theROCK

The Edge of Our Seats

There are moments in life that keep us on the edge of our seats.

Maybe it’s a baseball game where there are runners on base and a hit can win the game, or double overtime in a basketball game with seconds on the clock when a 3 point shot goes up. Perhaps these moments hit a little closer to home—like watching your child swimming or running in a meet,  neck and neck with another athlete. Whatever the results are, we want to remember and recount them with others afterwards.

When was the last time something in your faith life kept you on the edge of your seat? Recently, I experienced several "edge of your seat" faith moments.

My daughter and I were blessed to be present at the ordination of two men, Father Stephen Buting and Father Nicholas Baumgardner. I also witnessed children eagerly walking to the sanctuary for a blessing before heading off to Children’s Liturgy the Word and spent time in the nursery with some of our littlest and most “active” parishioners. Finally, I was present for the Mass of Thanksgiving for Father Nick at his home parish and received a blessing from him! These are all moving experiences for me—watching people answer God’s call to seek, know and become Christ.

Be watchful and aware of the faith moments in your life that keep you on the edge of your seat. God is present all around us. Are we as eager to share those edge of our seat moments as quickly and enthusiastically as those of our everyday lives?

Fear

We know that when Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning and saw the stone removed from the tomb, that Jesus had risen from the dead. But at the time, the disciples were not quite sure what had occurred. In fact, they locked themselves in a room, afraid of what would happen if they appeared in public. For those many days, they lived in fear.

So, what does Jesus do to address these fears? He says four simple words: “Peace be with you.”

He wanted them to truly believe in the resurrection, to know that they had no need for fear, that he would be with them every moment of every day (especially when he gives them the power of the Holy Spirit).

Today, many of us have our own daily struggles. We worry about money, about health, about relationships. We lock ourselves in our own rooms, and we try to solve all of our problems alone.

We live in fear.

But just like the disciples, we soon discover that we can’t do it alone. That we need God every moment of every day to guide us and show us the way. We need the power of the Holy Spirit to fill our minds and hearts. That’s why the same words are just as effective today as they were 2000 years ago.

“Peace be with you.”

If we listen to these words, we will truly begin to understand the power of the resurrection.

A Voice in the Crowd

Every Palm Sunday I struggle. As members of the parish in the pews, we are asked to participate in the Gospel, reading aloud the role of "the crowd." We have lines like: "Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us." And "Crucify him! Crucify him!" The crowd persists in their call for Jesus' death, and sadly, their voices prevail.

It's hard for me to recite these words during Mass. I understand that I'm playing a part. I know that I'm simply participating in a dramatic interpretation of the events. But it's still hard. Sometimes I simply sit and listen to others read the lines. While the reading of the lines has made me a bit uncomfortable, this experience has actually made me think. What would I say if I was actually a member of the real crowd, the one in Luke's Gospel? Would I join in and cry "Crucify him? Crucify him!" Would I stand silently by and simply listen?

Or would I have the courage to speak up and say, "I believe him. I think he truly is the Son of God."

Crowd mentality is real and it's challenging. It's easy to simply blend into the group and be swept along with the emotion at hand. We experience it today, some 2000 years later.

So that's my challenge this Holy Week. If I'm a believer, a true disciple, am I willing to stand out above the crowd and speak my truth? Am I willing to fight for my faith? Even at a consequence? If I'm not willing to speak the negative words at Mass, am I ready to say the positive words in my daily life?