Bulletins from April 2024

“I am the true vine and my Father is the vine grower. . . Remain in me, as I remain in you.” Using the image of the vine and the branches (chapter 15, Gospel of John), Jesus describes the connection between Him and believers and, by extension, between and among believers. It is impossible to be connected to the Lord without being connected to others. Just as the branches are joined to the vine, so are they joined to one another. Faith comes through a community, in fact by means of various communities; first among these is the family, then the parish, perhaps the school and sometimes from one’s friends and classmates. Faith is also nurtured by these relationships. We should never discount our role in the faith life of others. Not only by our words, but especially by our example, others can come to – and remain – in Christ, the vine.

The Fourth Sunday of Easter is known as “Good Shepherd Sunday,” because the gospel readings are always from the tenth chapter of the Gospel of John. On “Good Shepherd Sunday,” the Fourth Sunday of Easter, we take up the annual collection to benefit the retired priests of the Diocese of San Jose. This Sunday has been chosen for this appeal as a way to honor our retired priests as good shepherds, after the heart of Jesus, who said: I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep (John 10:14-15). Our gifts to this collection will help to stabilize the retirement fund that benefits 45 currently retired priests and the 38 priests who will reach retirement age in the next 12 years.

It is easy to forget the Apostles’ first reaction to the post-resurrection appearance of Jesus, as narrated in this weekend’s passage from the Gospel of John; they thought He was a ghost. Jesus’ response is an indication of His disappointment in them, but also a sign of His patience: “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” The Lord is also patient with us, with our questions and our doubts. When we have them, we should never be discouraged. If the Lord forgives all our sins, how much more will He ‘forgive’ our questions and doubts, that are not sinful, but merely human?

The celebration of Easter lasts for 50 days, until Pentecost. However, for the Church, the day of Easter extends until today, the Second Sunday of Easter. Throughout Easter Week, we have continued to chant, “Alleluia! Alleluia!” at the conclusion of every Mass. Why do we do this? Because the joy and wonder of the Resurrection of Jesus cannot be contained in a single day. If one were to listen closely to the prayers during the liturgies these days, you might hear the priest speaking of “this day,” even though the day of Easter has passed. For example, in the Preface to the Eucharistic Prayer, after echoing the assembly’s response, “It is right and just,” the celebrant says: It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, at all times to acclaim you, O Lord, but on this day above all to laud you yet more gloriously, when Christ our Passover has been sacrificed. It may be presumptuous to believe that we could do the feast justice even if we were to celebrate it for a thousand days. In fact, every Sunday is called “The Day of the Lord” because in a real way we observe Easter on all the Sundays of the year. That is why we keep Sundays as our weekly holy day, unlike the Jewish people, for whom Saturday remains the Sabbath, in honor of the day that God rested in the biblical account of creation. So we say to all, once again: “Happy Easter!”