13th Sunday - A (June 28, 2020)

God’s Ambassadors

Matthew 10: 37-42

“Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”

First, borrowing the words of St. Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:20, “We are ambassadors for Christ.”  Then, I must ask myself:  Who is the God that I represent?  Is this God the God of love, mercy, compassion, and goodness? 

And as St. Paul reminds us in today’s 2^nd reading, there are certain sins in me that must die, perhaps selfishness, hatred, resentment, etc.   Only then can I can live for God as Jesus did.  Then, people who receive me might see more clearly the God who is the God of love, mercy, compassion and goodness.

Second, I have to ask myself who I need to recognize as God’s ambassadors in my life.  There are those who love me and care for me.  But let me not forget what Jesus also says in the same Gospel According to Matthew in Chapter 25.  His ambassadors are those who are hungry, thirsty, strangers, naked, ill, in prison, strangers.  They are his ambassadors because he identifies himself in them, “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.”

12th Sunday - A (June 21, 2020)

Me Compared with Two Sparrows

Matthew 10: 26-33

“Two sparrows are sold for a small coin.” 

The name of the small coin is mentioned the original Greek text of Matthew’s Gospel.  Based on the common salary of day laborers at the time of Jesus, a person would need to work about 15 minutes to buy one such sparrow. 

“Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge.”

If a sparrow is still in the Father’s care, all the more we are. 

And this Father knows even “the hairs on your head.”

“So, do not be afraid.”

Solemnity of Body and Blood of Christ - A (June 14, 2020)

Food of Eternal Life

John 6:51-58

Last Sunday, Trinity Sunday, we learned that “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

Today, on this Solemnity of Corpus Christi, we celebrate this gift of eternal life that is now present to us in the gift of the Eucharist. 

Jesus tells us that God’s gift of eternal life is found in Jesus, “the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I give is my flesh for the life of the world.”

Let’s pray that we might continue to deepen our love and appreciation for the Bread of Eternal Life.

May parents, catechists, educators form in children and young people this love through their words and examples.

And let’s pray for more vocations to the priesthood, and may priests allow Jesus to form them in holiness.  

Reflection Song: 

Composer:  Curtis Stephan

Holy Trinity (June 7, 2020)

God’s Life

Readings

We are not perfect, we are still the “stiff-necked people,” with “wickedness and sins." Yet, God is in our company (1^st reading).

In Jesus, God shares God’s life with us. 

This life is the life of God’s “love and peace” (2^nd reading) now, in this current life and continues into eternal life (Gospel).

Image:  Andrej Rublev, Icon of the Trinity,
www.wikimedia.org

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.