When a cardinal complained that a rise in Vatican salaries meant a particular usher earned as
much as the cardinal, Good Pope St. John XXIII remarked: "That usher has 10 children; I hope the
cardinal doesn't."
When Good Pope St. John XXIII went to visit a friend at the nearby Hospital of the Holy
Spirit in the evening, the nun answering the door said: "Holy Father, I'm the mother superior of the
Holy Spirit." The Good Pope replied: "Lucky you! What a job! I'm just the 'servant of the servants
of God.'"
It seems from the above quotes that Good Pope St. John XXIII used humor to deal with –
bewilderment. Few of us respond to our experience of bewilderment, with humor. Based on the
descriptions contained in Resurrection stories found in the Christian gospels, the first followers of
Jesus were bewildered. They were frightened. In fact the first words as Jesus appeared to his
disciples were, “Peace Be With You.”
We are the same as the disciples. When we are frightened, we are confused and bewildered.
The events in our personal, societal and global lives are often confusing. They are bewildering. At
times like these we are fearful or angry. The disciples are fearful after witnessing the tragic and
horrible death of Jesus.
They gathered in the upper room, behind “locked doors for fear of the political and religious
leaders.” The disciples, on the road to Emmaus, expressed anger at their leaders, “How our chief
priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him.” Their words of
bewilderment contain anger.
Once again human existence is challenged by its own evil or sinfulness. We are our own
worse enemies. We refuse to see life as God sees it – “It is Good.” Bewilderment arises from our
evil. It will always be present in our lives. It results from the mystery of life. The first followers of
Jesus, Peter, John, Mary Magdalene, the disciples on the road to Emmaus, etc., were bewildered.
This mental state comes from our fear and anger.
The authors of the Gospels offer us a remedy to cope with this bewilderment. The solution is
community and the Eucharist. If we want to have a strong belief in the Resurrection, we need to be
an active participating member of the Christian community. This is a clear teaching contained the
Resurrection stories of the Gospels. They come together in the upper room. They share in the
“breaking of the bread,” the Mass. We need to do the same, if we are to believe in the
Resurrection.
Contrary to common thinking – belief – in the Resurrection does not come with our Baptism.
Rather belief in the Resurrection comes as we see in the Sacred Scriptures, after walking in the
community of Jesus – the Church.
Despite the tragedy of Jesus death, the disciples stay, pray and eat together. And it is in the
setting of the Christian Community – the Church – Jesus appears and strengthens his first followers.
The authors of the Gospels are showing us that the community of prayer and service will strengthen
our belief in the Resurrection. “Lord to Whom Shall We Go? You have The Words of Eternal
Life.”Jn. 6.68
Rev Bernard J Campbell OFM, Cap.
much as the cardinal, Good Pope St. John XXIII remarked: "That usher has 10 children; I hope the
cardinal doesn't."
When Good Pope St. John XXIII went to visit a friend at the nearby Hospital of the Holy
Spirit in the evening, the nun answering the door said: "Holy Father, I'm the mother superior of the
Holy Spirit." The Good Pope replied: "Lucky you! What a job! I'm just the 'servant of the servants
of God.'"
It seems from the above quotes that Good Pope St. John XXIII used humor to deal with –
bewilderment. Few of us respond to our experience of bewilderment, with humor. Based on the
descriptions contained in Resurrection stories found in the Christian gospels, the first followers of
Jesus were bewildered. They were frightened. In fact the first words as Jesus appeared to his
disciples were, “Peace Be With You.”
We are the same as the disciples. When we are frightened, we are confused and bewildered.
The events in our personal, societal and global lives are often confusing. They are bewildering. At
times like these we are fearful or angry. The disciples are fearful after witnessing the tragic and
horrible death of Jesus.
They gathered in the upper room, behind “locked doors for fear of the political and religious
leaders.” The disciples, on the road to Emmaus, expressed anger at their leaders, “How our chief
priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him.” Their words of
bewilderment contain anger.
Once again human existence is challenged by its own evil or sinfulness. We are our own
worse enemies. We refuse to see life as God sees it – “It is Good.” Bewilderment arises from our
evil. It will always be present in our lives. It results from the mystery of life. The first followers of
Jesus, Peter, John, Mary Magdalene, the disciples on the road to Emmaus, etc., were bewildered.
This mental state comes from our fear and anger.
The authors of the Gospels offer us a remedy to cope with this bewilderment. The solution is
community and the Eucharist. If we want to have a strong belief in the Resurrection, we need to be
an active participating member of the Christian community. This is a clear teaching contained the
Resurrection stories of the Gospels. They come together in the upper room. They share in the
“breaking of the bread,” the Mass. We need to do the same, if we are to believe in the
Resurrection.
Contrary to common thinking – belief – in the Resurrection does not come with our Baptism.
Rather belief in the Resurrection comes as we see in the Sacred Scriptures, after walking in the
community of Jesus – the Church.
Despite the tragedy of Jesus death, the disciples stay, pray and eat together. And it is in the
setting of the Christian Community – the Church – Jesus appears and strengthens his first followers.
The authors of the Gospels are showing us that the community of prayer and service will strengthen
our belief in the Resurrection. “Lord to Whom Shall We Go? You have The Words of Eternal
Life.”Jn. 6.68
Rev Bernard J Campbell OFM, Cap.
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