Pentecost (May 31, 2020)

“Receive the Holy Spirit”

John 20: 19-23

The disciples hid behind locked doors.  They were afraid. 

Jesus came to them and restored peace in them.  He then breathed on them and gave them the Holy Spirit.

We have been locking ourselves away from others.  We have been anxious, worried and afraid.

The same Jesus is with us with His peace.  He gives us the Holy Spirit just as He did for those disciples.

We also know that Mary, the Mother of Jesus was with those first disciples (Acts 1:14).  As we end this Month of Mary, let us ask Mary to help us know that she remains with us in our times of needs.

Image source: Pentecost, by Titian, www.wikiart.org

Ascension of the Lord (May 24, 2020)

It’s Not Us.  It’s Jesus.

Matthew 28: 16-20

“The eleven disciples went to Galilee.” 

There used to be twelve of them.  We know why there are eleven now.  We know what one of them, Judas, did.  We also know what these eleven disciples did after Jesus’ arrest, during his trial and crucifixion.  Even now, they still have their doubts.

Jesus commanded these eleven to continue his mission. 

Now, Jesus commands us to do the same. 

We, as individual disciples and as a community of believers, are not perfect.

It is not about us.

It is Jesus who came in the name of the Father.  It is Jesus who now has “all power in heaven and on earth.”  It is Jesus who says, “I am with you always.”

It is this Jesus who now commands us to continue his mission to make disciples and baptize all nations.

6th Sunday of Easter (May 17, 2020)

Jesus’ Farewell Words

John 14:15-21

This passage of the Gospel records some of Jesus’ words to the disciples during the last supper, before he gave his life for them and for all humanity.

During this time of suffering and anxiety, instead of reading some comments or reflections on this passage of the Gospel, let us spend some time listen to Jesus, as he tells us:

-       The Father will give you another Advocate to be with you always.

-       [The Advocate] remains with you, and will be with you.

-       I will not leave you orphans.

-       I live and you will live

-       I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you.

-       Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.

5th Sunday of Easter (May 10, 2020)

The Way

John 14:1-12

Jesus is the way.

There is a tension or a balance in following Jesus.

On the one hand, following Jesus does not mean simply tagging along.  Jesus’ way is not a physical road, and if we just keep dragging along, without efforts or intentionality, eventually we’ll get there.

We follow Jesus’ way by living, acting, and loving in the manner that He did.

On the other hand, it is a journey that Jesus himself walks with us and leads us.  In fact, by ourselves, we can’t do it.   We have his words of assurance, “I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be.”  

Image source:  The Cross at the St. Leo the Great Catholic Church, Omaha, NE

4th Sunday of Easter (May 3, 2020)

The New Normal

John 10: 1-10

“The new normal” is the catch phrase these days. 

What is the new normal of Christianity?  It is actually not new.  Or as St. Augustine put it, it is “ever ancient, ever new.”

We heard of this new normal in today’s second reading, from the First Letter of St. Peter.  “He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness.  By his wounds you have been healed.”

That we have been healed to live for righteousness is the abundant life about which Jesus said, “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” 

 

Image source:  www.agnusday.org