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April 2, 2005

Feast of St. Francis of Paola

Today is the feast of St. Francis of Paola, the patron saint of sailors. Born in 1416, his parents named him after St. Francis of Assisi. At 14, he decided to become a hermit. Over the years, others were attracted to his austere lifestyle, and eventually he founded a community which became known as the Franciscan Friars, meaning “the least of all religious.”

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Many centuries later, a cloistered community of monks in the Bavarian Alps produced a heavy, dopplebock beer to sustain them through Lenten fasting. Today, Munich’s Paulaner brewery derives its name from that monastery which was dedicated to St. Francis of Paola.

Saturday, First Week of Easter

But Peter got up and ran to the tomb, bent down, and saw the burial cloths alone; then he went home amazed at what had happened.

Luke 24:12

The Greek word here translated “amazed” might also be translated. “he went home wondering at what had happened.” Luke uses the same word several times throughout his Gospel:

• After the birth of Jesus, when Simeon took the child in his arms and spoke of his destiny, Joseph and Mary “were amazed/wondering at what was said about him.”

• When, at the beginning of his public ministry, Jesus spoke in the synagogue at Nazareth, “all were amazed/wondering at the gracious words that came from his mouth.”

• When Jesus calmed the storm on the Sea of Galilee, the disciples “were filled with awe and “amazed/wondering”

We should allow ourselves to experience the wonder of the truths we hold. The last words of the prayer said over those being confirmed are: “Fill them with the spirit of wonder and awe in your presence.”

We need to enjoy the wonder and awe of the truths about our God: There is a God. God became part of the human family. Christ died, rose, ascended. Christ sends his Spirit upon us.

These are colossal truths. Someone who never heard of them before would say, “You believe what?!” In this Easter Season, we spend 50 days stepping back and experiencing the wonder and awe of the truths we’ve gotten used to.

Take the passage, above, and walk home with Peter as he thinks, ponders, wonders, is filled with amazement.

Spend some quiet time with the Risen Lord.