14 COMMENTARY
There are a lot of good reasons to make Catholic Community Hospice your choice when selecting a hospice.
THE LEAVEN • APRIL 3, 2009
MARK MY WORDS
It’s easier to face life together
President MOST REVEREND JOSEPH F. NAUMANN Editor REVEREND MARK GOLDASICH, STL frmark@theleaven.com Managing Editor ANITA McSORLEY anita@theleaven.com Senior Reporter JOE BOLLIG joe@theleaven.com Production Manager TODD HABIGER todd@theleaven.com Advertising Representative JENNIFER SIEBES jennifer@theleaven.com Reporter KARA HANSEN kara@theleaven.com Circulation sub@theleaven.com
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A
s the season of Lent comes to a close, I feel that a confession to readers of this column is in order: I’m turning into a Facebook junkie.
There, I’ve said it. I don’t remember precisely when or why I first started a Facebook page, but I do know exactly when I got hooked. It was the moment I decided that I not only needed to be connected to Facebook while sitting in front of my computer, I also had to have access to it from my cell phone. If you’re wondering what in the world Facebook is, let me give you a quick lesson: It’s a free social networking site on the Internet. It was founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg, Dustin Moskovitz and Chris Hughes, who were students at Harvard at the time. Gradually it spread from Harvard to other universities and then to high schools. Recently, though, it has been “highjacked” by us older folks. According to Lev Grossman at Time.com, those “between 35 and 54 are the fastest-growing group on Facebook — there are now 7 million of us, up 276 percent in the last half of 2008.” So, what’s the big attraction to Facebook? For me, it’s the ability to connect easily with people, especially those who have impacted my life over the years. Users of Facebook “friend”
others (who are free to confirm or deny the “friend” request), allowing them access to their personal page. My list of friends includes people I went to high school, college and seminary with; former students from my days at Marymount International School in Rome and Hayden High in Topeka; colleagues in the Catholic press; couples whose wedding Mass I celebrated; and even an author whose mystery novels I enjoy. Often I never had the chance (or didn’t realize it until later) to tell these people how they helped form me into the person I am today. Facebook helps me to get that job done. I’ve had an opportunity to not only send friends written messages, but to chat live online and even more extensively by phone offline. More, though, than just reliving the past, Facebook opens doors into what’s presently happening in my friends’ lives. I’ve had a number of faith discussions online; I’ve received requests to pray for particular intentions; I’ve been able to communicate with friends in the Catholic press about pressing issues; I’ve gotten to wish people something as simple as a happy birthday on their special day; and I’ve been able to express sympathy when learning of
tragedies that sneak into people’s lives. In short, Facebook is a place for connecting with friends, new and old, near and far. It’s a place to relive old memories and to make new ones. It’s a place to share joys (and old photos), experience support and healing, and give encouragement and guidance. If those positive aspects of Facebook sound familiar to you, they should. Facebook tries to capture in a virtual way online something that we humans do naturally in the real world: Gather together and share our stories. And, isn’t that what we do sacramentally in the Mass? We come together from many places, share memories (through the Scripture readings and the commemoration of the Last Supper), and ask for healing, support and guidance. Naturally, not everything about Facebook is positive and healthy. Like anything where human beings are involved, it can be misused. It’s here that I let my faith guide me: In dealing with others — in the real world or the virtual one — I’m to model compassion, understanding, respect and courtesy. I’m to treat the heart of another with the same care that God treats my heart. This principle helps me to navigate life — and Facebook — more confidently. One last lesson (before I check my Facebook page): As nice as Facebook can be, it’s no substitute for a face-toface meeting. The same can be said for our faith. With Holy Week upon us, don’t settle for a virtual celebration of these most holy days. Plan to be there face-to-face with your fellow parishioners and your Lord.
THE GOSPEL TRUTH
SCRIPTURE READINGS HOLY WEEK April 5 PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION Mk 11: 1-10; Is 50: 4-7; Ps 22: 8-9, 17-18a, 1920, 23-24; Phil 2: 6-11; Mk 14:1 — 15:47 April 6 Monday of Holy Week Is 42: 1-7; Ps 27: 1-3, 13-14; Jn 12: 1-11 April 7 Tuesday of Holy Week Is 49: 1-6; Ps 71: 1-4a, 5-6ab, 15, 17; Jn 13: 21-33, 36-38 April 8 Wednesday of Holy Week Is 50: 4-9a; Ps 69: 8-10, 21bcd-22, 31, 33-34; Mt 26: 14-25 April 9 HOLY THURSDAY EVENING Ex 12: 1-8, 11-14; Ps 116: 12-13, 15-16bc, 17-18; 1 Cor 11: 23-26; Jn 13: 1-15 April 10 GOOD FRIDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION Is 52:13 — 53:12; Ps 31: 2, 6, 12-13, 15-17, 25; Heb 4: 14-16; 5: 7-9; Jn 18:1 — 19:42 April 11 HOLY SATURDAY NIGHT: THE EASTER VIGIL Gn 1:1 — 2:2; Ps 104: 1-2a, 5-6, 10, 12-14, 24, 35c; Ex 14:15 — 15:1; (Ps) 15: 1-6, 17-18; Bar 3: 9-15, 32 — 4:4; Ps 19: 8-11; Rom 6: 311; Ps 118: 1-2, 16ab-17, 22-23; Mk 16: 1-7
Donkey underlines Jesus’ royal nature as the Messiah
W
hen the president of the United States flies, he takes Air Force One, the aircraft specifically reserved for his use. When Air Force One lands in an airport, it means only one thing: The president has arrived.
tion the animal on Jesus’ behalf also reflects his royal authority. Only the king could appropriate private property in such an arbitrary way. It is a matter of eminent domain. The Gospel text specifies that the donkey in question The donkey which carries PALM has not yet been ridden by Jesus into the city of SUNDAY OF anyone: “You will find a colt Jerusalem also brings with it THE LORD’S tethered there on which no a similar significance. It sigPASSION one has ever sat.” In part, this nals to the people that their Mk 11: 1-10 is explained by the fact that Messiah has arrived. The first the donkey is still a colt. But Gospel reading for this this also means that this parSunday, Mk 11:1-10, deticular donkey is suitable for the king. scribes that event. Just as Air Force One is reserved for We might interpret the donkey as a the president, the donkey on which the somewhat lowly means of transportaking rode could not be used by anyone tion, not worthy of a king. But such is else. not the case. A donkey would have We might note that often an object been a very acceptable way for a king designated for sacred use could not to travel during the time of Jesus. At have been previously used for some the same time, riding a donkey would other purpose. It needed to be unblemhave indicated that the king was comished and uncontaminated from coning in peace. If the king had been ridtact with secular uses. The donkey ing a horse, it would have meant war. which had not yet been ridden thus The fact that the disciples requisi-
would serve not only to carry royalty, but also to carry a sacred personage like the Messiah. An air of mystery surrounds the whole business of the two disciples who acquire the donkey for Jesus. Has Jesus made some previous arrangement with the owner of the animal? Or, does Jesus have supernatural knowledge concerning the whereabouts of the beast? It is not clear. The two disciples almost look like Secret Service agents, facilitating the travel of the president. The use of the donkey underlines Jesus’ royal nature as the Messiah. But the fact that Jesus uses any vehicle at all draws attention to his entrance into Jerusalem. After all, the normal way to enter the city was to walk. Jesus stands out from the crowd of pilgrims flooding into Jerusalem partly because he is the only one mounted on a donkey or a horse. Everyone else is on foot. Jesus rides into Jerusalem, carried by a donkey. But soon, he will be walking on the road to Calvary, carrying the cross. His triumphal entrance will turn into the way of suffering and death. But it eventually will lead to the Resurrection and new life. Father Mike Stubbs is pastor of St. Francis de Sales Parish in Lansing and has a degree in Scripture from Harvard University.
• Our low nurse-topatient ratio
• Our pain management expertise
• Our Catholic identity
But sometimes, the best reason has more to do with you than it does with us. Feel as good as you can, as long as you can. Catholic Community Hospice. Ask for us by name.
Catholic Community Hospice Because life matters.
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