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The Joy of Easter

Written by Fr. Ben Hawley, SJ on Easter Sunday, The Resurrection of the Lord

So, go to Walgreen’s and look at the Easter cards. I bet that some will say “Happy Easter!” and some will say “May the Joy of Easter be yours!” I will also bet that the “Happy Easter!” cards have bunnies, green grass, flowers, and jelly beans on the front. And the “Joy of Easter!” cards will have the Risen Jesus, perhaps with some disciples, in the foreground and the hill of Calvary with its three crosses silhouetted in the background against the rising sun.

Well, maybe I am wrong about the cards. But the happiness that we can experience in this human life comes and goes, often because the circumstances around us change. We respond to those changes with the wide variety of emotions that are a natural part of our lives. But the joy of Easter is unchangeable because it is independent of our circumstances. It is a gift from the God who loves us. It is a gift from Jesus who was once a human being like us, who faced unbelievable suffering and whom the Father led through that suffering into a new way of being that transcends human suffering.

When Jesus completed that transformation, he felt the joy of the Father’s divine love and shared it with his friends. They of course did not feel the joy immediately. They were too astonished, too unable to believe, too caught up the trauma they had so recently experienced. But the joy dawned on them – like the dawn after a dark night, like the coming of spring after winter.

Once they experienced that joy, though, their lives were transformed. The external circumstances of their lives may not have changed – the poor were still poor. But they knew inside themselves that their lives now had meaning and that they had worth in God’s eyes and hope in their own future.

The joy of Easter may not remain with us as joy as a permanent emotion. But it will remain as a deep assurance, a deep affirmation to which we can return at any time, especially in time of need. So, I hope your Easter Sunday and Easter Season will be happy. But much more I hope that the joy of the Risen Christ will continue to be your lifeline and inspiration today and in all the days to come.

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Fr. Ben Hawley, SJ
Fr. Ben, as Jesuit priest, has served as Pastor and Director of Catholic Campus Ministry since August 2010. As pastor his ministry focus is helping the parish be “the field hospital for the wounded,” per Pope Francis, where people discover Jesus’ liberation and healing. He also leads a communion service each game day for UM players and coaches of the football team. Following his ordination in June 2000 Fr. Ben served as President of Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School of Indianapolis until 2006. Prior to becoming Catholic in 1988, Fr. Ben worked for the Agency for International Development, the foreign assistance program of the US Government.
Email: pastorstmarys@gmail.com

Out of the Tomb

Written by Rita Zyber on Holy Saturday

Today I’m feeling the paradox of Lent – there’s so much joy amid the sorrow of the paschal mystery.

I can see this in our RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) group. For months, they have been preparing with joy for the Easter Vigil Mass. Tonight, we’ll sing psalms with a huge choir. We’ll bless the fire and the water and unwrap a brand new paschal candle. Once again, I’ll be in tears as these new members of the Church hold out their hands, becoming part of the Eucharist for the first time.

But first, we stand in the empty church for rehearsal. The lighting is low and it’s quiet as we pray together. It feels still, like the tomb that held Jesus’ lifeless body for a short time.  Today, on Holy Saturday, we can imagine the pain and sorrow his followers – and especially Mary – must have felt as everything seemed to be over. On that Saturday so long ago, there was nothing but the tomb.

Fortunately, we know the tomb was not the end.  Death did not prevail and it doesn’t for us either. Tonight’s reading (one of many) assures us: We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him. (Romans 6: 3-11)

But the disciples did not yet know this, so they waited, confused and afraid. They waited, until Jesus, himself, came to them and said, “Peace be with you.”  That’s the peace we feel this Holy Saturday. Together, these 30 people have given great effort to their faith. They’ve all prayed and bonded and laughed together. They’ve experienced reconciliation and great emotion.

Now the peace comes.

This group understands that Easter Vigil is just the beginning. Already, they are looking for ways to live out their new faith – to be fully part of the Body of Christ. They want to be liturgical ministers, participate in service and share their new faith with others.

That’s what Jesus wanted. As he healed and served others, he also celebrated life with his friends and loved ones – the savior who fed people, changed water to wine and told us he would never leave us alone.

“With Christ joy is constantly born anew.” Pope Francis

Questions for Reflection:
Am I waiting in confusion, or am I seeking to learn and deepen my relationship with God?
Do I approach the Eucharist each week with as much enthusiasm and desire as our newest members?

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Rita Zyber
Rita joined the St. Mary’s staff in 2014 to serve as the RCIA Assistant/Coordinator. Rita has previous staff experience at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Ann Arbor, as well as years of volunteer service in religious education, stewardship, music ministry and RCIA. She is also a freelance writer. She and her husband, Frank, have two college-age daughters, Claire and Lauren.
Email: rzyber@smspnewman.org

Accepting Grace

Written by an undergraduate student on Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion

This past spring break, I traveled to Guatemala on a medical mission trip. The organization that I traveled with had many projects in this country, and one of them was constructing wells in areas that desperately needed them. After hearing all week about how amazing this well was, I developed pretty high expectations. When my group finally visited it, I was a bit underwhelmed. This well was simply a concrete cylinder protruding from the ground with a metal spigot covered by some plywood and cloth. Initially, I failed to see what all the excitement was about. Then, a member of my group explained the massive impact that this well had. Built on the property of a woman and her son, this well had transformed the lives of hundreds of people. The family and the surrounding families had received a long-lasting, sustainable source of clean drinking water, which had the power to free them from the water-borne illnesses so common in this area, the long, arduous trips to wells much farther away, and the poor hygiene that is a side effect of living in certain conditions.

Jesus is the water of life that rejuvenated a dry, sin-ravished world. He cleansed us from the sins that tarnished and wounded our souls. He was human, He was tempted, and He was afraid, but He never sinned. Full of trust, He followed His Father’s will, and in turn, was exalted.  In an awe-inspiring fulfillment of God’s plan that began with that original Good Friday and culminated three days later with the Resurrection, Jesus was the atonement for a fallen world.

However, even 2000 years later, many of us still feel the pain and burdens of sin. Caught up in our failures, it’s easy to forget that Jesus already carried the Cross and reconciled us with God. He is like the well in Masagua, Guatemala: a never-ending source of renewal, healing, and life. The cool thing about wells is that they can be built wherever there is need, since groundwater is present beneath virtually all land on earth. If you dig deep enough, you will be able to find clean water. In all areas of our lives, this “living water” is present just below the surface, found with just a bit of digging. Jesus is standing with open arms, ready to take us into His embrace, forgiving and healing us. All we have to do is to accept His grace.

“But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” -John 4:14

Questions for Reflection:
In what areas of your life can you open yourself up to God’s mercy and healing?
How can you better trust in the Lord’s will, even if the current road is difficult?

Given up for YOU

Written by Kelly Dunlop on Holy Thursday (Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper)

On an exceptionally warm Friday afternoon in December, I crossed the street from the historic hotel where I had gathered to get ready with my girlfriends to the Newman Center to marry my best friend. The church was beautifully decorated with poinsettias and greenery from the Christmas celebrations just days before as I linked arms with both my mom and dad to walk down the aisle. When the doors to the chapel opened, I was moved to tears to see this space that I loved and had worshiped in for many years filled with our friends and family from across the globe, each who we held precious memories with and shaped our experiences in diverse ways.  Despite the hundreds of times I had previously walked down that exact same aisle I would not be able to ever do so again without some recollection of this moment- one of my most favorite from our wedding day.

Celebrating Holy Thursday at St. Mary’s for me taps into a similar experience. Regular 10 o’clockers, it is rare I get to celebrate mass with a majority of the students, grad students and residents I serve and work with in other capacities of parish life. Holy Thursday feels like a fantastic family reunion as I get a moment to catch up with a few of our alum who have traveled in to celebrate the Triduum with St. Mary’s. Some of our snowbirds have just landed back in Michigan after months away in various warmer climates. Many of the youth we have watched grow up are home from college to celebrate Easter with their families. Rather than 6 different liturgies as is our Sunday practice, we are gathered as one community.

I imagine Jesus experiencing some of these same feelings as he gathered his dearest ones around him in gratitude and love for this precious meal. “This is my body, given up for YOU.” Period. Without conditions. Not when you are pious, perfect, compassionate, generous. Not you who are religious, Christian or Catholic. Just YOU- as you are. And if that weren’t enough, following the institution of the remarkable gift of himself Jesus drops to his knees to wash the feet of his disciples. He sets a model for all of us of what self-gift really means.

In December, my husband Paul and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary and if there is one thing we have learned thus far it is a life promised is not the same as a life practiced. When the wedding day and honeymoon are over, one has to choose daily (sometimes multiple times within the day) to love. It is much easier to say I do to “in good times and bad; in sickness and health” on your wedding day than in the messier parts of life. As a Eucharistic people, we are sent out to serve, to love, to struggle with. As each of us walk down the aisle this weekend to receive Jesus, may our “Amen” resound as our commitment to love and serve in good times and bad.

Questions for Reflection:
Within hours of his beautiful and intimate gathering with friends, Jesus is in agony, terror, pain, physical distress and eventually dies. Can you and I love so deeply as to enter into those places with another? To care without curing? To love without judgment? To allow parts of ourselves to be broken?

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Kelly Dunlop
Kelly was delighted to join the campus ministry staff at St. Mary’s in 2011. Before coming to St. Mary’s, Kelly was the associate director for social justice at the Newman Parish at her alumnus the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill where she studied psychology (’02) and social work (’05). While her heart still bleeds Carolina Blue, she and her family (husband Paul and children Conor and Erin) have truly come to find a home in Ann Arbor.
Email: kldunlop@umich.edu

Focusing on Christ

Written by Elise Huber on Wednesday of Holy Week

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: Dear Lord, Thank you for the sunshine today and how it warmed my body and soul. Thank you for the great conversation I had with my sister that made me feel relaxed and forget about my stress in that moment. Help me to feel more peaceful about my future and be okay with the unknown…. Should I have submitted that application for the job next year? I don’t know. What about my classes? I can’t focus anymore. That is exam is coming up and I am not ready. Oh, and I need to write that paper. Where is my computer?…

This Lent has been blurred. My prayer quickly dwindles away as distractions compete for my attention. I have not been able to focus on my work or on God. My mind travels too fast which ultimately leaves me feeling alone and unaccomplished.

Despite the difficulties, I still would not call this a failed Lent. Instead I see it as a stagnant Lent. I have stood still looking around trying to focus on where God is working in my life and find some direction to follow. Only, my vision has been blurred.

Now we have entered Holy week and are reminded of the story of our Lord’s Passion. In today’s reading we hear about Judas and I can only imagine that he was experiencing the same lack of focus and that his vision was clouded by the views of the world.

“What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?”

Not long after he asks that clouded question, I can only imagine that his vision is quickly pulled into focus as he realizes what is happening and as he witnesses our Lord giving His life to save us. I have been distracted like Judas and Holy Week is giving me an awakening of the purpose of life. Christ is about to come into focus.

Questions for Reflection:
What has clouded your vision of Christ?
How do you relate with Judas as you experience Holy Week? How do you relate with Judas as you look back on your Lenten journey?

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Elise Huber
Elise is a senior at the University of Michigan studying Ecology and Evolutionary Biology with future plans to attend medical school to become a primary care physician. In addition to medicine, Elise is passionate about building community and growing in faith through conversations such as those in Small Church Communities (SCC). She joined her first SCC her freshman year and fell in love with the program. She has been honored to serve St. Mary Student Parish as the SCC intern this year.
Email: eahuber@umich.edu

Written on my Heart

Written by Jeff Hatgas on Tuesday of Holy Week

This past semester, I spent a lot of time researching and implementing team building exercises in an attempt to re-energize the retreat team training that my office has used for years.  I thought that all of this work would pay off in a greater depth of sharing from the students.  Yet, when it was all said and done, I was left seeing the same results.  Honestly, as someone who does this for work, I was deflated.  All I could think was, “Where did I go wrong?” To make matters worse, for a retreat focused entirely on one’s unique call by God, I felt that I was stumbling on my own path toward ministry.

As I took some more time to sit and meditate on this experience, the initial feelings settled down, and I was able to see things more clearly.  Sure, I might have “toiled in vain” (as we see in today’s first reading) with regards to my overarching expectations, but despite this, there were moments of grace in the process.  I needed to take time to redirect my gaze to the little moments–the joy of my own learning, the witnessing of the growth over time in the students leaders, and having yet another reminder for my need to hold myself gently in all things. Although this particular moment felt like a failure—because of the way I had framed it—I know that my that it’s important to take a wider view with the work that I’m doing.  Once I do that, I can sense that it’s bearing fruit—even if I can’t always see it.

This memory is a jolt to my system in remembering that no one has ever gotten through life without bumps along the road. Working through this experience, has helped me to reorient myself toward what I may be invited to by God. It is also a reminder for me to process both the joys and pains of my life with others as I continue to discern the name God has so tenderly written on my heart.

Questions for Reflection:
What do you do to bounce back from disappointment?
How do your experiences help orient you to your unique calling?

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Jeff Hatgas
Jeff is currently pursuing his Masters in Theology and Ministry at the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry. He worked as a Peer Minister at St. Mary Student Parish during the 2013-2014 academic year.
Email: hatgasj@bc.edu

Slowing Down

Written by Andrew Zak on Monday of Holy Week

Yesterday we celebrated Palm Sunday. At the beginning of Mass we were singing Hosanna’s and proclaiming Jesus as our king. And less than 10 minutes later, we heard how he was betrayed by Judas, denied by Peter, falsely accused and sentenced, forced to carry a cross, and put to death. In the longest Gospel reading of the year, one great irony is that everything in the life of Jesus seems to happen so fast at this time. In less than 24 hours Jesus goes from sharing a meal with his disciples to sharing Himself totally for us. And so much in between.

How do we even begin to contemplate all that has taken place?

Stop. Breathe. And for a moment, just be.

There is a lot to take in, especially from the Gospel we just heard yesterday. While Palm Sunday may be a shock to our system in some sense, it quickly puts Holy Week in perspective. But in the coming days, we will experience these same events again, only this time a bit more slowly during the Triduum. So what’s in these first few days of Holy Week, in the “calm before the storm” if you will?

Perhaps it’s a chance to catch our breath. To bring our Lenten preparation to a culmination. To begin our journey with Jesus through His suffering, through His dying, and through His rising.

On this Monday of Holy Week, let us ask God for the grace to enter more deeply into His saving act of merciful love.

Questions for Reflection:
Where am I on my personal journey with Jesus at the start of Holy Week?
How can I be open to receiving God’s love and mercy this week?

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Andrew Zak
Andrew graduated with his Bachelor’s (2014) and Master’s (2015) Degrees in Chemical Engineering from Cleveland State University. He moved to Ann Arbor in the fall of last year to start his PhD in Chemical Engineering at U of M. Andrew enjoys being actively involved at Saint Mary’s as a catechist and sharing great food and conversation with the Grad Student & Young Professional group. When he’s not in the lab or at Saint Mary’s, he can likely be found on the basketball court.
Email: azak43@gmail.com

Called to Audition: You Have Been Cast

Written by Fr. John Ferone, SJ on Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

There is one drama, one story: OUR story; the story of the body of Christ as it continues to unfold in every age, and we play all the roles.  And perhaps that is why the Church in its Palm Sunday liturgy invites the congregation to participate by assuming the voices of many of the characters in the Passion narrative.

At times this is surely uncomfortable, as we take our place in a congregation which asks for Barabbas over Jesus, yells “crucify him” and asks that his blood be on us and on our children.  But in fact, if we think contemplate the text, the passion story and the story of our passions is not something foreign to us.  How many of us, like Peter, have ever been over sure of our commitment in the face of danger?  Or have denied knowing someone when they were in trouble?  How many of us, like Judas, have lost our idealism and have betrayed our mission or rebelled against the very enterprise or person that we initially felt so drawn to.  How many of us have ever accused someone falsely or scapegoated another?  How many of us have taken away another’s good name or thrown fuel to the fire through gossip?  How many of us have been a Simon of Cyrene for others and helped shoulder the burden of another?  How many of us have ever stood at the cross of someone who was helpless or sick or dying?  Or how many of us have actually been on the “other side” of the station and have known the experience of Jesus who was betrayed, mocked, abandoned, denied, helped, consoled, or accompanied in our cross, our pain, our dying?

The WAY OF THE CROSS, the way of ego deflation.  The cross is always ego deflating.  It always throws us radically into an experience of our own incapacity to save ourselves, to fix ourselves, to maintain control, to “figure it out.” It is an emptying, a kenosis, a letting go, a jumping into the hands of a merciful Father, an experience of Jesus who prayed, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”  It is a process that leads us to know personally and experientially, that in the end, the Father has the final “piece in the puzzle of our lives.”  And that it is the Father who eternally and unconditionally loves us as it was in the beginning, is NOW and ever shall be.  And that every role we play as part of the grand story, is claimed by Jesus as part of HIS story and will be taken up in glory.  For all that the Father has given him will come up to him and will be raised on the last day.

SPOILER ALERT!!!  It is a Divine Comedy, not a Divine Tragedy!  STAY TUNE TO NEXT SUNDAY!

Questions for Reflection:
As we approach this Holy Week experience, what character do you most resemble at this time?  Allow the Lord to deal with you.
When was the last time you had an “ego deflating moment?”  How did you deal with it?

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Fr. John Ferone, SJ
Email: jferone@smspnewman.org