global scale.  Our societies, our economies, our personal relations…all are paralyzed with a very justifiable fear of death by hypoxia brought on by this little microscopic monster.

Never before in our modern, analytic, scientific world have we seen such immediate and pervasive fear. Fear paralyzes us. And in the shadow of such a spectre, we have learned firsthand as a global society that the opposite of love is not hate, but fear.      

       It can be simple fear,

              fear of solitude, fear of embarrassment, fear of the unknown

       Or it can be profound fear,

              Fear of infection, fear of pain, fear of death. 

How do we confront and overcome such fear? 

       For modern, analytic world that wants to understand everything, the answer is elusive,

       But for the Christian, comfortable of living within the wonderous mystery of simple and sacred relationship, the answer is obvious.

       Because the Christian knows that death is not the worst thing that can happen to you. 

       The Christian knows and proclaims to a fearful world that by his Passion and Death, Christ won for us the forgiveness of sins and therefore overcame the result of sin, which is death. 

       And that by his rising from the dead, he has shown us the destiny of a humanity now healed, where our relationship with God and with one another is now reconciled and as it should be. 

       In the coming weeks, listen to the subtle change in the words of the resurrected Christ as he greets his apostles.  You will recall that whether it was when he calmed the sea, or healed the publican’s daughter he would say, “The first words out of his mouth were, ‘Do not be afraid.”

       But now, in the wake of the resurrection, his greeting is very different, “Peace be with you.” 

How odd, how very paradoxical, how very fitting that in the Good News of Easter joy and the peace  should come in the midst of the most fearful time in recent human history.

But we Christians have always been a people of paradox: fearless in the face of death, triumphant in the midst of suffering. 

       And thus it has always been.

Especially in these most uncertain fearful times, the Christian stands as a beacon of hope

       In our neighbors, in our towns, in our cities, in our world

       For we are people of the resurrection.  We know that death is not the worst thing that can happen to us.

       For Christ is risen from the dead

       and we the Body of Christ rise with him.

Echoing the words of the great Pope St. John Paul II,

“We are Easter people! and ‘alleluia!’ is our cry!” 

Happy Easter.  

(With all this COVID-19 stuff, I’m a little behind in the posting. Since we are livestreaming our liturgies, I will only be posting the text of the homilies. The video recording of daily Mass can be found at our parish Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/stpatsak/

We also post the video of the Sunday Masses on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCce6fxZKR1vqgyhuTO7e7VA )

One Perfect, Eternal Sacrifice

     I have never done a palm-less Palm Sunday before. Then again, I’ve never had to celebrate without a congregation before either. We live in “interesting times.” The reason we are not blessing or distributing palms this year is that because this microscopic monster can live on their surface for up to 24 hours, they could very easily become a means of transference of the virus. The common good, including the health and safety of others is still our primary concern.

     Of course, the proper name of this day is Passion Sunday, where we commemorate the Passion and Death of Our Lord. This remains the ‘ultimate sacrifice’ in the primary sense of the term, meaning the last and greatest of its kind.

       The people of ancient Israel were very acquainted with ritual sacrifices. We read about them throughout the Old Testament. Essentially you needed four things for a ritual sacrifice: a victim or offering, an altar, a priest, and a reason. In general there were four reasons for offering a sacrifice: 1) to establish covenants, 2)to remember, 3) to give thanks, and 4) for the atonement and forgiveness of sins.  

       How did it work? Let’s look at sacrifices with a victim. Basically, the one offering sacrifice would bring the victim to the priest. The victim had to be unblemished, meaning that it could not have any flaw or defect such as a busted hoof or mange or anything else that would make you want to get it out of your flock  anyway. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be sacrificial. The priest would then lay his hands on the victim, dedicating it solely to God for sacred use. The victim was then slaughtered in the proscribed fashion depending on what kind of sacrifice you were performing.   Usually, certain parts such as the fat on the kidneys and the lobe of the liver, etc., were burned on the altar. For his services, the priest received the front left quarter for his family. Then you took the rest home for a ritual meal known as the sacrificial banquet to celebrate with your family and friends. Note that from the earliest times the idea of ritual sacrifice and ritual meal are inextricable.

       From its very beginning, the Church has always understood that the one, perfect, eternal sacrifice of Christ on the Cross brought to fulfillment all previous sacrifices ever offered. This is most apparent in the words of consecration over the chalice.   

       …and GIVING YOU THANKS, he said the blessing, and gave the chalice to his disciples, saying:

       Take this, all of you, and drink from it,

       for this is the chalice of my blood,

       the blood of the new and eternal COVENANT. 

       which will be poured out for you and for many for the

              FORGIVENESS OF SINS.

       Do this IN MEMORY of me. 

       Our participation in the Eucharist is our real, substantial participation in the one, perfect, eternal sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. With Christ the Great High Priest, the gift of our lives and the first fruits of our labors in this true sacrifice and ritual meal are offered as a pleasing offering to the Father. . Here we have the altar, the priest, the sacrifice and the best of all reasons. 

       Thankfully, especially in these uncertain times, Christ’s sacrifice is eternal and its universal effects for the forgiveness of sins and sanctification of the world and everyone in it transcend the vicissitudes of our present predicament. No virus, no lockdown, no “social separation” can separate us from the love of Christ, and the forgiveness of sins won for us in his one, perfect sacrifice.

Not now, not ever.

Better than hand sanitizer. This from the Diocese of Dallas…in two versions, no less!

But wait! There’s more!

      In my 55 years of being a Christian and 25 years of ministry I have learned a few truths about the human condition. For example, I have learned that life is messy…and God is faithful.

     By now you have heard the news that in an effort to do our part to head off the spread of the COVID—19, all public liturgies, classes and other gatherings are suspended throughout the Archdiocese at least until March 28. As drastic as it is, it makes a lot of sense.  In those places, such as Hong Kong, where they took decisive action before the virus gained a foothold, the situation remained manageable.  In those places where they did not, such as Italy, they quickly found themselves way behind the power curve.  There is no need to wait for the flood waters to get to your door before you start filling sand bags!

While this poses some interesting challenges for us as a parish family, it also presents some unique opportunities. I’ve always been amazed at how the Good Lord can take what seems to be a dire situation and turn it into vehicle for grace.

The two primary examples of this are the Incarnation and the Passion of Our Lord. Jesus could have waited for Mary to enter Joseph’s house before he took flesh by the Holy Spirit. Instead the angel Gabriel shows up while she is merely betrothed. That was messy. Again, the suffering and death of Our Lord in his passion was a horrific experience for the disciples. Imagine what it must have been like to have seen all your hopes and dreams hanging on the Cross. That was messy.  At the time they happened, the Incarnation and the Passion were devasting, but they were not the end of the story.  In the fullness of time, we have come to realize that it was in these two moments of salvation history that God’s faithfulness was most manifest. 

I’m not sure what special grace God has in store for us as a parish family as a result of this latest messiness. It will certainly make the remainder of Lent a bit more interesting. Much of our parish life will be online. Please see the bulletin insert and log onto the parish website: https://st.patsak.org, our parish Facebook page and Leo’s Benevolent Blog: https://frleowalsh.com for details.

Well, there may be no public liturgies in the Archdiocese of Anchorage due to the COVID-19 virus, but that doesn’t mean we stop being Church! We have gone virtual! Check out the St. Pat’s livestreamed Cyber Mass at: https://www.facebook.com/stpatsak/videos/206950027285782/?comment_id=207502080563910&notif_id=1584229735882168&notif_t=video_comment

Deacon Mick gave a great homily. Click on the audio below to hear it or read his text below that…or you can do both!

During this Coronavirus “Inter-MISSION”, let us all keep one another in prayer, those who are actually suffering from the virus, and especially all who care for them. – Fr. Leo

In today’s Gospel reading,

Jesus and the Samaritan woman seem to be

talking about drinking water but

it’s about more than that. 

The conversation we overhear

is not just about her but

very much about you and me as well.

In the gospel, we never learn the woman’s name,

maybe because

she really stands for all of us in some way.

She had several strikes against her. 

First, she was a Samaritan

and there was deep-seated resentment

between the Jewish people and the Samaritans that

was already centuries old in Jesus’ time. 

Secondly, she was a woman

and women were to be silent

in the presence of a rabbi. 

Finally, she was considered in her community as a sinner. 

Because of her multiple marriages,

she was probably shunned by the neighborhood which

may explain her solitary trip to the well

alone at noon time,

the hottest time of the day,

when nobody else was around.

The Samaritan woman was a person

on the margins of the society in which she lived, 

butJesus reaches out to her

as he does to each of us. 

Jesus knows our past as he knew hers. 

What interests him now is our future.

The well was the place where people gathered. 

In a sense, this building

This Church is our well. 

Here we gather with other Catholic Christians

and here we too can meet the Lord. 

Through the Liturgy,

the Lord speaks the truth of who we are,

what we have done with our lives

and what we can become

if we follow him.

Finally, there is the water. 

We all need water. 

Water is necessary for human survival. 

But, Jesus knew the woman

needed something more

than drinking water in her life. 

He gradually leads her

from her need of drinking water

to show her the need that she has for

a living, flowing, spiritual refreshment

which we know as grace or the Holy Spirit. 

By pursuing the needs of the body,

we can forget the very real needs of our soul. 

Like the Samaritan woman,

we too must face the truth about ourselves

in an encounter with Jesus Christ,

confess our sins and come to know Jesus as Savior in our life.

The season of Lent

calls us to by like Moses in the first reading

and strike open the rock that 

blocks the flow of God’s grace into our lives.

Strike the rock of anger

——-to let in the peace of Christ.

Strike the rock of lust

——-to let in an appreciation of our human dignity.

Strike the rock of envy

——to let in the grace of gratitude.

Strike the rock of gluttony or addiction

——to release the grace of temperance.

Strike the rock of laziness or apathy

——to reclaim spiritual energy and enthusiasm.

Strike the rock of pride

——to unleash the grace of honesty.

Strike the rock of greed

——to uncover spiritual wealth in Christ.

My friends,

We Strike that rock through penance and confession,

And by changing the way we live.

If we don’t take the call of Lent to heart,

then we can be like someone who Is thirsty

and reads about water,

listens to talks about water,

sees beautiful posters about water,

hangs pictures at home that show water,

collects books about water,

sings songs about water,

gathers with others to hear homilies about water,

joins discussion groups about water,

hears stories about those who have found water

until finally one day,

he or she dies of thirst. 

What happened? 

My friends ——— he or she never drank the water.

Jesus has living water that will bring life to your life. 

Please, today—— take a drink.

       I don’t go to the movies much anymore, primarily because I don’t qualify for the financing. We are a far cry from the days when my our parents would give us a dollar and we would ride our bikes to the Fireweed Theater to catch a double feature and have money left over for a Big Buddy and a Coke. Ofcourse, some things never change. For example, the posted start time of the movie is never when the film actually starts. One is first indulged with at least a half dozen Previews of Coming Attractions! I like previews because 90% of the time, they contain all the good bits of the movie. This saves me from having to go see it. But sometimes, a good trailer will make me take a greater interest in a film I might not otherwise go see.

       That’s essentially what’s going on in today’s gospel when Jesus takes Peter, James and John up Mt. Tabor and is transfigured before them. For some time now, Jesus has been teaching them that he most go to Jerusalem to suffer and die and be raised. They are going to need something to sustain them in their resolve once it actually happens. Fittingly, by showing them a glimpse of his  glory, they get a preview of what is to come to strengthen them in the days to come. 

       The presence of Moses and Elijah is very important. Moses is the great giver of the Law.  Elijah is the greatest of the prophets.  It was he who was taken up to heaven in the fiery chariot. As the Incarnate Word of God, Jesus is the fulfillment of both the Law and the Prophets. We don’t know what they were conversing about, but some of the Church Fathers have speculated that perhaps they were comforting Jesus before he heads to Jerusalem. 

       I like Peter’s reaction. He wants to set up camp and stay there for awhile. Of course, they can’t, but it’s a nice gesture nonetheless. 

       Finally, the voice of the Father from the cloud who says three things: 1) Jesus is the Son of God, 2) He is well pleased with him, 3) we are to listen to Jesus.

       Peter, James and John saw a glimpse of the glory of Jesus as the fulfillment of the law and the prophets.  This was a special grace to them as they continued on their journey of faith.

       In our own day, in the age of grace, we too receive what we need to strengthen and give us comfort on our pilgrim journey of faith. 

       In baptism we are made a new creation, clothed in white and shine with the grace of a thousand suns. We receive the light of Christ, a light which no darkness can extinguish.

       In confirmation, we receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit so that we may live out our call to be missionary disciples.

       In Eucharist, we receive a foretaste and promise of the heavenly banquet.  Food for the journey and strength for the challenges of the week ahead.

       In the Sacrament of Reconciliation we kneel at the foot of the Cross, receive forgiveness for our sins and are reconciled to Christ and the Body of Christ, the Church.

       In the anointing of the sick, when our bodies are weak or threatened, we are strengthened by the prayers of the Church and the forgiveness of our sins, especially as we approach the end of life and cross the threshold of hope in to the life to come.

       In Holy Matrimony, in the chaste love of husband and wife, we see a living example of the faithfulness of God.  As the couple gives themselves to each other body and soul, we get just a glimpse of how Christ lays down his life for us in a new covenant of grace.

       In Holy Orders, in the person of the ordained minister, we see that authority in the Church is exercised first as diaconal service, and at the hands of the priest and bishop we receive the means of grace through the sacraments of the Church.

       Each of the sacraments of the Church, especially our Eucharist today, is a little glimpse, a foretaste and promise, a preview of coming attractions of the glory that is to be ours at the end of the age when we shall become like Christ himself.

       What a marvelous thing it will be when at the end of this life we stand before God the Father and all the heavenly host and we hear a voice proclaim, not from a cloud but from the very mouth of God:

       “This is my beloved son

              This is my beloved daughter

                      With whom I am well pleased.”