Mark your calendars. The Annual Community meeting will take place in just two short weeks, on Sunday, April 28.

If you’re like me, you may not have gotten your recommitment forms in yet. With tax season over tomorrow and most Rotisserie baseball drafts concluded, there aren’t many excuses left. So let’s make a deal —-- I’ll do mine if you’ll do yours. Sound good? OK.

Getting those forms in will allow us to vote in the Community elections and be published in the Community roster. So, if you want to make sure that you can find my phone number when you need it, you’d better hold up your part of the deal!

One of the many enclosures in the envelope is from the Christian Formation Committee. It’s for us to sign up the kids early and pay the fees in advance. There’s a good reason for this. It will enable the Community to get the books for the program cheaper. That sounds pretty good to me, too.

Nominations. Please! You wouldn’t think that in a year when three members had to resign because of Council downsizing we’d have trouble filling the at-large posts. But Jim Connell tells me that’s exactly what’s happening. When I talked to Jim last Tuesday, he told me the Nominating Committee had one nominee for the three open posts. They hoped to have nine nominees for the election.

So I would like to urge Community members to stop for a moment and consider whether they are being called to serve on Council. I did it for three years and can say it is a rewarding role, depending of course on the attitude you bring to it. If you are interested, call Jim at 321-4589, or buttonhole him around Malachi’s. But time is very short. Try to do it in the next couple of days.

I wasn’t able to get much information about committee chairs —-- it sounds like most are in pretty good shape for leadership. (I’m personally grateful that John Lucic has agreed to continue as Communications Committee chair. He’s done a great job keeping things organized and running smoothly.) But the committees always are in need of willing and active members.

Speaking of that, Communications still needs to fill the position of editor for the first page of the newsletter, where we run all the news briefs. Call John at 221-5017 to volunteer.

Thanks to Chris Schenk, Paul Kunkel and K. Vine for coming through with articles for this issue.

Hope you had a blessed Easter.

The Easter season is a special time for both women and men in our Christian community. We read of all the various appearances of Jesus to the disciples, including today’s Gospel in which Thomas’ doubts are so lovingly accepted and resolved by the risen Jesus. For women, I think, the Resurrection stories are especially meaningful. In all four gospels, Mary Magdalen is named as the first to see the empty tomb, and in John’s Gospel, the first to recognize the Risen Lord.

Mary Magdalen was one of Jesus’ women followers. While we don’t know a lot about her, we do know more than we do about most women in the Gospels. One thing we know is that Mary had a problem. In fact, she had seven of them, because it was from her that Jesus cast out seven demons. We know that she was probably from a wealthy family or, as an exception to the norm, had some financial independence. She was identified by name along with Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward, Chuza, as one of those supporting Jesus from their resources. Ancient writings rarely reported women’s names unless they were wealthy or prominent in some way. Another thing we know about Magdalen, popular misconceptions notwithstanding, is that she is not the public sinner, the reformed prostitute who washed Jesus’ feet at Simon’s house. Which is not to say that her demons weren’t every bit as much in need of casting out as the woman who so tenderly washed Jesus’ feet with her tears.

In any case, Jesus had freed Mary from great suffering and evil. She responded by becoming one of his constant companions. With two other women, she accompanied Jesus on his final bitter journey to the cross, even while the scriptures tell us that the male disciples fled away. She must have loved Jesus very much to endure staying at his side during this most brutal of executions. If anyone knew for a fact that Jesus had definitely died, and died amidst bitterest pain and desolation, Mary Magdalen did. What manner of love is this that accompanies its beloved friend even to death?

All four Gospel accounts attest in one way or another that Mary Magdalen was a major, and probably the first, witness to the empty tomb and the first to experience the presence of the Risen Lord. For those who like me, sometimes don’t know what to make of the resurrection accounts, several observations may be helpful. One is that the account that Joseph of Arimethea provided a new tomb in which to bury Jesus’ body accords well with Jewish burial customs. These decreed that one who "hung upon a tree" (that isi.e., died as a criminal) could not be buried with other Jews because their common resting place would be defiled. Another is that recent excavations confirm that there were many tombs carved into the hillside near where Jesus was executed. Perhaps the most convincing reason for the historicity of the Resurrection accounts is that women in general, and Magdalen in particular, are named as the primary witnesses. If the resurrection narratives had been a fabrication of Jesus’ followers, no one in their right mind would have named women as the primary witnesses in a culture that didn’t even admit the witness of women in a law court. So, in an odd turn of affairs, often characteristic of God’s ways I think, the unlikely testimony of women is in fact the best historical proof we have that the resurrection accounts are to be taken seriously. Women were very acceptable witnesses to God, even if they were rejected by their own legal system.

In God’s way of doing things, we know that Jesus is risen today partly because of the witness of a woman whose love accompanied him to the depths of death’s dark night, and was the first to see him unbelievably, differently, yet undeniably alive. It was a testimony that the disciples refused to believe at first. At least until they had their own experience of the Risen Lord. In today’s Gospel, Thomas needs a very specific, physical kind of proof, which in the loving kindness of Jesus is not denied him. Perhaps there is a lesson for us in this —-- we cannot make another person believe in the Risen Jesus. We can only tell of our own experience as Mary did, and prepare the way for the "doubting Thomas’’s" among us to experience the Risen Lord according to their own unique needs.

And what are we to say of that unique experience? Two things, I think. One is, that in virtually all of the resurrection accounts, those closest to Jesus didn’t recognize him at first. Mary thought he was the gardener. The Emmaus disciples mistook him for a stranger. At Galilee, we find Peter uncharacteristically shy because he doesn’t want to ask who Jesus is because there’s a mysterious, intangible difference somehow. The old times had passed away and the disciples knew it. But what their new life was to be yet, they did no’t yet know.

The second thing we can say of Magdalen’s and the other disciples’ experience is that somehow they knew that Jesus was to leave them again, so that the spirit —-- God’s new Life —-- could come. They had to let go of what their experience of Jesus had been during his life, so that a new experience of God-life could be revealed to them. Jesus tells Mary "Don’t cling to me , for I must go to my Father." In another place in John’s Gospel, Jesus tells us: "I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you,. But if I go, I will send the Spirit to you." Even Mary with her greatest of loves, had to let go, so that an even greater Love could be born in her.

So. what does all this have to do with our lives today? Very much, I think. I believe that it is very hard, not to say impossible, to let go of whatever in our life is blocking new life for us without the support, healing and encouragement of Jesus. Magdalen couldn’t rid herself of her demons. Instead, Jesus’ power cast them out, making room in her for great grace and great love. At the tomb, that Easter morning, I think that Magdalen saw that sometimes that which we love most deeply is trying to reveal itself to us in new ways, if only we’ll let go of our preconceptions. The disciples at Pentecost experienced Jesus’ Spirit in a completely different way, with wind, flame, fire and a new power pouring itself into and through their lives. Yet that Spirit would never have been able to come had they not been able to let go of what was past.

Could it be that, like Magdalen, we need to stop clinging to a past event, person, sin, wound, loss, or sorrow that is blocking the Spirit power in our lives?

Can we, like Thomas, be honest about what we need from Jesus. Tto be able to believe,. aAnd then, like Thomas, have the courage to go ahead and do what Jesus asks so that our faith may be confirmed even in the midst of our doubts?

Could we, like Magdalen and Thomas, open ourselves to Jesus’ encouragement and healing, allow ourselves to "let go", so that we too may proclaim with newfound joy: "I have seen the Lord!"

In today’s first reading, in his vision Ezekiel sees the Lord open the graves and the People of Israel rise from them. In Paul’s letter to the Romans, the Spirit who raised Christ from the dead will bring mortal bodies to life. In John’s Gospel, we witness Lazarus being raised from the dead. In Msgr. Romero’s own words, "If they kill me, I will rise up in the Salvadoran people." We also witness today in El Salvador his resurrection in the seeds of liberation he planted with his blood.

On Saturday, Feb. 25, I was privileged to visit Msgr. Romero’s home and the Divine Providence Chapel, where he was struck down 16 years ago today. This was my first time ever to walk on hallowed ground, to feel the presence of one who made the ultimate sacrifice for his flock, devoting his life to the faith, to morality, to justice, to humanity, in a country with a military regime completely devoid of all principles. Msgr. Romero was the good Samaritan, the pastor to his flock, particularly the poor campesinos, and a prophet for all of us to emulate.

Sr. Rosa, the tiny Carmelite nun who was our guide that sunny, Saturday morning, told us of the circumstances of his death and lovingly described his last moments. We stood in his modest home, really a three-room cottage, and viewed his personal belongings —-- the clothing and vestments he wore that day including the alb splattered with blood —-- his small bedroom with a tiny desk in the corner, on which stood his old manual typewriter and the tape recorder on which he taped all of his sermons.

After his death, because of the uncertainty that the military might not release his body, his heart and vital organs were removed and buried in a plastic bag in the little garden next to his home. Two years later, they dug the container up and found the organs intact and the blood still warm. A vial of it was sent to the Vatican for the canonization process. The organs were buried again and today there is a beautiful shrine to the Blessed Virgin, with a stone grotto over the spot. The military did release his body, which is interred in the crypt of the Cathedral in San Salvador. Pope John Paul II prayed over his tomb during his visit in February.

During my stay in El Salvador, I witnessed time and again Msgr. Romero’s resurrection in the Salvadoran people. The beautiful smiling faces of the kids at the Community of Oscar A. Romero (COAR) Children’s Village and the dedication and love of their teachers and caregivers are also Msgr. Romero’s legacy of hope for the future. The COAR Children’s Village was founded by Cleveland mission priest Fr. Ken Myers shortly before Msgr. Romero’s death. Ken, too, was on the death lists, but continues to serve in El Salvador as Rector of Saint Charles Borromeo Mission Seminary. He is a living witness to Msgr. Romero along with the Cleveland Mission Team: Priests: Al Krupp, John King, Mike Williamson, Bill Thaden, Joe Callahan and Sisters Bobbi Goebel, Lisa Belz, Cathy McConnell, and Catherine Walsh.

Msgr. Romero is already canonized in the hearts of the Salvadoran people. Everywhere we went we saw his picture —-- in the living room of 90-year-old Nicolassa in the public housing project in San Jose Alpino, a very poor barrio; on the wall in the CoMadres office, next to a picture of Alicia’s son, who was killed by the death squads a couple of years ago. Alicia is a member of CoMadres, a support group for mothers of the assassinated and disappeared sons. Msgr. Romero also helped formwith the formation of CoMadres.

Msgr. Romero lived the Gospel as Jesus showed us. C, championing the rights of the poor. B, being their voice. S, speaking out against a system that violates God’s law. A fallible human being like us, he responded to the Spirit, as John tells us in Chapter 15.

"There is no greater love, than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. "

Dear God, help us this morning, as we commemorate Msgr. Romero, to open our hearts to the poor and to the poor in spirit, both here and throughout the world. Open our minds to the injustices that force over 85% of the world to live in poverty. Grant us the strength and fortitude to work in your name to make a difference, to take our own baptismal promises to heart —-- to be priest, prophet and king —-- as members of St. Malachi Community, as members of the Cleveland Diocesan Church and as members of the Universal Church. We ask these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Elinor Angela Woods was born in Brooklyn, New York. Her father was a "tax man" who held local elected office for a time. Elinor majored in English at St. Joseph College and received her Master of Arts from Columbia University. After graduation, she remained in Brooklyn with her mother and two brothers and worked for a whileawhile as a proofreader and editor, as well as in a religious goods store. She married Leon Paul in 1946 and became mother to daughter, Bernie. She died at age 88 of complications of diabetes. She had moved to Boston years ago to be near her daughter and the Jocelyn Clinic, which specializes in diabetes treatment.

Elinor and Leon, a convert to Catholicism, were founders of the Edith Stein Guild. They worked to promote understanding and appreciation of the Judaic heritage that is part of the Christian tradition. (In that spirit, Leon published educational works like, "A Christmas Hanukkah Program.") Their hope was that those in the Catholic Church, especially, would honor the heritage that the Jewish faith gave the Christian world. They were ahead of their time, as evidenced in this later quote:

"Our common Judeo-Christian heritage impels us toward this, our common heritage of service to humanity and its immense spiritual and material needs. Through different but finally convergent ways we will be able to reach, with the help of the Lord who has never ceased loving his people (cf. Romans 11:1), this true brotherhood in reconciliation and respect, and to contribute to a full implementation of God’s plan in history."–- Pope John Paul II, Mar. 6, 1982

Elinor and Leon also were also involved in the Cana Conference. After moving to Cleveland, she volunteered at the Diocesan Pastoral Planning Office.

Elinor was known to many in the Community of St. Malachi as a prayerful, peace-promoting woman who cared deeply about liturgy and social action issues. She organized many Seder meals over the years during her favorite liturgical season: Holy Week and /Easter. She showed special kindness to children, to the point of explaining that stairs that tripped you and brought tears were "naughty steps." She was a faithful greeting card sender and enjoyed fresh flowers —-- but only one in a vase at a time tso you could see the beauty of the single blossom. Perhaps Elinor’s greatest legacy to us was her simple, but profound message of "Shalom," the way she signed cards and ended letters. It is both a reminder and a challenge for our own personal lives and our shared life in community.

In her spirit of great faith, let’s put on our best "knee socks" and be joyous, Shalom-bearing Christians!

Thank you, Elinor, for the many gifts and smiles you gave us over the years and the deeper understanding of our own faith history.

If the world were a village of 1,000 people...

1. It would include:

584 Asians

124 Africans

84 Latin Americans

55 Soviets

52 North Americans

6 Australians and New Zealanders

2. Communication would be difficult:

165 speak Mandarin

86 speak English

83 speak Hindi/Urdu

64 speak Spanish

58 speak Russian

37 speak Arabic

The other half of the villagers speak (in descending order): Bengali, Portuguese, Indonesian, Japanese, German, French, and 200 other languages.

3. Religion: In this village of 1,000

329 are Christians
(187 Catholic; 84 Protestants; 31 Orthodox)

178 are Moslems

167 are Non-religious

132 are Hindus

60 are Buddhists

45 are Atheists

3 are Jews

86 are other religions

4. Age: One-third of the people (330) are children with only 60 over the age of 65. HOnly half of the children are immunized against preventable diseases like polio, measles.

5. In the first year, 28 babies are born. That year 10 people will die:

Three from lack of food, one from cancer, two of babies born this year.

One person in the village tests with HIV Positive.

6. In this 1,000 person community, 200 people receive 75% of the income. Another 200 people receive only two percent of the income. Seventy people own an automobile —-- of the seventy, some own two. One-third have access to safe, clean, drinking water.

7. VThe village has 6 acres per person (6,000 in all). 700 acres are crop land...1,400 acres are pasture, 1,900 acres are woodland, 2,000 acres are desert, tundra, pavement and other wasteland.

8. The village has five soldiers, seven teachers, one doctor, three refugees driven from home by war or drought.

9. The vVillage has enough explosive nuclear weapons buried beneath it to blow itself up many times over. The weapons are under the control of 100 people with the other 900 deeply concerned and anxious.

Most of us are citizens

of the Kingdom of Stuff.

We’re overloaded:

our wires,

our cars,

our closets,

our stomachs,

our lives.

There are so many plugs,

so many wires in our electrical outlets

that we always pull out the wrong one

when we want to bring the portable TV

into the kitchen for supper.

We don’t want to miss anything.

We want to have everything.

Our suitcases won’t close,

so we go out and buy bigger ones,

and then we build bigger airplanes.

We dash around in the Kingdom of Stuff,

driving full speed ahead,

wasting time,

wasting fuel,

wasting our lives,

looking for the latest gadgets,

the latest stuff.

We don’t know how to cut,

to reduce the budget,

to trim the fat out of our lives.

No wonder we can’t get through

the eye of the needle.

No wonder we don’t know anything

about the Kingdom of God,

about prayer and service.

No wonder we don’t believe

that there is a vast sky of possibilities

on the other side of the needle.

We can’t fit.

We refuse to sell what we have and give it to the poor.

No, we keep speeding down our eight lane

highway playing our stereos, playing our

song, "Happy are the rich, the Kingdom of

Stuff is theirs."

We speed by Jesus coming up the narrow road,

riding on a donkey, singing,

"Happy are the poor in spirit,

the Kingdom of God is theirs."

God emptied himself. He gave up everything

to come through the eye of the needle,

to come into the Kingdom of Stuff.

He walked around telling people to empty their lives,

empty their suitcases,

in fact to get rid of them

"no traveling bags",

and begin walking the narrow road

through the eye of the needle

into the Kingdom of God.

THE COMMUNITY OF ST. MALACHI is a lay-directed, non-territorial personal parish of the Diocese of Cleveland. Although separate from the Parish of St. Malachi, we join together for many worthwhile activities. All are welcome to worship at the 11:00 a.m. Community liturgy on Sunday. Community members are expected to actively contribute of their time, talent and treasure.