[Editor's Note: This article was adapted from the Palm Sunday meditation in The Word Among Us magazine. Used with permission.]
Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. The veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. When the centurion who stood facing him saw how he breathed his last he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” (Mark 15:37-39).
Holy Week and the Easter Season are special times of grace when we celebrate our redemption. It is also a time to reflect on the love the Father has lavished on us through the death and resurrection of his Son. This is not a time for sorrow but for gratitude, joy, and hope.
In the Palm Sunday Gospel reading, St. Mark tells us that as Jesus breathed his last, the veil in the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. This veil was a thick curtain that separated the people from the holiest and most sacred portion of the Temple (Exodus 26:31-35). So by tearing this veil, God was making a powerful statement: There was no longer any separation between him and his people.
Just as the veil in the Jewish temple separated the people from the presence and holiness of God, so did a thick veil of guilt and sin hang between us and our Creator. But when Jesus died, this veil was also torn from top (heaven) to bottom (earth). The way to heaven was opened, and God’s life and love were free to flow to every one of us. Now, finally, we all can hear his voice and experience his presence and love personally.
This sounds so wonderful, and yet each of us has known the feeling of separation or distance from God. Veils can still shroud our lives, blocking our access to the Father’s throne. Jesus wants to tear apart these veils. He wants to remove the obstacles that still exist between us and his heavenly Father. We have only to come to him and ask. Jesus died to set us free from sin, so that we could gaze on his glory and be filled with his love.
So, open your heart to Jesus. Be thankful. Be hopeful. Be humble. Be joyful! God can remove every veil that keeps you from being transformed into his image — and he can do it now during this wonderful season of grace!
Jesus, words fail me when I look at your cross. Words fail me when I think of your resurrection and my own future resurrection to new life with you. All I can do is praise you for your love and ask you to come and rend the veils in my life. Lord, I want to see your glory and be made more like you!
(Maurice Blumberg is Executive Director of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men. This article is part of NFCM's sponsorship of the Catholic Man channel. Contact NFCM at P.O. Box 86381, Gaithersburg, MD 20886, email them at info@nfcmusa.org, or call them at 301-519-0646. If you would like to make an Easter contribution to the NFCM, just click here.)
Reflection Questions on Page 2
Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men
1. The Easter Season is often called the season of new life. What is your understanding of the new life you have in Christ though his death and resurrection?
2. The article says that, “This is not a time for sorrow but for gratitude, joy, and hope.” Why is this so? What are the things that you are grateful for? What is the source of joy in your life? What do you place your hope in?
3. In the article, we are also told that “each of us has known the feeling of separation or distance from God. Veils can still shroud our lives, blocking our access to the Father’s throne. Jesus wants to tear apart these veils. He wants to remove the obstacles that still exist between us and his heavenly Father. We have only to come to him and ask. Jesus died to set us free from sin, so that we could gaze on his glory and be filled with his love.” What are the veils in your life that can separate you from knowing and experiencing God the Father and Jesus’ great love for you? What steps can you take to allow Jesus to remove these veils during this grace-filled season?
4. If you are in a men’s group, take some time at the end of your meeting to pray for one another that the “veils” that still remain in your life would be removed.
