He Is Risen - Alleluia !!
©2010 James Dacey, Jr. SFO
Happy Easter Everyone,
He is RISEN. The day we all knew was coming is here. Jesus Christ has risen from His tomb. Last night we went to our Easter Vigil Mass. The anticipation and excitement was building up as the evening moved along. First we had the blessing of fire (everyone got to light their candles from the Easter candle), followed by the liturgy of the word (hearing the word was so rejoicing), then the blessing of the water (we got to renew our baptismal promises). There was so much excitement in the air, you can feel it. There's nothing like to going to an Easter Vigil Mass. And Fr Mullally's homily was dynamic, bold and filled with excitement and so much energy. I have heard Him preach for many years now, since like the mid 1990's. We were away for a couple years, but we have been back for almost a year now; I don't ever recall such a dynamic, exciting bold homily, as I heard last night. Yes all of his homilies are top notch and insightful; he has a gift no doubt, but there was something different about last nights homily.
I will share some of that homily with you. There is no way I can share it any better than by sharing a couple of his homilies quotes. I maybe more strange than many of you might want to tell me; see I take "notes" at Fr. Mullally's Mass, I know I've never seen anyone else in our church doing that. I just know I am going to hear something I'm going to want to remember or further study. I am a student of the word every chance I get, and I will say Fr. Mullally is a good teacher. He started out by saying, "Only one rose from the dead!", with an affirmation of, "He is the only one who ever rose from the dead!" and he smiled at us saying, "In the end, the good guy does win." Fr was on a roll with his firm, yet loving voice, you could feel the love and the commitment he had in what was telling us. Father's teaching last night drove it home and made it perfectly clear that Jesus has risen from the dead; and this mystery in our faith is unique and makes our faith stand out. Because, "Our faith is based on the fact that a man rose from the dead!"
And then he further explained how, "Weak willed fishermen, frightened out of their wit at His death; begin to have the courage to believe and even die for Him." Father was telling us how that transformation alone was a miracle, how these frighten men turned into men who continued what Jesus taught them. I really wish those of you who live far away, plan a trip to Fr. Mullally's Mass, you won't be disappointed. Father told us a story about a painting of a man representing Jesus holding a tiny little cross in His hand. Father said, "In the light of the Resurrection the cross is shrunk down to its real size. And it will be to in our lives." Father put all this in perspective for us. He then explained to us, not to forget any Easter Sunday. We need to remember this so we remember to fight those little battles in the weeks to come. He said we need to know what we are doing during the week that separates Mass. Father said, "Sunday is different for us because we are different." Let us fight the good fight together and stay focused and not fall stray from Jesus in between Sundays.
The Liturgy for the Vigil Mass last night was:
-1st Reading (Genesis 1:1-2:2)
-2nd Reading (Genesis 22:1-18)
-3rd Reading (Exodus 14:15-15:1)
-4th Reading (Isaiah 55:1-11)
-Epistle (Romans 6:3-11)
-Gospel (Luke 24:1-12)
May you all have a fantastic, blessed, joyous EASTER.
HAPPY EASTER my dear friends.
Your brother in Christ Jesus & His Most Blessed Mother,
Jim (The Rosary Man) Dacey Jr SFO
See Fr. Mullally on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?v=feed&story_fbid=114324681912328&id=100000392531230#!/Father.Mullally?ref=ts
