Passion of the Christ

Passion of the Christ

Last Sunday I went to evening mass at St. Aloysius on the Gonzaga campus. The mass begins at 7:30 PM and so I showed up a little early and prayed. I have a lot of people in my life I am praying for at this time. Mass began and Father Gary Uhlenkott resided over the mass. He explained that he taught music classes at Gonzaga and then started the mass. This was the first time I had the privilege of listening to a sermon by Father Gary. I will explain privilege later. The gospel reading was John 20:25. For people unfamiliar with this reading. This is the passage in which the Apostle Thomas doubts the resurrection of Jesus. He even says," Unless I see the nail marks in his hands, put my fingers into them, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe." Later, when Jesus sees the Apostles he says to Thomas, "Reach here with your finger, and see my hands; and reach here your hand and put it into my side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing." Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus then says to Thomas, "You believe because you've seen me. Blessed are those who haven't seen me but believe."

So Father Gary started out his sermon. He said how awesome it would be for Jesus to walk through the front door of the church so he could see the scars of the crucifixion. Fr. Gary said he could stand there and wait of 40 more years and the likely chance of Jesus walking through those doors is slim. But that's not how Jesus shows himself. He then did some profiling of Jesus. He said.

1. Jesus shows up when a person is alone, on the outskirts of the faith community, when a person is depressed and believes nothing can be done.

2. Jesus shows up as a stranger and not himself.

3. Jesus listens to the concerns of his follower. He lets them tell everything and lets them explain themselves before showing himself, and brings them back to the faith community

Fr. Gary explained this by mentioning two stories. "Mary Magdalene at the Tomb" and the "Road to Emmaus"

In both stories the people are devastated by the loss of Jesus and his teachings. In both stories they met someone that they didn't recognize at first… a person who will listen about there pain and frustration. Then in the final moments Jesus reveals himself. With Mary Magdalene it was the way he said her name. In the road to Emmaus it was the way he broke bread.

I would say I am more spiritual then religious, but over the last few years I had fallen out of religion altogether. Though listening to this sermon it showed me what it is really like to be Godly. I have some really good protestant friends in my life and it was through their acts that I saw God was asking me to return.

Let's analyze my situation. 1. I had just had a huge relationship in which I felt betrayed, lied to, forsaken. I felt I had no one to turn to and no one to understand the pain that I felt. 2. Good friends talked to me. They listened to me, they understood the situations, and felt the hurt with me. 3. By listening to me they helped me see that not all is lost and that I had someone always by my side. In their actions I saw that even though I had denied Jesus (like peter) that God always forgave me for my actions. In doing these things I have become closer to the faith community again.

See Jesus is walking this earth. He walks as you and me. We are his arms and legs and we (in our actions) are showing others what it is like to be Christian.

Fr. Gary then said. Jesus did not come down from heaven and say "I want a church, with a pope and make priest... etc. "Jesus only asked of one thing from us. That was to take peoples stories in, listen to them and reassure them that they are forgiven.
Confession is a big thing in the Catholic Church. You go into a room and meet face to face with a priest. You learn a lesson in humility because you are in your most vulnerable stage and you have to tell them everything that is haunting you. The priest listens to you. It's on the same lines of a shrink listening to you. They listen and then they give sound advice to help you in the future. Finally the priest makes you feel like a human being, the priest understands the pressures of everyday life and forgives you for straying a way from the flock of followers in Christ.

After mass I went to Sami's and had a great discussion with her about the sermon I heard. After talking into midnight I mentioned that I never saw the movie "Passion of the Christ". So at midnight we watched the movie and when it was done I told her what I thought of the movie from a Catholic perspective. It portrayed the Stations of the Cross to a T. I went home that Sunday at about 3 A.M. It was quite a fulfilling day.

I don't talk about my religion much. In fact I feel weird "preaching" about my religion to anyone. I try to be a good guy and I hope in my actions people see this. I'll pray at a dinner table if people want to pray. I'll have a discussion about religion. I stay open minded and faithful.

I try to be the best person I can and I believe by doing this I am living a good life. The sermon was the best I had heard in a long time and I wish I had a recording of it now.

Peace.