“He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.”

Do we believe?

If so how does this belief impact our lives?

Jesus suffered a painful and brutal death.   He died.  But that was not the end. He told his friends it would not be the end, but how could they have understood?  How could they believe?

I’ve imagined being one of the women headed to the tomb ready to prepare his body, overwhelmed with sadness, exhausted, walking in the dark even before the sun has broken through the night.

The earth quakes – the stone has been moved.  What has happened?  Did someone do this?  Certainly, given the circumstances of the past few days in the fractions of seconds I am immediately angry, confused – this is some further insult - some conspiracy.  Where is his body? What have they done? Some of the women run back to the disciples.  Some look into the tomb. I stand frozen in place in the cold morning air.  Yet there at the entrance of the tomb there is a man, (could it be an angel?) who is so calm, and he tells us not to be afraid. He tells us to go tell the others that Jesus has risen – as he said he would – and he has gone before us to Galilee. 

I’ve wondered - after I had heard he was not there – he was risen – how would I react?  Would I be joyful?  Skeptical? Uncertain? Afraid? What would I feel I should do?  Should I go tell everyone? Should I go hide?  And then I remember.  He raised his friend Lazareth from the dead – and he did say something – what was it? He would suffer – I heard that he said he would suffer and even die.  But, yes he did say that he would be raised on the third day.

Suddenly I am awash in joy. It springs up in me so that I do not feel my feet are touching the ground.  I feel that I am breathing quicker, my heart is raising.  Could it be true?  Is it true?  Of course it is true! I feel the tears start to run down my face and I turn and run to join the others.  Some believe right away – some don’t.  Everyone is trying to remember exactly what he said.  But I do remember he told us not to be afraid. 

Today – in 2016 if I believe Jesus rose from the dead what does that mean for my life.  

It means that what has been the end – what has frightened man since he could understand his mortality – is nothing to give us fear.  Jesus conquered death, therefore we will not experience death as an end –we will live beyond this life and if we truly believe this, there is really nothing to be afraid of, and if there is nothing to be afraid of we are free.  Free to live lives of joy.  Free to live lives of service to each other.  Free to love.  If I can pause and really consider the true joy of the resurrection how can I keep from singing! 

Vigil

It might seem hard to separate Easter from the delights of chocolate, colored eggs and going to church (for some the one time during the year :)). This is a perfect time of year for celebration, yard parties and enjoyment of life blossoming everywhere at the start of spring.

Nonetheless, Easter is more than parties or chocolate but a celebration which proclaims victory and new life. The readings for the Easter Vigil recount key themes from the Old Testament to show that the life, death and Resurrection of Christ is the pivot point of history. Why is that? Christ’s death on Good Friday seems to us tragically like business as normal, a good, prophetic man who is unjustly killed by the powerful to silence him and stop his uncomfortable message. We have seen this repeatedly in every country throughout human history- what is the American expression ‘only the good die young’. But Easter shows a reversal and one which turns history and normal power politics on its head. Death does not have the last word! Injustice does not silence Christ’s message but, through power of the Spirit, Jesus is resurrected. Death has no more power ultimately and we are given a promise of hope that we too share this life- eternal life with Christ in a state beyond human suffering, limitations and fears. Easter not only shows the power of Christ over death and gives us hope but also gives us courage. Evil must be confronted in our own lives as well as in society- we need not cower but have courage to speak truth with humility. Power is Christ’s and we are called to act for love, justice and Christian values.

So celebrate life today with family and friends as well as with those who allow us to rejoice in small medical victories over death made by the doctors of Mission Doctors Association. Happy Easter!

Today's guest blog post is contributed by Brother John Kiesler, OFM is a member of the facility of the Franciscan School of Theology in California. Brother John is a member of the Formation Facility for long-term missionaries through Mission Doctors and presents at the Annual Retreat Seminar on the theology of mission. Additionally he serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Mission Doctors Association.

Good Friday

Here we are finally at Good Friday - a somber day with no Mass and a liturgy which reminds us of the Passion of Jesus. If ever there is a day for serious reflection on God, life and death, then this is the day.

Many years ago I met a very adventurous man who was preparing to be a bush pilot in Angola, shuttling UN peacekeepers around that large country. One day we had a discussion about religion and he offered his view that Christianity is a ‘religion on death’ rather than life. He pointed to the crucifix and the elaborate Good Friday liturgies as proof for his claim. Interesting and perhaps some of us would agree with him?

Life is a mystery- we are born, grow, live and eventually will die at a time, location and hour not under our control. We live with an awareness that someday the world will go on without me. Life is a mystery, which we can either choose to embrace with trust and love while accepting our limited time, or pull back and live in fear. For Christians, life is be lived-  in fact, Irenaeus, a famous second century theologian, wrote ‘the glory of God is in a person fully alive’. Life is for living not in the sense of ‘doing my own thing’ but as an opportunity to grow, learn, love and spend ourselves in service to others.

So, why the Cross and Good Friday? While death should not be the focus of our lives neither should it be ignored. It is a reality and one which we naturally fear and question, especially when we see the young or innocent die (How can God allow this person to die?). All the theological rationales (e.g. death as a rupture caused by the first sin) seem pale when confronted with the ugly void left by the death of a loved one. What is the Christian’s answer? The answer is the Cross- not a rational explanation of this evil but a radically holistic one (but who needs reason when grieving!). God chose to answer death and the unjust killing of innocents not through a violent revolt but through acceptance in order to prove to us God’s power. A God who underwent voluntarily the horror of death to show His love and closeness to us!

Death will yield to the power of God, but not today (but on Easter :)). On Good Friday we take time to ponder our mortality, the tragedy of death, the suffering of so many in the world slaughtered by modern governments, and the pleas of the poor for mercy.

Death is a part of life but many die prematurely due to a lack of medical care. Let us today pray for doctors who bring healing to the poor, allowing them to live a ‘life fully alive’.

Today's guest blog post is contributed by Brother John Kiesler, OFM is a member of the facility of the Franciscan School of Theology in California. Brother John is a member of the Formation Facility for long-term missionaries through Mission Doctors and presents at the Annual Retreat Seminar on the theology of mission. Additionally he serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Mission Doctors Association.

World Tuberculosis Day

--> Today is World Tuberculosis Day, recalling this ancient disease which remains a top infectious disease killer in the world.  The World Health Organization reports that over 95% of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.  Hope for elimination of this once-incurable disease came with the development of effective antibiotics but waned as the disease recurred with the spread of HIV and the development of resistance to medications commonly used in it's treatment.  Efforts toward eradication of tuberculosis are again moving forward, though.

Tuberculosis is an insidious disease.  It slowly takes health from a person, and it's cure requires persistence and attention by medical personnel over many months.   It is also a disease spread through the air and can infect people who do not realize they had been exposed to the illness.  Lastly, this infectiousness necessitates that there be a place for people with tuberculosis to stay until their initial treatment has rendered the infection incapable of being transmitted to others in their family and the community.

The MDA physicians who work in resource-limited countries see tuberculosis each day and know well the long time course of effective treatment.  There is another group of dedicated people who are important in the treatment of tuberculosis, though they may not be fully aware of the role they play.  St. Martin de Porres Mission Hospital in Njinikom, Cameroon, is blessed with a new building high on the hill which is used in part to care for people in isolation with tuberculosis treatment until they are no longer capable of spreading the infection to others.  The generous donors who have given to the Dr. James C. Carey Memorial Fund through Mission Doctors Association to make this essential facility possible can feel a bit of well-deserved pride today knowing that they are a vital part of the struggle to return people with tuberculosis to their families, and to finally make tuberculosis a disease of distant memory.

Tuberculosis Ward

Today's guest blog post is contributed by Dr. Tim Cavanagh. Dr. Cavanagh is a veteran Mission Doctor.  Tim and his wife Sheila served for three years in rural Zimbabwe and continue to serve on short-term missions in Africa and Latin America.  Additionally he serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Mission Doctors Association.

Holy Thursday

Holy Thursday, the beginning of the Triduum (i.e. the three days until Easter Sunday), a liturgy filled with readings on the Exodus event (where Yahweh leads the Jewish people from enslavement in Egypt to the Promised Land) and the Last Supper. It might seem like a peculiar combination but, in fact, it is central. As God wished the best for the Jewish people and led them to freedom so Jesus, through His life, death and Resurrection, can lead us to freedom.

The Gospel of John gives us a version of the Last Supper which differs from Matthew and Luke. For John there is no focus on bread and wine but on Jesus’s washing the feet of his Apostles. These accounts are not contradictory but complementary as Gospel writers focus on different aspects of Jesus’s last dinner. In John we get a radical view of not only a Servant King (as we saw in Palm Sunday) but a King who is so humble as to take on the filthy task of washing feet (this was a time when people wore sandals on roads which were dusty and muddy- thus feet which were very dirty!). It shows that we have a God who humbles Himself out of love to cleanse us from sin and lead us to freedom, if we choose to accept His love.

This is the God which Christianity preaches! Not a cruel distant tyrant but a God who is with us (especially through the Eucharist) and loves us as individuals far more than we can ever realize.

Are we too possessive of our status, position or titles?
Are we afraid to ‘get our hands dirty’ for others?
Do we see our life as one of service (to our wife, husband, children, relatives or friends) or power?

Mission Doctors get their hands dirty daily as they bring healing to God’s poor in the Third World. Perhaps you can help them through prayer and donations?

Today's guest blog post is contributed by Brother John Kiesler, OFM is a member of the facility of the Franciscan School of Theology in California. Brother John is a member of the Formation Facility for long-term missionaries through Mission Doctors and presents at the Annual Retreat Seminar on the theology of mission. Additionally he serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Mission Doctors Association.

World Water Day

I am standing at the sink in the early morning light with the water running, waiting for it to get cold enough for me to drink.  At the same time, my shower water is running, waiting for it to get warm enough for me to have a comfortable shower.  Today is the United Nation's Annual World Water Day.  Today, there will be water for my coffee, to brush my teeth, to wash my dishes and clothes.  We, with few significant exceptions, will have no concern for the safety of our water today.  Situations of water shortage or unsafe water in the United States are considered serious occurrences that warrant national concern and news coverage.  For most of us, our main concern with water is when the price per thousand gallons goes up on our water bill.  In terms of water, I am a rich person.

On the other side of the world today, a woman will get up long before the sun does to walk with a bucket on her head.  She will scoop ground water from a river or pond into the bucket and start the long trip back up to her home.  There will be water to drink and for cooking thanks to her efforts, but she will give it to her family wondering if it will make them ill.  Water needed for hygiene, washing clothing, etc., may not be available without additional treks with the bucket.  Water to wash your hands after a trip to the outhouse is often a luxury.  Boiling water to make it safe to drink is also often a luxury involving the gathering of scarce firewood.

The World Health Organization notes that diarrheal illnesses are the 3rd leading cause of death in low-income countries.  Every physician who has worked with Mission Doctors Association in these countries has spent much of their time caring for severely dehydrated children related to inadequate clean water.   Some of these children will be so ill that, despite every effort, they will not live to see next year's World Water Day.

Today, I resolve to drink my water warmer, to take my shower colder.  I will think before I turn on the water tap and keep in mind the millions of women walking today with millions of buckets.  I will try to understand the global issues related to clean water and continue to support Mission Doctors Association in it's work of caring for those in resource-limited countries ill because of inadequate and unsafe water.

 Today's guest blog post is contributed by Dr. Tim Cavanagh. Dr. Cavanagh is a veteran Mission Doctor.  Tim and his wife Sheila served for three years in rural Zimbabwe and continue to serve on short-term missions in Africa and Latin America.  Additionally he serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Mission Doctors Association.

Palm Sunday

We are beginning Holy Week and nearing the end of Lent. 

Just think almost time once again to enjoy that chocolate or beer, which you ‘gave up’ for Lent. 

Hopefully, it is also a time to reflect on what we have learned about the importance of prayer, our relations with others and giving to the poor. But why ‘Palm Sunday’?  Palms are nowhere mentioned in today’s Gospel reading? Why not Carnation Sunday or Cloak Sunday (Luke’s Gospel reading from today at least mentions cloaks)?

 

We in California are used to seeing palm trees as decorative and symbolic of the year round sunshine which we enjoy. It was different in the first century when the Romans used palm branches to welcome home rulers after victory in war. Palms had symbolism not just for Romans but also the Jews who used them ceremoniously at the Feast of Tabernacles. In the Gospel of John there is another account of Jesus’ final entry into Jerusalem where the people greet Him with palm branches; He is the victorious King (also conjuring up images of King David’s entry into Jerusalem while riding a donkey as a sign of humility). Jesus is welcomed by an oppressed people (Jews were very much under the colonial rule of Rome) as a king who would free them. However, Jesus is not the king which the people expected, namely one who would lead a violent revolt against the Romans but rather a king whose rule is marked by love and service. This Servant King will be publicly rejected by the His own people, condemned to die and be crucified on Good Friday. Because of the association of palms with Jesus’ last days of public ministry the early Church later made palm branches also a symbol of martyrdom.

Palm Sunday points not to lush trees on a California beach but to a King who suffered rejection by his people but did not lash out in anger or revenge. How hard it is for us to forgive slights or hurts? How easy it is to judge others in the worse possible light while seeing ourselves as without fault? Do we see leadership as not only getting work done but also as a service to others and seek the best for those who work under us?

Palm Sunday shows how a simple tree can be a potent symbol of service, love, forgiveness, and love if we take time to reflect upon it. Perhaps we might also take time to reflect on our brothers and sisters in the Third World who are being helped by the servant-doctors of Mission Doctors Association.

Today's guest blog post is contributed by Brother John Kiesler, OFM is a member of the facility of the Franciscan School of Theology in California. Brother John is a member of the Formation Facility for long-term missionaries through Mission Doctors and presents at the Annual Retreat Seminar on the theology of mission. Additionally he serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Mission Doctors Association.

Mercy

Who hasn’t felt like giving up?

Who hasn’t felt the sting of someone who acts ‘holier than thou’ and judges unfairly?

These are common human experiences from which we can either become bitter or take as life lessons in how to act.

The Gospel account of the woman caught in adultery could be used for a Broadway play. In fact, a former professor interpreted much of John’s Gospel as being used in that way by early Christian communities. The scene in this story is well known. Jesus is preaching on the Mount of Olives (a foreshadowing of Holy Thursday night) and some Pharisees drag before Him a woman caught in adultery. The question is clear and direct ‘Should we follow the Law of Moses and stone her? You can feel the tension mount and maybe a drum roll. However, Jesus didn’t engage in an argument but started tracing something on the ground causing the Pharisees to drift away until no one remained. At the end Jesus does not condemn the woman but calls her to go and sin no more. A God, who we know will judge us at the end of our life and history (Matthew 25), but one who goes out of His way to show us mercy not to excuse sin but so that we can change. Not a judge who lords it over us but one who wants us to convert to become better.

The first reading from Isaiah begins “Thus says the Lord who opens a way in the sea and a path in the mighty waters…” Not only a good God of mercy but one who can help us move through times of our life when we feel like we are drowning, overwhelmed, alone and ridiculed. He can help us, if we ask.
God is a God of Mercy who gives us time to leave sin behind and is able to empower us to do so.

That is Good News!

During this Fifth Sunday of Lent perhaps we can ask how much mercy we show to those in our family, our co-workers, and the poor who are suffering in the Third World with inadequate medical care. The Mission Doctors Association acts to enable Catholic doctors to put into practice mercy through healing bodies broken by disease and poverty- this fine organization can always use our prayers and help.

Today's guest blog post is contributed by Brother John Kiesler, OFM is a member of the facility of the Franciscan School of Theology in California. Brother John is a member of the Formation Facility for long-term missionaries through Mission Doctors and presents at the Annual Retreat Seminar on the theology of mission. Additionally he serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Mission Doctors Association.

Sharing

“I want what is coming to me!” “I want my share now!” Perhaps all of us at some time have said this or had the feeling that sharing with another is too much work. Wouldn’t life be easier if I just did my own thing and let others do theirs?

Luke’s Gospel reading is a well known parable of the Prodigal Son, a story which we have probably heard hundreds of time. The younger son was sick of living with his father and older brother and demanded his inheritance. As if his father had already died! But getting his share led to breaking relationship with family, friends and his native land with a devastating result. Only humility led him back to ask his father for forgiveness, which was readily given. But the Gospel ends with a question for us: “Did the brother of the Prodigal Son, who had not fled from his father, go to the homecoming party and thus forgive his brother?”

While it might be tempting to get our share now- we live in relationships, which give us life and meaning (though at times also pain). No one can escape the need for others. Sharing life, and our material goods is what Jesus is calling us to do because we are all brothers and sisters.

Do we see the poor as our brothers and sisters? Do we know that through prayer and small donations we can show real solidarity to organizations, like Mission Doctors, which help God’s poor around the world.