Worthy Chapter President and Brother Knights,
I thank you for your service to the Holy Mother Church, the Diocese of Austin, and the faithful people of God. Most of all, I thank you for your witness to values that we hold hear - charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism - as brother Knights and behind faithful leaders of your families. In the immortal words of Maximus Decimus Meridius (from the "Gladiator" movie): "What we do in life echoes in eternity"; but I would also add - "forms the minds and hearts of the next generation of faithful Catholics."
In the Passion narrative that we hear on Palm Sunday, Jesus said this of Mary's action as she anointed him with perfumed oil: "Amen, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed to the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her." And while our actions might not be remembered in books, they will have an impact on on children, grandchildren, and those who look up to us as role models for authentic masculinity. With this in mind, I share with you my reflection for Holy Week and our role as Catholic gentlemen.
On Palm Sunday, this version from the Passion narrative struck me:
Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had said to him, “Before the cock crows twice you will deny me three times.” He broke down and wept.
There is no doubt that we will fail and fall in life, especially in our relationship with Jesus, our families, and those close to us. The important this is, how do we respond? How do we go from there? Peter failed Jesus. He realized it. He wept because it broke him. However, through faith, Peter return to Christ and sought forgiveness. Jesus not only forgave Peter but affirmed Peter's role in the future of the Church - the "rock" upon which Christ built his Church. Peter is the prodigal son who came to his sense and returns to the Father. Jesus restores Peter's dignity as a beloved son and returns him to his proper status. Let us be like Peter and the courage to ask God for forgiveness and remain faithful to Christ.
At the Chrism Mass, Bishop Joe Vasquez called his brother priests "sons", for indeed he is a spiritual father to them (and all of us) as the shepherd of the Diocese of Austin. It was wonderful to see so many students for the different Catholic schools in the Diocese in attendance at the Mass. I know that some of them, if not all of them, were moved by the sheer beauty and majesty of the Mass, and the Knights had a role in all of it. This is a reminder for us men to share the beauty and majesty of the Mass with our children and grandchildren. When I attend Mass in Houston with my goddaughter and her family, her younger brother just recently has been moving down the pew to sit next to him. While he may get a little distracted during Mass (as most young children do), I make it a point to direct his attention to what is happening at the Altar. Therefore, let us embrace these teaching moments that God has blessed us with and share with our families the beauty and majesty of the Mass, where heaven and earth embrace.
On Holy Thursday of the Lord's Supper, Jesus gave us the Eucharist and the priesthood. In the Eucharist, Jesus keeps his promise to be with us always, until the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). The priesthood and Eucharist are eternally connected. Without the priesthood, there is no Eucharist. Without the Eucharist, there is no priesthood because it loses its source, purpose, and meaning, which is our Lord and Savor Jesus Christ. In the washing of feet, Jesus leaves us a model to love and serve God and love and serve others, and we do that through vocations in the Church - of particular importance is the priesthood. We are the hands and feet of Christ in the world today and his Sacred Heart guides us our minds and actions. Therefore, let us lift up our priests in whatever way Jesus is calling us to support our priests. Let us also nourish and inspire vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and religious in our families. We do this through a firm belief in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist and help our children and grandchildren to understand this in their hearts and minds.
On Good Friday of the Lord's Passion, we venerate the Cross - "We adore you, O Christ, and we praise You. Because by your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world." The Cross is a stumbling block for many; let is not be a stumbling block for us. Rather, let us do as Jesus tells us: "“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me." Let us humble ourselves because our Lord and our God humbled Himself for our redemption. He was obedient to death, even death on the Cross. Therefore, let us die to our old self and ways (addictions, temptations, etc.) and allowed Christ to renew us in faith, hope, and love. Then, let us lead our families to Christ each and every day, not matter the crosses that we bear because, through us, our families will know that true strength comes from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Therefore, I encourage you all to bring yourselves and your families to Mass on Holy Thursday and Good Friday service so they can experience the Sacred Triduum of our Lord's Passion for us.
Finally, the Easter Vigil - the "mother" of all liturgies in the Church. On this holy night, the Church welcomes home to Rome her newest members. As we witness these "neophytes" (or new Catholics) receive the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and First Holy Communion, let us vow to pray for them and do what they can to help them feel welcome so that they may have a parish community where they can grow in their newfound Catholic faith. Council 10333 was instrumental in my faith formation when I came home to Rome at the Easter Vigil in 2008. So, once again, "What we do in life echoes in eternity" and forms the minds and hearts of the next generation of faithful Catholics. Vivat Jesus.
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