April 14, 2024

Dear Parishioners,

We read in this Sunday’s Gospel about the scene following the encounter at Emmaus. The two disciples who traveled with Jesus, though they didn’t recog­nize him until Jesus broke the bread at their dinner table, returned immediate­ly to Jerusalem to tell the apostles what had trans­pired. Now, the apostles and even the two Emmaus disciples had already heard that Jesus had risen from the dead, from Mary and the women, but they didn’t believe. The two Emmaus disciples come to belief be­cause they’ve seen Jesus themselves, but the eleven apostles still doubt. So, that’s three times the apostles don’t believe.

To me, this is redemption for both Peter and Thomas. Peter denied Jesus three times during the Passion, as you recall. Now it’s the turn for the other apostles to deny three times the Resurrection, arguably more significant than Peter’s denial. As for Thomas, you remember last week we read in John’s Gospel about how Thomas doubted and was not able to believe until he touched the wounds. Well, here in Luke’s Gospel we see all the apostles have a similar doubt and request to touch the wounds. Jesus says to the group, “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself.” So, forget about “Doubting Thomas.” It should be “Doubting Peter, Andrew, James, John, Matthew, etc.”

Then occurs one of the more curious scenes in all the Gospels. “While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, ‘Have you anything here to eat?’ They gave him a piece of baked fish; he took it and ate it in front of them.”

Yes, Jesus ate the fish to prove to the apostles he wasn’t a ghost. He was also showing them that, while he was glorified, he was still a man. Men need to eat. Men want to eat. Jesus, I’m sure, wanted to eat some of that great Sea of Galilee fish he had enjoyed during his life. It had been three days since he had eaten and he had been through a lot (greatest understatement ever), so he certainly deserved that fish. It would be like me wanting to have some Malnati’s deep dish if I were away for a period of time. It’s so good and a taste of home.

As much as Jesus loves the Father in Heav­en, and is meant to be in Heaven, he still delights in parts of the earth. Him eating that piece of baked fish (and we could imagine him savoring it with a smile on his face) is him telling us that the world can still be good.

A student asked me the other day what’s my favorite thing at SPC. I said “the people.” As great as the church and ministries are, it’s the people, each of you, that is important. Jesus would say the same thing. Yes, he enjoyed that piece of fish, but he wants more is you. If he can be with you and savor your soul, he’ll have the greatest smile on his face.

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The 2nd Grade First Communion Retreat will take place this Saturday, April 13th at 9am, starting in the Holy Family Chapel. I will do a teaching Mass with the families and then they will do a bread-baking exercise with Anna Mae Parkhill. We look forward to First Communion on May 4 and May 11.

This Sunday, April 14th will be the Family Mass at 10:30am in the Holy Family Chapel. A special thanks to the coordinators of the Mass and the musicians.

This Friday, April 19th at 10am in the church is the SPC School VIP Mass for kindergarten through 3rd grade. Each student will bring a “very important person” as their guest for the morning and for Mass. Welcome VIPs.

Our next Word on the Street event will take place at Harp and Fiddle on Tuesday, April 23rd. Fr. Tim Anastos, the previous associate pastor at Mary Seat of Wisdom and current assistant at the Newman Center at UIC, will join me for the dis­cussion.

We are planning a special book giveaway and discussion in the next few weeks. The book will be Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Mary by Dr. Brant Pitre. We thought this would be helpful for the month of May. The plan is to give the book free to whoever signs up. We will then have a parish-wide book discussion and lecture on Mary at the end of May. Stay tuned for more details.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. James Wallace.