(Prayer offered on the Public Address system for the entire La Salle Academy educational community on Friday morning, 10 April 2015)

Let us remember that we are in the holy presence of a loving God.

Happy Easter Friday. Yes, that right. Today is the first Friday in the Easter SEASON. That is why if you pass by Brother Fred’s office on the second floor, he has a Happy Easter sign on his office door. You see, for the Church, Easter is not a single day but an entire liturgical season. Perhaps that is because as human beings we need more than one chance to see the Risen Jesus. In fact, in the gospels of Matthew, Luke, and John, Jesus appears a MULTITUDE of times—to Mary, to the disciples, to doubting Thomas. It is not always easy to see the Risen Jesus clearly.

I myself experienced this on Holy Thursday. As I was getting ready to leave for church with my children, I got a phone call from an elderly neighbor down the road. When I saw her number come up on caller ID, I was tempted to let it go to voice-mail. You see, my neighbor is old. She lives alone and tells the same stories over and over. This day, her power had gone out and she needed someone to check the circuit breakers in her basement. I went over to her house and told my kids to get in the car and wait for me so we could go to church. Long story short, I checked a couple of switches and we got the power back on, but ten minutes turned to twenty which turned to thirty. I’m ashamed to say, but I felt myself become annoyed, frustrated, and impatient. By the time I returned home, my kids were back in the house and we had all missed church. I was more than a little bit irritated. It was one of my favorite days of the year to participate in the liturgy–Holy Thursday. Again, I’m ashamed to admit, but it only clicked for me when my nine year old in her eternal wisdom reminded me that I was literally helping a neighbor in need. Yes. Religion teacher and former campus minister. Schooled in faith and Easter hope by a child.

Some of us need many attempts to see the Risen Jesus.

Let us pray:
God of love and mercy,
You do not abandon us even for a second.
Though we make mistakes, lose our way, disappoint others, become wrapped up in our own importance, your grace is boundless.
Help us today and every day to see your Son, our Savior Jesus alive in our midst.
And if we fail, give us many chances.

St. John Baptist de La Salle: Pray for us
Live Jesus in our Hearts: Forever.

Christine Estes–Religion Department Chairperson