Category: QUESTIONS

“CHANGED FOR GOOD” (Lk 24:13-35):  06 April 2008 (Third Sunday of Easter)

Today’s Readings

Reading the story of Emmaus reminds me of a song from the hit Broadway musical “Wicked,”  a refreshingly new take on “The Wizard of Oz.”  The song is called “For Good” and is sung by—of all people—two witches!   In the musical, Glinda and Elphaba (better known as the “Good Witch” and the “Wicked Witch of the West,” respectively) are the best of friends who have to part ways.  Together they sing this song of goodbye and talk about how their friendship has made a difference in their lives.  

“DO I ROLL AWAY THE STONE YET?”:  22 March 2008 (Black Saturday)

Note:  The prescribed readings for today are already for the Easter Vigil tonight.  I’d like to share some thoughts about Black Saturday.

This painting–one of my favorites–shows John and Peter running towards the Lord’s tomb. They’ve just received word from the women who report that the Lord’s tomb is empty. We read in their faces a mixture of excitement and fear:  Has the body been taken away?  Or could it be…?

“MUST WE GO ALL THE WAY?” (Jn 18:1-19:42):  21 March 2008 (Good Friday)

Today’s Readings

There is a little-known but beautiful song from the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical “Jesus Christ Superstar.”  The song is found near the end of the play:  Jesus has just been taken to Herod, and as he is being led away back to Pilate, Mary Magdalene and Peter appear out of nowhere to sing this song to him.  The song expresses the disciples’ bewilderment at the unexpected turn of events.  Things weren’t supposed to go wrong!  And together with the other followers of Jesus, they express a plea to him:  Let’s start over!

“WHY SHOULD I LET YOU WASH MY FEET?” (Jn 13:1-15):  20 March 2008 (Holy Thursday)

Today’s Readings

It’s an unforgettable scene:  After supper, our Lord himself rises from the table and–to the horror of his disciples–washes their feet.  All are stunned speechless with, as usual, the exception of Peter.

Peter protests.  “You shall never wash my feet!” he declares–only to take it back almost in the same breath and to beg the Lord to wash his entire self (“Not only my feet, but also my hands and head!”) when he realizes the consequences of refusing the Lord.

“IS IT I, LORD?” (Mt 26:14-25):  19 March 2008 (Holy Wednesday)

Today’s Readings

I haven’t seen the movie, but I read Khaled Hosseini’s first novel The Kite Runnersometime last year. Set in Afghanistan, the story revolves around two childhood friends, Amir and Hassan.  Hassan is the son of the servant of Amir’s father, and is his loyal kite runner–the one who runs to fetch the kites that Amir defeats in the  game of kite-fighting.  To avoid spoiling the novel or the movie, all I will say is that Amir ends up betraying his friend, and for many years, long after he has moved to a faraway country, he is haunted by the memory of his treacherous act.