Dear St. Rita Families,
Happy Easter! This Sunday is the Octave day of the Resurrection of the Lord, and so we celebrate it with basically the same solemnity as Easter itself. Recall, then, exactly what Easter is and what it means. Jesus Christ rose from the dead. This is an earth-shattering reality, one that changes the meaning of my existence and the direction of my life. It is meant, however, also to change the meaning of everyone’s existence and the direction of everyone’s lives. The Creator God, who also became man and died for our sins, has risen from the dead, showing that the operative reality in the story of the universe is not in fact death, but is rather life. The force which orchestrates and guides all things is not sin and evil, but rather goodness and charity. Even more to the point, that goodness and charity have a Name – Jesus Christ.
So, is it all that surprising that in a world that has rejected God and nearly all that is good and holy, the faithful wonder how and when God will respond to the evil that seems to be increasing unchecked all around us? The world is in the middle of two highly publicized regional conflicts (Ukraine and Israel) and appears to be on the verge of a third in the Far East. A bridge collapses in Baltimore in a freak accident, there is a crisis at the border, our beloved country feels more polarized every day, and the peace that many have worked so hard to achieve seems farther away than ever. In the midst of all of this (and more), two large earthquakes and Monday’s solar eclipse all have people wondering if God is trying to tell us something.
It would be improper for me (or anyone) to engage in fear-mongering and to try to stoke flames of terror and confusion, which are means of destabilization and control. It would also be improper to ignore real threats to life and limb that could result in catastrophe for many. The Church, fortunately, has taught that since the completion of the Paschal Mystery on the day of Pentecost, we have been in the end times. Our Lord tells us that we do not know the day nor the hour (Mt 25:13), but He also tells us to watch (Mk 13:37).
A detail that the regular news has overlooked is the fact that this year, Monday, April 8 (the day of the solar eclipse) is also the Solemnity of the Annunciation. Transferred this year from March 25 due to Holy Week and Easter, this feast commemorates the moment of the Incarnation, when God became man in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary who received with joy the announcement of the Archangel Gabriel. This truth is not just a nice memory from a past long ago. It is a real event with consequences for all of mankind, from the beginning of time until the end. It is not just a cute, but meaningless story that kids re-enact in front of extended family who are in town for a few days. The birth of this Child turned Jerusalem on its head and provoked a massacre almost too gruesome to think about (cf. Mt 2), precisely because the presence of the King of the Jews meant that earthly powers would be brought to naught.
That state of things still stands 2000 years after the fact. Christ, the King of the Jews and of the whole universe, has not only come to earth, but has risen from the dead and rules eternally. An earth that fails to accept Him certainly sets itself up to be shaken to the core (see Lk 19:27).
Therefore, it seems to me that our main response to all the events that are causing so much consternation should be very simple: Reaffirm our belief in Jesus Christ, the Son of God who became man, died for our sins, rose from the dead, and founded the Catholic Church! The real darkness is not the eclipse that will last for only a short time, but which will have many people in awe of God’s creation. The real darkness is the darkness of unbelief, which can only be expelled by the light of faith. Therefore, in a time of great darkness, it is all the more imperative that we let our light shine before men, that they may see our good works and give glory to our Heavenly Father (cf. Mt 5:16). Who knows – perhaps they will repent and believe in the One in whom alone we have salvation!
In Christ,
Fr. Christensen