My Heartfelt Letter to an RCIA Catechumen/Elect for Her Retreat Before Her Baptism

Paschal Mystery (Passion, Death & Resurrection) of Jesus: The Only Hope For Our World (Homily #190) with Reference to Bl. Anne Catherine's Mystical Vision of the Agony in the Garden on Holy Thursday

In the book novel written by Michael D. O’Brien called “Father Elijah,” two characters in a Carmelite monastery are talking to each other.  During the conversation, the issue of human suffering came up.  The character who was the Superior of the Carmelite Community says to the newer member, “If we have taught you the Cross, then we have taught you well.”

The Cross!  There is no denying that within the past year, the world has seen an increased incredible amount of suffering on a massive scale.  Crisis after crisis looms over entire nations and even your very family or your very life.  The uncomfortable topic of death has been more real to millions of people around the world as we fight to give hope for victory against an unseen enemy.

There is no better way to address these issues of human suffering, hardship and even death than with the Gospel.  Only the Gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us the Christian meaning of huma    n suffering.  There is no Resurrection without the Cross.

In today’s Gospel, a group of Greek outsiders approach Philip.  They say, “We would like to see Jesus.”  Philip in turn, goes to Andrew.  And both Philip and Andrew then go up to Jesus with the request from the Greek outsiders. 

There are two main replies to highlight that Jesus gave.  And these are also the two main points today as we approach the end of the 40 days of Lent:

First, Jesus said, “Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.”  Second, Jesus said, “And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.”

These two images – the grain of wheat AND being lifted up from the earth – represent two great mysteries we will celebrate at the highest three days of the Church’s liturgical calendar, in a sense even more important than Christmas.

The grain of WHEAT refers to the Holy Eucharist which was instituted on Holy Thursday.  And Jesus being lifted up from the earth refers to Jesus being crucified on a Cross that is lifted up on Good Friday.  Holy Thursday and Good Friday come before Easter Sunday.

Today, we too like the Greek outsiders ask the Apostles, “We want to see Jesus.”  For us to see Jesus, then, we must see Jesus in these Great three days – this Holy Triduum -- of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

On Holy Thursday, Jesus instituted the adorable Mystery of the Eucharist.  Jesus is first and foremost describing Himself as the grain of wheat that dies and bears fruit.  On Holy Thursday, furthermore, we see Jesus in the three interconnected realities on that night which is different from all other nights: The institution of the Eucharist (which is the Mass or the Divine Liturgy), the institution of the priesthood, and the New Commandment of Agape or Love as seen in the washing of the feet.  Eucharist, priesthood and Agape: Like today’s First Reading from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah, it is here that God fulfills His promise, “I will be your God, and you will be my people.”  “I will place my law within them and write it upon their hearts.”

When Jesus, who is the grain of wheat that dies, takes ordinary bread, he says “This is my body”, he gave us his Real Presence until the end of time.  He also commanded “Do this in memory of me” which was a command for the priesthood of the New Law.  During that night, Jesus, ordained the Twelve men gathered in the upper room.  According to the mystic Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich who had a vision of Holy Thurs  day, Jesus arranged the stoles of the Apostles in different ways to signify their ordination to the high priesthood.  It was also said that after Jesus spoke the words “This is my body” he saw all the Christians throughout the ages that would benefit from receiving His most precious Body and Blood.  And it gave Him such joy and delight.

Then, later that night, after instituting the Eucharist so that we would not forget what he suffered for us, the Wheat that dies for us, underwent his agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. Whereas in the 40 days in the desert, Jesus defeated the devil’s triple temptation in the desert, but in the Garden, Jesus seemed to have been almost beaten by the devil to the point that Jesus was unrecognizable to His Apostles.  It was said that in the Agony in the Garden, Jesus had a vision of all the sins of the world that was and ever would be committed, from the first sin committed by Adam and Eve to the last sin before his Second Coming at the end of the world.  And the devil mocked Jesus in the Garden.  Jesus was crushed like wheat to the earth; he was like grapes crushed to produce wine.  Are you really going to die for this sin and for that sin?  He saw your sins and my sins.  And it weakened Jesus and the ingratitude broke his tender Heart.

He then went to Peter and some of the others who were asleep in the garden, like a man in sorrow and legs and body shaking.  And he told them that this was a dangerous time, to stay awake and pray.  Then he went back to the Garden and had a more consoling vision.  He began to see the flock that would be saved because of his death on the Cross.  He saw how those saints of the past in the Old Testament, and the new saints that would come after Him, would draw close to his Heart.  All his disciples through the ages would be strengthened by his passion and death and draw their strength from Jesus’ agony.  He saw you and me gather around Him.  And it gave Jesus such joy and encouragement.  Ironically, it gave Jesus strength when he saw the good that his death would accomplish.  Like a lover to the beloved, how got up, fixed himself, and was determined to die for you and me that Good Friday.  Imagine that: He who is our rock and strength was Himself strengthened by thinking of you and how you would be in Heaven.

Finally, like the Second Reading from the Letter to the Hebrews, Jesus, “Son though he was, …learned obedience from what he suffered; and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him”.  The Catechism teaches that, like Jesus, the Church as the Bride of Christ too will undergo an agony and passion, a Palm Sunday and a Good Friday like her Beloved.  I do not speculate whether we are in that moment now, or if this is a prelude to the final trial of the Church, but it is the opinion of the Fathers and the Sacred Tradition of the Church that just as there was the Passion of Jesus, so too there will be the Passion of the Church.  You and I share in the Passion of Jesus, perhaps more so this Lent than previous Lents.  Whenever we sacrifice in caring for friends, family and strangers, whenever we suffer for doing good to those we love or even for our enemies, we share in Jesus’ victory over evil, suffering and death. 

[Invitation to Palm Sunday & Holy Week liturgies]

In closing, dear brothers and sisters, may these mysteries of the Faith, of Holy Thursday and Good Friday, therefore, be for us our response to the problems and evils and sufferings that plague our modern world in general and our lives in particular.  May the power of the Wheat of the Eucharist and the wisdom of the Cross that is lifted up lead us to the Easter victory of our Resurrection.