What is a sign of an arrow’s having been drawn in to the archer’s bow? It is that the arrow has been loaded with energy to go forth. What is the sign of a man’s having been drawn in to Christ’s heart? In him we can see the same. The disciple is becoming an apostle all the while he is being drawn in to Christ.

I have been away for a few days of rest following the Holy Week liturgies and Easter Sunday. Regarding Easter Sunday itself, I want to say how grateful I am that everything went as smoothly as it did, logistically. We have some wonderful liturgical ministers and ushers! Even so, the crowds at all the Masses were very large — as expected — and yet, thank God, the day passed without incident. With the exception of one or two people who needed some air, everyone seemed well enough to pray and truly to celebrate the resurrection of Christ. Despite the uncertain weather, the day was filled with Easter joy.

Although religion will always have our attention, some people still say, “I’m spiritual but not religious.” It’s an old expression, but it remains very much in vogue. For those unfamiliar, it describes someone whose spiritual life is divorced from organized religion, with the implication that the two are mutually exclusive, or at least should be. And people who say it usually assume God is just fine with that.

Growing up, my mother often reminded me of how I would sing the “Hosannas” very loudly at Mass as a little boy. “You would belt it out,” she would say. “It was very cute.” I must have been very little because my memories of growing up in the church are all shrouded in shyness. How short lived is that first fearlessness of childhood.

I was in Amsterdam with a friend back in 1996. The highlight of that trip for me was visiting the Van Gogh museum. It displays the world’s largest collection of his artwork. One particular painting that struck me was Vincent’s The Raising of Lazarus.

For the first 10 years or so of my priesthood I would ask to con-celebrate Mass (to vest for Mass with the other priests) when visiting a parish while traveling. If I were going to Daily Mass with family out-of-state, for example, I would arrive 15 minutes early with an alb, knock on the sacristy door before Mass, introduce myself to the priest, and ask if I could join him on the altar. It was nice. But here’s why I stopped doing that.

We all know people who “drain us,” as we say. Not only the tedious. Those we’re happy to serve (like children or spouses) also need us to pour ourselves out for them, and in that sense, “drain us.” But there are also those from whom we can drink – those who “fill us up.” These are the people we sometimes refer to as, “life-giving.”

The natural world is made up of patterns and laws, which make all of the sciences possible. There is intelligibility and consistency written into the very fabric of creation. This is why we can plan trips to the moon, and even to Mars, and why it is not unreasonable to fly in an airplane.