The demise of the state's basketball teams leaves added time and energy for the celebration of Holy Week. Won't you take advantage and try to place your own life within the story of Jesus' suffering, death and resurrection? In a particularly intense way, our Lenten sacrifices are meant to shrink our lives to the point that we no longer think of making God the center of our lives (although He would acquiesce if this is the only way we chose to relate to Him) but are detached from our ego enough to lose ourselves within the paschal mystery. While God is happy to go wherever we allow Him to go in the space and time of our own lives, Holy Week is specifically meant to be an experience of kairos (time without measure) not chronos (time measured). Although the paschal mystery, the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus, is completely present in the hour of every eucharistic celebration, Holy Week is an expanse of celebration and meditation that challenges us not just to make enough time for God, but to forego the exorbitant value we place on our schedules, and to see that the time and space of our lives fit quite nicely at the center of God's life. For to Him a thousand years are like a day. Yes, Holy Week is a time to focus on God, but more than that, it is a chance to remember that God is mindful of us, and has sent His Son among us, so that within His story there is room for our story. The drama of our lives is worked out from within the very heart of God, just as Jesus never did anything apart His Father. So too the time and space of our lives do not rest principally outside of God's own life, as if we must find a way to get back into the womb from which we came, but we are a part of God's life always, unless we remain unaware of this, or choose by our own volition to leave the garden of His grace. Holy Week saves us from the illusion that time and space are principally ours, and we must make room for God. Although this is true in a sense, it is better for us to realize that time and space belong to God primarily, who shares these with us. Holy Week is a special sharing of time and space with God, through the story of Jesus, and to realize that His story is not so much related to ours, but encompasses ours. We are to find ourselves within His story. Jesus fully reveals us to ourselves, in a particular way through the story we celebrate with special attention this week.
Perhaps a word or two about March Madness, now that it is almost over. Kentucky and Syracuse looked like NBA teams. They didn't win. Kentucky built a brick house last night. Butler and Northern Iowa and Cornell and St. Mary's, looked like junior high teams. They played great together and inspired us. Kansas underachieved. Kansas State ran out of gas. Great storylines for this tournament. I've really enjoyed watching it. I guess I am rooting for Tennessee and Baylor now. Anybody but Duke at this point. For some reason, even though Kryzyzewski is a devout Catholic, I just have this bias against Duke. Maybe it's because they are too good to be true. Maybe it is jealousy. Maybe Dick Vitale loves them too much. I have to admit that the Butler/Kansas State game was really hard to watch. Butler's 20 turnovers and K-State horrendous offense made it tough to watch. Every game can't be KSU/Xavier. Knowing how hard it is to get to the Final Four, I was hoping, even though it is hard to root for them, that K-State would go ahead and make it, and then win it all. The chances do not come around very often, and I could have lived with the big heads of all my K-State friends. Although it would have been tough for them to say they have their National Championship and their Big XII championship in football, I think Jayhawks can still hang their hats on the dozen Big XII championships in basketball and the 43 of last 45 won in basketball versus the 'Cats. I think we'd be ok. But now isn't the time for the rivalry. Both teams had great seasons. One of them should have won it all. Let's hope both teams make the NCAA tournament for each of the next 20 seasons! The rivalry is back and hearts will heal from the year's madness.
A blessed Holy Week to all!
No comments:
Post a Comment