Morning Reading: Luke 24.28-32 NLV

“Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?”

By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus acted as if he were going on, but they begged him, “Stay the night with us, since it is getting late.” So he went home with them. As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared!

They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” And within the hour they were on their way back to Jerusalem. There they found the eleven disciples and the others who had gathered with them, who said, “The Lord has really risen! He appeared to Peter.”

Morning Reading: 1 Cor 15.17-20 ESV

And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead….

“King of kings and Lord of lords” – Hallelujah!

Peanut Gallery: Thank you Opera Company of Philadelphia for bringing Christ into our culture. He is risen… and that’s something to sing about! Happy Easter.

http://www.operaphila.org/facebook — On Saturday, October 30, 2010, the Opera Company of Philadelphia brought together over 650 choristers from 28 participating organizations to perform one of the Knight Foundation’s “Random Acts of Culture” at Macy’s in Center City Philadelphia. Accompanied by the Wanamaker Organ – the world’s largest pipe organ – the OCP Chorus and throngs of singers from the community infiltrated the store as shoppers, and burst into a pop-up rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s “Messiah” at 12 noon, to the delight of surprised shoppers. Continue reading ““King of kings and Lord of lords” – Hallelujah!” →

Angry Jesus…

Peanut Gallery: I’ve been watching the Easter Vigil at the Basilica in Washington, DC. I’ve been there many times with Prolife Christians at the annual March for Life in Washington. But tonight I was struck by the colossal icon by Polish artist John de Rosen – “Christ in Majesty.” That’s how I found this blog. I realize that it moves us ahead in the Easter story to the Ascension… but still, it’s something to think about.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2009
Angry Jesus

Angry Jesus is a powerful image. The minute I see his face, I start hearing the “Kyrie” from Mozart’s Requiem in my head. He’s not the kind and gentle Jesus of the Gospel that everyone wants as a best friend. He’s been to hell and back and he’s way past all that. He has been wounded and tortured but now even the deep jab to his heart from a Roman lance is no more than a scratch. This Christ isn’t here to pray fervently in the desert or smile at us. This Christ is done. With his open arms he seem to ask either, “What the hell are you people doing?” or, “Well? Are you ready to open your arms, or aren’t you? Have you stepped up and lived up to the goodness within you, or do I have to smack you upside the head?” I love Angry Jesus.

Last weekend I went to Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., the largest Roman Catholic Church in North America and one of the ten largest churches in the world.

People either love the Shrine or they’re repelled by it. I’m one of the former. I used to go there a lot during high school. The vastness of the interior and the beauty, to my mind, of the art work had the power to lift my spirit and give me a sense of calm and focus. Continue reading “Angry Jesus…” →

Evening Reading: Mark 16.1-8 ESV

When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him.

And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back— it was very large.

And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.

But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.