(Prayer offered on the Public Address system for the entire La Salle Academy educational community on Tuesday morning, 29 March 2016)

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

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John:

Mary Magdalene stayed outside the tomb weeping.  And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the Body of Jesus had been.  And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”  She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.”  When she had said this she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus.  Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?”  She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him.”  Jesus said to her, “Mary!”  She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher.

Yesterday Mr. Daly gave us some insight into the confusion and doubt and wonder that the friends of Jesus were experiencing after his passion and death.  What is going on here?  Is it really true?  Can it possibly be?  And the verses that I just read also give us a similar insight, only a day or two after the execution of Jesus.

Isn’t this a remarkable scenario?  Mary Magdalene, the long-time friend of Jesus, his biggest fan…did not recognize him!  We (I) have just pronounced that we are in the presence of God.  Do we know that?  Mary, the dear friend of Jesus, did not know that she was in the presence of God.

I, for one, certainly get it.  I know that I have not recognized God’s presence many thousands of times in my life.  I am indeed sorry.

And where is God?  Of course, Jesus told us in no uncertain terms.  Jesus did not mention finding God in a cathedral or a house of prayer, although that is possible, indeed.  But Jesus did say that God is found in our brothers and sisters, especially in the least of our brothers and sisters.

I have often failed to recognize God in my home room, in my math classes, in my own family.

So let us look carefully and eagerly for God today.  In home room.  In classrooms.  In ARC.  In the cafeteria.  At practice.  Our great God surrounds us with his creatures, especially his fragile, needy creatures.  These ones are our path to peace, and to salvation.  Let us look for those in need – in need of friendship, in need of confidence, in need of a smiling greeting.  Because that is where Jesus is.

And when we recognize the reality in front of us, we will hear Jesus call our name, …
Eric. Ainsley. Haley.  Madeline.  Audrey.  Julia. Rachel.  Eileen.  Chris.  Anna.  Greg.  Elise.  Emma.  Eva.  Allison.  Josh…
and we will respond with gratitude for the opportunity to do God’s work.

Let us pray.

Dear Jesus, our Savior, our Brother, we give you thanks for sharing with us, your humble sisters and brothers, the wisdom of your ministry, the passion of your cross, and the glory of your resurrection.  May each of us always find You in each of your creatures, especially the most weak, the most sad, the most angry.  And in those findings, give us the grace know you are with us.

St. John Baptist de La Salle, pray for us.

Live, Jesus, in our hearts.  Forever!

Michael McNamara–Teacher of Mathematics