I am writing this on Palm Sunday evening. On this Palm Sunday when we proclaim Matthew’s version of the Passion narrative, I am thinking ahead to the triduum, which highlights the pattern of the Christian life: dying and rising. On that first Easter Jesus sets the bar. He empties himself completely through his life and death, a death that comes about because he remains faithful and challenges power. Then on that Sunday the Father raises Jesus up so that the Power of the Holy Spirit might be released. It is that Spirit who is the Spirit of Jesus in the world that empowers all the good we see around us.
Last night was the annual Kevin Eidt Scholarship Dinner. This annual event is held in memory of Kevin who died 20 years ago on January 23rd of his freshman year at Boston College. The Eidts were determined to keep Kevin’s memory alive. He had been talented, generous, bright, athletic, and charitable. So they created scholarships in his memory that have raised one million eight hundred thousand dollars. These scholarships have financed the education of students who have already gone on to make a difference in the world. That is dying and rising. But remember one thing, when Jesus rises he is still the crucified Jesus. He carries the marks of his wounds in His glorified body. Kevin’s death as does any death, leaves wounds which become transformed by the Grace of God.
That first Easter started the process of dying and rising in those of us who call ourselves Christian. Most of the time, we do not see our dyings and risings. During this Easter season, it is important to thank all of those people who give of themselves day in and day out so that others might flourish. All of us have such people in our lives. This Easter let’s remember them all, those who have gone home to God and those who still bless and enrich our lives. In this parish they are too many to count.
