Reflection at Transfiguration Church, California –Tuesday within the Octave of Easter, 22 April 2025
[REFLECTION NOT PREACHED; DEACON DID]
Readings
Acts 2:36-41; Psalm 33:4-5, 18-19, 20 and 22; John 20:11-18
Dearly beloved in Christ, once again Happy Easter Season to all of you!
As usual I want to begin with a little story, to guide our brief reflection this morning. Perhaps you have heard of these three Pastors, and I am not going to mention of what religion or faith belief they were. These three Pastors were friends for a long time. One day, they say to each other, “Look here friends and fellow colleagues in the ministry of preaching the Word, we have known each other so long, yet we have never opened up to each other what our weaknesses are. Why not confide in each other at this level as well? “I’ll go first”, says one: “You might not know this side of me, but money has always been my weakness; I really love money. Whenever a collection is made at Church, 99 percent goes into my pocket. That has been my long-standing weakness! I have tried to work on it so that I get to change, but I must admit, I am not there yet.” The one next took his turn: “Friends, you might not know this, but my love and appetite for women is insatiable; I can’t let any skirt, or young lady pass me by without taking her out, and so on and so forth. I have wrestled with this area, to no good results, [for, as the Banyankore say, ‘Akaze k’omuntu kacuubwa empitsi!’] So, I really need lots of prayers in this regard.” Now comes the third Pastor: “My brothers, you know what, gossip has been my one and only on-going weakness, and I can’t wait to get out of here!” This Pastor actually leaves the room, to go and spread gossip about his fellow Pastor friends…
You know very well, that gossip and slander can often be attractive and tempting, both on the part of those who have gone before us, as well as in our present circumstances. But gossip and slander can be damaging, or at least compromising.
[As I was preparing today’s reflection, I tried to put myself in the shoes of Jesus’ Apostles, after the resurrection of our Lord. The Apostles could have easily slid into gossip and slander, as they remembered and recounted the events surrounding the events of Holy Week, regarding the suffering and death of Jesus. They could have started naming names: how Peter denied his Master; how Judas was a lover of money, and how this weakness led him betray Jesus; they could have questioned why Jesus ended up entrusting Mary the Mother of Jesus to John, ‘the so called beloved disciple’! Pilate, might not have been spared, how he sentenced Jesus to death, in order not to annoy the Romans, and lose his seat as governor, and so on and so forth. ]
Following the events of the Passion and crucifixion of Jesus, the Apostles and disciples, could have gotten into guilt and self-blame, or pointing fingers at each other for their weaknesses and failures during the trials and suffering of their Lord and Master, which would be a kind of gossip and slander.
Yet, by God’s grace, the Apostles did not go into all that. Instead, they concentrated on preaching the good news of the Risen Lord. You have heard in the first reading, how Peter, courageously proclaimed the good news, how he invited the listeners, and challenged them: “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” “[Peter] testified with many [other]arguments, and was exhorting them, ‘Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.’” And as a result multitudes accepted his message, were converted, got baptized, and thousands of persons were added to the faith. Whatever had not gone well before, he let all sorts of negativity remain something of the past.
How about us, in our present circumstances? Are we absolved from gossip and slander? Let me begin with us, the Clergy, and may be members belonging to Institutes of Consecrated life (Nuns and Brothers). In our circles as members of the Clergy, and Religious men and women, if we are not careful, gossip and slanderous talk, can easily damage our fellowships and friendships. Actually, it is said that, in order to curb gossip at table, St. Augustine, had this big poster posted behind his seat the dining, it read: “IF YOU HAVE NOTHING GOOD TO TALK ABOUT YOUR BROTHER, SHUT YOUR MOUTH!” If we, as Clergy, are not guarded in our conversations, gossip and slander can also compromise confidentiality, easily.
Elderly folks like some among us, could also be vulnerable in this area. Look at it this way, many among you are no longer in school, to talk about your academic achievements; a good number of you may have retired, and no longer have something to report about your successes in your places of work, or in your businesses. Most of you might no longer have political ambition, to engage in campaigns and political rallies… So, when we get together as elderly folks, are we not inclined to chit chat against so and so, bla bla bla…I need not go into details.
Many of you received the faith, and are devoted members of the Catholic Church. We hear the saying, “Keep the faith, or hold onto your faith!” Yet, Jesus, in today’s Gospel, challenges Mary Magdalene, Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me…But go to my brothers [and sisters] and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God, so that I can send you the Holy Spirit to guide you in announcing the good news.’” As if to say, “I have won the battle, now it’s your turn!” And we are told that,
“Mary went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord,’ and then reported what he had told her.
We pray: Risen Lord, teach us to go out and witness to your love, not as messengers of bad news, but rather proclaimers of the good news of salvation. AMEN.
Fr. Bonaventure Turyomumazima