“Why do you seek the living among the dead?”

This Sunday began the most important week in the Christian calendar, a week that has been depicted in various media throughout the years.  Movies such as Jesus of Nazareth, The Passion of Christ and the Greatest Story Ever Told all tell the powerful story of Christ’s passion and death. In printed media there are books such as Six Hours One Friday by Max Lucado, The Trial and Death of Jesus Christ by James Stalker and The Easter Story, a version for children. Successful Broadway shows such as Godspell and Jesus Christ Superstar still run every year and Churches all over the world put on various versions of the Passion Play or Living Stations.

This year and probably all of my remaining years, this week will have a special meaning to me. Last October I visited Israel and actually walked in some of the places where Jesus walked during those last few days. We started our trip in Tiberius and then moved on to Jerusalem. The bus driver announced it as we entered the city.  When we arrived we attended Mass at the Chapel at Bethphage, the wall behind the altar has a beautiful depiction of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem.  As I stood in Mass yesterday holding up my palm to be blessed, I remembered that painting with all the people welcoming Jesus and waving palm branches. It’s amazing how fast their attitude changed.

As I sit at Mass on Holy Thursday I will have a clear picture of the room in Mount Zion which is believed to be the Upper Room, the room where Jesus and his Apostles celebrated His last supper. The room where He commissioned Judas to do what must be done. This is also the place that He returned to after His Resurrection.  As we have exposition and quiet contemplation after Mass, I’ll remember quietly walking through the Garden at Gethsemane with its beautiful olive trees yet an air of great sorrow. Could I stay awake and pray with Jesus or like the Apostles would I let exhaustion overcome me?

On Friday as I pray, I’ll recall standing in little damp cell where they held Jesus captive, left hanging on the wall awaiting his trial. I’ll remember walking along The Via Dolorosa (The Way of the Cross). We stopped at each of the stations along the way for a moment of prayer and reflection.  As we made our way through the crowded streets we were heckled and spit upon because we didn’t want to purchase anything, we just wanted to quietly pray. Jesus went through this on a much grander scale by the very people that he was there to save.

As I walked up the steps to the place where the cross once stood, I felt an overwhelming sadness. Although it’s now part of a Church this was once the hill where Jesus suffered and died, where blood and water poured from his body, where he spoke the words,”It is finished.”  I will be thinking about this as I attend the Good Friday service.

When I entered the tomb of Jesus in Holy Sepulcher church, I expected to feel something, a presence maybe, or a whisper of what was contained within. But I didn’t feel much of anything. It was disappointing, not the mystical experience that I was expecting. I attributed it to spending over an hour in line waiting and then being quickly herded in and out without time to dwell on what had taken place there. However, as Easter approaches, I wonder if I experienced nothing because nothing was there. Jesus is no longer in a tomb He is in our hearts. “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” With that in mind, when the bells resound and we sing the Gloria at the Easter Vigil, I will do so with joy because I know that Jesus has truly risen and will live in my heart forever.

An Inspirational Evening

Yesterday I had the opportunity to experience a wonderfully inspirational Lenten program. I attended a concert by Tony Melendez. If you have ever seen this man perform then I need say no more, the performance speaks for itself.  But for those of you who are unfamiliar with him let me give some background. Tony is a singer and guitarist who uses his talents to praise God and bring inspiration to others. You’re probably thinking that there are a lot of good Christian musicians out there that do that. And you are right.  So what makes this one so inspirational?

 Tony has no arms. He is one of approximately 10,000 Thalidomide babies; babies born with severe limb defects due to a drug administered to pregnant women for morning sickness. He plays his guitar, beautifully, I might add, with his feet.

I first saw him perform about fifteen years ago when three of my then teenaged children were involved in the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO). Youth and young adults and children with disabilities are high on his list of ministries. His concert was quite memorable so when I heard that our diocese was sponsoring several concerts at area churches I bought tickets.  For the cost of my ticket, I laughed, I cried, I sang and I praised God.

If you look at Tony’s bio on his website, a sidebar states “Loves God, Loves his Family, Loves Music, Loves Life.” He exhibited all four of these loves in the two hours that he performed today.  The concert opened up with a rendition of Paul Baloche’s Open the Eyes of My Heart.  The words were written on a video screen and everyone was encouraged to not only sing along but to actually feel the meaning of the words, to experience that awakening of God’s love in us. He clearly shares his love of God.

Loves Family. He speaks lovingly of his family and the sacrifice that they made, leaving their home in Nicaragua to seek medical care for him when he was a child; and of his wife and their two adopted children. His brother Jose travels with him and together they formed a partnership called Toe Jam Music. He considers all the people in his company as family as well as the audiences that listen to him sing and play his guitar.

Loves Music. Tony has been blessed with a beautiful voice and the unique ability to play the guitar with his feet.  His face lights up as entertains and inspires people. As you watch him play you realize that this is much more than a man playing a guitar with his feet. This is an artist with a true love for the music he shares.

Loves Life. As he plays he also gives an insight into his life. As a small child he didn’t even realize that he didn’t have arms. At least not until he went to school and the other children pointed it out. As a teenager and a young man he hoped for a girlfriend but most girls were intimidated by his lack of arms. He feels very blessed to have found his wife. He has an enthusiasm and a positive energy about him that   most only dream about. 

Tony Melendez should be an inspiration to us all. We could all be better people if we just followed his example. Love God, it’s all He asks of us.  It’s not much and it’s not that hard to do. Love your Family, for better or worse they are yours, cherish them. Extend yourself to your larger family, mankind. If you give them a chance most of them can be pretty special too. Love Music, whether it’s a hymn or an old rock and roll tune that brings back a memory, music speaks to hearts.  Take the time to listen. Love Life, it is a precious gift that we’ve been given.  Embrace every moment.  Take the time and effort to turn adversity into grace. And, if you’ve been blessed with arms, realize how lucky you are. Use them for good and never forget to hug those you love. Just because you can!