The Normal Place

Homily Notes...Fr. Terry Ryan, CSP...Matthew 28: 8-15...April 13, 2020
   
     Why does the Risen Jesus tell his disciples to go back to Galilee where they will see him?  Why not right there is Jerusalem, the center of their religion where the magnificent temple is?  Because he wants them to experience resurrection, a whole new way of seeing, in their home town, around the normal circumstances of everyday life.  So many people tell me that they went on some pilgrimage or travel to some place that had a beautiful church, synagogue, temple, or natural wonder of geography, and there they found the presence of God, The Holy, Peace, Comfort.  But ask them if they find that in their everyday lives and they look at you with a puzzled look.  Of course not, they might say and that is why they have to travel to some cathedral to find God, (Catholics, that is, do cathedrals). Christians make a big deal of Jesus being raised to support their faith, and want to rush off to the Holy Land, but are bored, troubled, see nothing special in their everyday surroundings of living quarters, acquaintances, family, office and so on.  The ordinary is just ordinary.  Jesus and Buddha did not see the ordinary as ordinary,  The ordinary is the extra-ordinary, so says the Buddha and Jesus was trying to say the same thing in this gospel.  Take another look at those around you and make that leap of faith!