CATHOLIC COURIER DIOCESE OF ROCHESTER. N.Y. THURSDAY APRIL 20, 2000 PAGE 13

When would Jesus celebrate ? An acronym has become popular in todecimans (Latin for "fourteenth"). mans in Asia Minor conform to what had recent years, especially among evangeli­ On the other side were most of the now become the Roman practice. cal Christians: WWJD ("What would Je­ churches of the West, which celebrated When Polycrates, the bishop of Eph- sus do?"). It emphasizes the responsibil­ the feast on the Sunday following the esus, refused to bend to the 's will, ity of Christians to respond in a Jewish . (For a long while the pope excommunicated him. Christ-like manner to every situation essays m itself did not even have a separate feast (WWJD? He shakes his head.) Many they encounter — in private life, in busi­ for Easter. It regarded every Sunday as Christians reacted strongly againsi the ness and professional life or in politics. theology the feast of the Resurrection.) pope's action, even those who followed The WWJD syndrome bothers many Now what would Jesus make of this the Roman practice. people, especially non-Christians, be­ controversy? of Lyons, one of the great cause it seems to them a formula not so He would be pleased to learn that bishops of the time, chastised the pope, much for putting Christian faith into both practices were tolerated, in the be­ reminding him that all previous practice, as for imposing one particular line the situation the council had creat­ ginning at least, and that , bish­ had tolerated the Quartodeciman prac­ version of Christian faith on others. ed for the church. Catholics, including op of Smyrna and a of John the tice and that the issue did not touch the There is another side to the WWJD priests, no longer could rely upon rules Apostle, was warmly received when he essence of the faith. (WWJD? He says to formula. It is brought out in a joke that and regulations as the final word. They came to Rome around the year 155 to try himself, "Good for you, Irenaeus.") began making the rounds in the 1960s. had to face each problem as it arose, ad­ to persuade (155-66) to After the Council of Nicaea endorsed At a gathering of local clergy follow­ dressing it primarily in the light of the adopt the Quartodeciman practice. , *the Roman practice in 325, many of the ing a Confirmation ceremony, a priest in rather than church law. Even though the pope did not accept Quartodecimans broke communion one group tells of a situation he recently It is this other side of the WWJD for­ the recommendation, he invited Poly­ with the church, and the schism lasted faced while distributing Holy Commu­ mula that shapes our somewhat ellipti­ carp to preside at the Eucharist, and the for more than two centuries. nion. He looked up and saw someone he cal reflections this week about Easter — two parted company in peace. WWJD? He would offer these words knew to be Protestant moving steadily up not about the rich faith content of the Taking the WWJD formula as our of advice to his church. When contro­ the line. The priest became very nervous feast, but about the controversy in die guide, Jesus would smile approvingly. versies erupt over matters that do not and wondered what he should do. early church over the dating of Easter. The dating of Easter is a minor matter. pertain to the essence of the faith (and As the person drew closer, the priest On the one side were a number of lo­ Why fight over it? most do not), follow the path oMrcnacus thought to himself, "What" would Jesus cal churches in Asia Minor which cele­ Subsequently, the Roman church rather than Victor. do?" The bishop, sitting nearby with an­ brated Easter when the Jews observed adopted the custom of celebrating East­ "Yes, I know Victor was a pope. But other group of priests, turned and ex­ Passover, namely, on the fourteenth day er as a separate feast — on the Sunday my advice stands." claimed, "You didn't do that, did you?" of the month of Nisan, regardless of the following Passover. Happy Easter to all. The joke always got a laugh, especial­ day of the week it fell on. A later pope, Victor I (189-98), was not • • • ly with post-Vatican II audiences, be­ Because they insisted on that date, content to allow both practices to coex­ Father McBrien is a professor of theology cause people recognized in the punch these Christians were known as Quar- ist. He demanded that the Quartodeci- at ttie University of Notre Dame. Jesus9 death, resurrection bring new life Easter Sunday (April 23): (R3) John the disciples opening their eyes to Jesus band, and traced the design of the cross 20:1-9. (Rl) Acts 10:34, 37-43. (R2) as he breaks bread with them. And, if we on his chest. "In that single act," said Colossians 3:1-4. keep the faith, Easter can mean more to Bush, "God had broken through the core When Margaret Thatcher was prime us than chocolate bunnies and ham din­ of the Communist system." minister of Britain, a terrorist's bomb ex­ ners. It can mean new life. God still breaks through the cores of ploded in a room where government Jesus' resurrection is a positive answer systems that enslave. The stones of ha­ meetings were held. Thatcher survived to the question that a tortured man of tred and oppression, violence and geno­ but some cabinet members were killed. faith named had raised centuries ear­ cide, despair and futility are still rolled In church the following Sunday, the lier. Just like the disciples, Job's world away. And heaven breaks out in its own Iron Lady wept at the loss of her friends. had come crashing down. He lost his Hallelujah Chorus: "And He shall reign She would not only miss them, but also property, his health and even his family. forever and ever!" the wonderful times they had together. In his pain he asked a question he could • • • Undoubtedly the grief of Mary Magda­ Such was die pain of the followers of not answer, "If a person dies, can he live Father Shamon is administrator of St. lene-on that first Easter morning was Jesus after his crucifixion. On Easter af­ again?" The is the Jogues Chapel, Fleming. even deeper than Margaret Thatcher's. ternoon on die road to Emmaus, two of answer to Job's question. A person can The followers of Jesus on that first Jesus' disciples spoke of their dashed rise from the dead. Easter morn were emotionally and spir­ hopes by saying, "we had hoped that he Death is merely another event in the Daily Readings itually dead. They had no vision. Mary was the one to redeem Israel." Notice ongoing process of life — something one Magdalene went to the tomb of Jesus, the past tense. They had hoped. Hope lives through widi Christ. The resurrec­ Monday, April 24 not in anticipation of his resurrection, unrequited is a cruel emotion. They had tion of Jesus reinforces Scripture: "The Acts 2:14, 22-33; Matthew 28:8-15 but to complete his burial. Like Maggie hoped, but hoped no more. Hope died souls of the just are in the hands of God Tuesday, April 25 Thatcher after the death of her friends, when Jesus died; thus their depression. and no torment shall touch them... they Acts 2:36-41; John 20:11-18 Mary was crushed. Her closest friend, The good news of Easter is that it are at peace" (Wisdom 3:1). Wednesday, April 26 her mentor, her Lord was dead! does not end with women anointing a When George Bush was vice-president Acts 3:1-10: Luke 24:13-35 Marius, in the musical, "Les Miser- lifeless body. It does not end widi disil­ of die United States, he represented our Thursday, April 27 ables," sings after his friends have been lusioned disciples retreating into their country at the funeral of Leonid Brezh­ Acts 3:11-26; Luke 24:3548 killed in an ill-fated student rebellion: houses. Nor should Easter end with our nev. There were no prayers, no comfort­ Friday, April 28 "There's a grief that can't be spo­ giving up the search forjo y and purpose. ing hymns, and no mention of God. Acts 4:1-12; John 21:1-14 ken/There's a pain goes on and on/ Easter ends with Mary testifying to her When Mrs. Brezhnev came forward for Saturday, April 29 Empty chairs at empty tables/Now my frightened and discouraged friends, "I her final good-bye, Bush related, she Acts 4:13-21; Mark 16:9-15 friends are dead and gone." have seen the Lord." Easter ends with walked up, took one last look at her hus­

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