May 25, 2014: Sixth Sunday of Easter

While giving His Last Supper discourse, from which today's Gospel reading from John is taken, Jesus promises His disciples that He will send the Spirit, an Advocate to be present with them always.  Jesus recognizes their need for His continued presence once He physically leaves the Earth.

It is this Spirit that continually manifests the presence of the Risen Christ.  This Spirit aids us when a hostile world challenges our faith.  This Spirit aids us in living holy, righteous lives, and in responding to the powerful Love God has shown us in Jesus, as we do works of service to others in that Love.  In these deeds, the Spirit is truly actively working in our midst.

May 18, 2014: Fifth Sunday of Easter

By the Paschal Mystery, God, through Christ, now makes us a specially Chosen People in His sight, bringing us from darkness to Light.  We now center our lives on Christ, in whose presence we dwell, so that we do great works, in the power of faith and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  As we dwell in Christ's presence now, we are guided by Him on the way that leads to Life, now, and Eternally in the presence of God, where Christ is preparing a place for us to dwell in God's presence.

May 11, 2014: Fourth Sunday of Easter/Good Shepherd Sunday

In the Gospel reading from John 10, Jesus talks about how He is the Good Shepherd:  He truly cares for the sheep, always looking out for their best interests.  He protects them from those who seek to do them harm.  The sheep are drawn to Him, because they know who He is, and know His love for them.

We, like sheep, have strayed from the Shepherd who cares for us.  And in love and care for us, God sacrificed Himself in Jesus Christ so we could be brought back to following after our Good Shepherd, who guides our very souls.  He has made possible the way of forgiveness of sins, and repentance leading to new Life.

This image of Good Shepherd was demonstrated so powerfully for me this weekend:  I went to one of the two First Communion Masses held this weekend at my home parish.  Right before the Eucharistic Prayer, Father Larry walked to where the First Communicants were sitting, motioned for them to get out of their pews, and personally led them up to the altar, where they gathered as he led the prayer.  I almost cried watching this touching scene, because Father Larry was demonstrating what it means to be a shepherd of God's people, leading them to life, which we find at the Table where Christ offers us His Body and Blood.

It was a moving scene as I celebrate the anniversary of my own first communion.  (By the way, it seems that I may have erred in my previous blog when I wrote it was on May 9.  It seems it might have been on May 2, 1999, but I'm still working on checking that for sure.)

May 4, 2014: Third Sunday of Easter

I find that the Gospel reading for this Sunday coincides aptly with two things happening in my life.

On May 9, 2014, I mark 15 years since my first Holy Communion at St. Giles Family Mass Community--an event that happened at a Mass held inside a parochial school gymnasium.

During this weekend, I attended Mass at St. Teresa of Avila Roman Catholic Student Center, the church I attended while a student at Valparaiso University.  It was great visiting with many people I got to know well during my time as a student there, in both the communities of St. Teresa's and of the university.

The term "breaking bread" refers to sharing a meal with someone.  I had a few opportunities to break bread with dear friends as I reconnected with them.

In the Gospel reading, the two disciples connect with a stranger as the Risen Jesus when He breaks the bread, and they see His presence fully revealed.  In so doing, Jesus shows how God's plan for salvation is unfolding in our daily lives, which preserves us from death and leads to us life, and joy in God's presence.

This again speaks to how the Paschal Mystery is something we enter into in the experiences of our own lives, as we invite God to be present with us.