The liturgy for this Sunday is replaced by this Solemnity, commemorating the two saints who are pillars of the Church. They were chosen by God to have important leadership roles in building up the Church in its earliest days, and ultimately, to give witness to Christ in dying as martyrs. Yet, as we see in the story in the First Reading, God delivered St. Peter from death for a time, so that he could continue the work God had set for Him to do.
And as St. Paul writes in the selection from 2 Timothy for the second reading, He had truly striven after doing God's work faithfully, giving his life in service to God's call, and now awaited the great reward from God.
They lay an important foundation for the Church: They established the teachings to which we still hold this day, and their example guides us in living faithfully before God and doing His work of proclaiming the Gospel.
Sunday, June 29, 2014
Sunday, June 22, 2014
June 22, 2014: Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Jesus Christ
This feast day, also known as Corpus Christi Sunday, focuses our attention on a special part of our faith, and the Paschal Mystery, too:
We remember--and that's the important word--that Jesus Christ is God's provision to us, and He offers us His Body and Blood to nourish us that we may truly live, all the while as we recall that God alone truly sustains us. Because Jesus Christ has come and established the Paschal Mystery, He is now the only source of nourishment for the Life we live in God. In a similar spirit to His saying, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life", in John chapter 14, it's like He says, "I am nourishment".
It is a Life we live together the people of God, as One Body, because we partake of the One Source of nourishment--we become what we consume, the Body of Christ. So this feast is a celebration of God's provision through us in Jesus Christ and the life we live as One Body, the Church.
So as God shows Himself alive and present in the Eucharist, as we partake, becoming Christ, we show Him to be alive and present as we manifest His presence in the world.
As an aside: this Feast gives me further reason to think back upon my First Communion 15 years ago. But I seem to have erred in my post for Sunday, May 3, 2014, when I said that occasion was on May 9, when more than likely it was May 2, 1999.
We remember--and that's the important word--that Jesus Christ is God's provision to us, and He offers us His Body and Blood to nourish us that we may truly live, all the while as we recall that God alone truly sustains us. Because Jesus Christ has come and established the Paschal Mystery, He is now the only source of nourishment for the Life we live in God. In a similar spirit to His saying, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life", in John chapter 14, it's like He says, "I am nourishment".
It is a Life we live together the people of God, as One Body, because we partake of the One Source of nourishment--we become what we consume, the Body of Christ. So this feast is a celebration of God's provision through us in Jesus Christ and the life we live as One Body, the Church.
So as God shows Himself alive and present in the Eucharist, as we partake, becoming Christ, we show Him to be alive and present as we manifest His presence in the world.
As an aside: this Feast gives me further reason to think back upon my First Communion 15 years ago. But I seem to have erred in my post for Sunday, May 3, 2014, when I said that occasion was on May 9, when more than likely it was May 2, 1999.
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
June 15, 2014: Most Holy Trinity Sunday
The Trinity is one of the great mysteries of our faith. It's hard to understand how God is One yet of Three Distinct Persons at the same time.
Father Larry, pastor at Ascension Church, in regards to the Trinity, recalls the teaching of one of his seminary professors, who said that we ought not explain the doctrine of the Trinity, but live out the doctrine.
And while we can't easily explain the Trinity, we are aware of its effects in our lives. God the Father created us, and all the beauty of this world. Jesus Christ, the Son, has redeemed us, so that we could be restored to relationship with the Father. And the Holy Spirit guides us in living out that relationship in righteousness before Him. This is all tied up in the Paschal Mystery, which we have just spent nearly 100 days of the year commemorating.
The readings for this weekend speak of God's characteristics, grace, mercy, and kindness, shown most especially in how he sought to save us through the Son, and not leave us to be condemned. Having experienced this amazing Love, which binds the Trinity together, and us to the Trinity, we live in love with each other, as we give praise to our Almighty God, of Three, but in essence, One.
Father Larry, pastor at Ascension Church, in regards to the Trinity, recalls the teaching of one of his seminary professors, who said that we ought not explain the doctrine of the Trinity, but live out the doctrine.
And while we can't easily explain the Trinity, we are aware of its effects in our lives. God the Father created us, and all the beauty of this world. Jesus Christ, the Son, has redeemed us, so that we could be restored to relationship with the Father. And the Holy Spirit guides us in living out that relationship in righteousness before Him. This is all tied up in the Paschal Mystery, which we have just spent nearly 100 days of the year commemorating.
The readings for this weekend speak of God's characteristics, grace, mercy, and kindness, shown most especially in how he sought to save us through the Son, and not leave us to be condemned. Having experienced this amazing Love, which binds the Trinity together, and us to the Trinity, we live in love with each other, as we give praise to our Almighty God, of Three, but in essence, One.
Sunday, June 8, 2014
June 8, 2014: Pentecost Sunday
We have come to the annual observance of another great Feast of the Church, in which we celebrate another piece of the Paschal Mystery: Jesus, glorified in God's presence, pours out the Gift of the Holy Spirit on the Church. God, through Jesus, has breathed His Spirit upon us, and sent us forth. We are truly and fully brought alive and now go forth to carry forth the work of Jesus in the world.
The Spirit brought us, as many people, together as one to confess Jesus as Lord--and only by this Spirit do we so confess. The Spirit then gifts us specifically to do His work, serving one another in selfless love, and so that we truly sense being together as one people, in God.
We have much reason to celebrate on this occasion, because God is alive and active in our midst through His Spirit. I had opportunity to celebrate that this weekend in a couple of ways. On Saturday evening, I attended a celebration with the community of St. Teresa of Avila Roman Catholic Student Center as we marked 25 years since Father Kevin's ordination as a priest. We celebrated how God's Spirit is active through his ministry, and through our participation in this community of faith.
On Sunday, there was a special blessing for all those who participated in the Living Your Strengths program at Ascension Parish. This is a program in which we discern the gifts God has given each of us individually, and how we can use them. So it was a fitting weekend to have a special blessing for those who have participated, as we celebrate how God has gifted each of us uniquely, and how together, we can use our gifts in service for His greater glory.
The Spirit brought us, as many people, together as one to confess Jesus as Lord--and only by this Spirit do we so confess. The Spirit then gifts us specifically to do His work, serving one another in selfless love, and so that we truly sense being together as one people, in God.
We have much reason to celebrate on this occasion, because God is alive and active in our midst through His Spirit. I had opportunity to celebrate that this weekend in a couple of ways. On Saturday evening, I attended a celebration with the community of St. Teresa of Avila Roman Catholic Student Center as we marked 25 years since Father Kevin's ordination as a priest. We celebrated how God's Spirit is active through his ministry, and through our participation in this community of faith.
On Sunday, there was a special blessing for all those who participated in the Living Your Strengths program at Ascension Parish. This is a program in which we discern the gifts God has given each of us individually, and how we can use them. So it was a fitting weekend to have a special blessing for those who have participated, as we celebrate how God has gifted each of us uniquely, and how together, we can use our gifts in service for His greater glory.
Sunday, June 1, 2014
June 1, 2014: Ascension of the Lord Sunday
Note: Here in the Archdiocese of Chicago, like many US dioceses, the Feast of the Ascension is transferred to the 7th Sunday of Easter. And for me, this Feast holds special significance as the Feast Day of my home parish, Ascension in Oak Park.
On this occasion, we celebrate another piece of the Paschal Mystery. After rising from the dead, and appearing to the disciples on a number of occasions, Christ ascends to Heaven. But in light of the Resurrection and His new life, which we have celebrated throughout this Easter Season, it is a departure in which we rejoice. Christ now returns to Heaven in exalted glory, having done His part in God's plan for the salvation of the world.
Yet He does not leave us alone. He imparts to us a mission, to go forth, continuing His work of the Kingdom, making disciples in the world. And He promises to be present to His disciples always, which alludes to the great Feast we celebrate next week. So we wait upon Him as we set forth in this work, knowing that when our earthly pilgrimage is done, we shall go to where Christ has gone, to the Father's presence in Heaven, to share in His Glory.
On this occasion, we celebrate another piece of the Paschal Mystery. After rising from the dead, and appearing to the disciples on a number of occasions, Christ ascends to Heaven. But in light of the Resurrection and His new life, which we have celebrated throughout this Easter Season, it is a departure in which we rejoice. Christ now returns to Heaven in exalted glory, having done His part in God's plan for the salvation of the world.
Yet He does not leave us alone. He imparts to us a mission, to go forth, continuing His work of the Kingdom, making disciples in the world. And He promises to be present to His disciples always, which alludes to the great Feast we celebrate next week. So we wait upon Him as we set forth in this work, knowing that when our earthly pilgrimage is done, we shall go to where Christ has gone, to the Father's presence in Heaven, to share in His Glory.
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