Living as a Disciple of Christ

 
A few months ago while in New York I went to the American Indian Museum. I had just walked past it on the previous trip because it just sounded like more history and although I know how important the study of history is for us, it was just a struggle for me because it was so factual. It was really cold one day so I convinced my daughter to go with me since it was across the street.

It was an amazing experience because rather than paragraph after paragraph there were cases and cases of clothing, jewelry, paintings, pottery and even a teepee. In every tribe someone was given the responsibility of being the storyteller. It was his responsibility to share with the little ones the life of the tribe and how it came to be. It definitely kept my attention. Today, when the tribes meet the storyteller is there to relate the customs and traditions.

I have often wondered how Jesus would have kept my attention. How did the apostles and disciples keep the attention of the communities? Reading the Scriptures from a different perspective it becomes apparent that although facts were related, for the most part they were in story form called parables. When you tell a story it is personal. You are expressing yourself and your feelings come through. The feelings vary with the situation but it does hold our attention.

Jesus spoke about the relationship He had with His Father, with His friends and we become interested because it is what we want for ourselves and those we love. I would enjoy hearing your story. You can e-mail it to me or tell me your story in person. Remember God, our father, gave us words to speak and ears to listen.

God bless,

Jeanne Schneider, Pastoral Assistant

email:  jschneider@ststephencatholic.org

Tonight during the Liturgy of the Word for Children, Maria Hoffman our presentation leader, was giving the “Children’s Homily” on the Good Shepherd. As usual, the little ones were really attentive.

Now, flocks, folds, shepherd, Jesus, your name, are all words in this reading and Maria made the lesson come alive. She related it to her family and her farm. She explained how each of her children were in charge of a different group of animals and how each animal was recognized and called by name by their caregiver. Jesus said the same thing of us. He knows us personally. We may be members of the whole but God cares for us individually as if no one else matters.

Maria was teaching a lesson to little ones they can take with them throughout their journey through life. She taught them and helped them to see the importance of showing others how much we care by calling them by name. Once a person knows you care enough to know their name they want to be your friend, to believe in you. If you think back I am sure there are special people you remember and I am pretty sure that they called you by name shortly after you met them.

This past week, several people we knew by name left our parish family to become members of the church triumphant for eternity. These members of our family we knew by name. We knew them because they were so involved in our parish and brought others closer to God.

So, how can WE help Jesus increase His flock and listen for His voice? The answer is simple. See each person you meet as a person loved by God and call them by name. Invite them to know God. Introduce them to Jesus. In commercial lingo:  Jesus is a “soft sell.”

God bless you.

Jeanne Schneider, Pastoral Assistant

For Christians Easter is the central feast of our faith. Without Easter the reality of our faith would just be another attempt of man seeking answers for how we came to be and speculation about whether or not there is an afterlife. But we believe that Jesus rose Himself from the dead

It is interesting, however, that this, the most central event in our Christian Faith – the Resurrection – is not described in any of the Gospels. We have careful accounts of so many of Jesus’ miracles, including His raising Lazarus from the dead, yet we have no description of the Resurrection itself. All we have is the account of the empty tomb. Even Mary Magdalene is uncertain as to what the empty tomb really means. She runs to the Apostles and says, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” St. Peter, and the other disciple, run to see the empty tomb. Clearly this was not the work of grave robbers, because the expensive burial linens are still there. The Gospel says they “saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the Scriptures that He had to rise from the dead.” They had faith and hope.

The apostles had genuine faith. No one had been there, they did not yet understand. Throughout the years theologians have attached many words, descriptions, and reflections which of course are necessary. For us it is more being drawn into the event throughout the Tridium. We go from joy of Palm Sunday, to the experience of elation on Holy Thursday, to sadness and gratitude on Friday, to exhalations on the Easter Vigil. We do understand more 2000 years later. We do have the faith of the apostles but we have additional resources to help us understand what this means in our faith life and daily life .We do have the scriptures and the writings of many theologians to help us today.

I also am reminded of the Resurrection of Jesus when I see faith come to life in a person, a baby coming to church for the first time, a flower coming into bloom and so many, many things in our life today. Have a wonderful and blessed Easter.