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.
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
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.
Saturday, May 10, 2014
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.)
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.)
Monday, May 5, 2014
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.
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.
Sunday, April 27, 2014
April 27, 2014: Second Sunday of Easter/Divine Mercy Sunday
The reading from 1 Peter, while containing a long sentence with many thoughts, speaks beautifully of how we are born anew in hope, which sets us on a path to attaining the salvation won for us through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
He does this for us, even though we are mired, like the disciples were, in sin, fear, and doubt. Through His mercy, Christ grants us peace, so we are free from what mires us. We are then given a mission to bring that mercy to the world through forgiveness of sins. This is the new life that God breathes into us through the living Jesus, which manifests itself in the church, whose early days, and purposes even today, are described so well in the first reading.
He does this for us, even though we are mired, like the disciples were, in sin, fear, and doubt. Through His mercy, Christ grants us peace, so we are free from what mires us. We are then given a mission to bring that mercy to the world through forgiveness of sins. This is the new life that God breathes into us through the living Jesus, which manifests itself in the church, whose early days, and purposes even today, are described so well in the first reading.
Sunday, April 20, 2014
April 20, 2014: Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord
Jesus Christ has risen from the dead. He has truly shown God's power over all that is wrong in the world by conquering death. And so we no longer fear the ill effects of death.
Joined with Christ, we go from dying to rising with Him in Life Anew, as He now lives in us. We are thereby set on the path that leads to Eternal Life, and so we focus ourselves above to that place where we are headed.
As Christ lives in us, we truly know the power of the Resurrection in our lives, and go forth, sharing that message with others.
Joined with Christ, we go from dying to rising with Him in Life Anew, as He now lives in us. We are thereby set on the path that leads to Eternal Life, and so we focus ourselves above to that place where we are headed.
As Christ lives in us, we truly know the power of the Resurrection in our lives, and go forth, sharing that message with others.
April 19, 2014: Holy Saturday, The Great Easter Vigil
After a day spent in quiet reflection and anticipation, we come to the great Vigil.
O what a night it is, when we recall to mind the story of God's unfolding plan of salvation for us, His people. Throughout, He has sought to purify for Himself a special people, set apart for His purposes and His Glory.
As His people, with exceeding joy we acclaim the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, triumphant over the grave.
And what joy it is to welcome the newly baptized who, for the first time, experience dying and rising with Christ in sacramental life, and then to renew ourselves in this great mystery as we proceed to the font.
The tone of the night vigil is definitely set well by the glorious words of the Exsultet, proclaimed toward the beginning of the service, with the Paschal candle having been set in place. It is truly a night to rejoice when Heaven and Earth come together so wondrously.
O what a night it is, when we recall to mind the story of God's unfolding plan of salvation for us, His people. Throughout, He has sought to purify for Himself a special people, set apart for His purposes and His Glory.
As His people, with exceeding joy we acclaim the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, triumphant over the grave.
And what joy it is to welcome the newly baptized who, for the first time, experience dying and rising with Christ in sacramental life, and then to renew ourselves in this great mystery as we proceed to the font.
The tone of the night vigil is definitely set well by the glorious words of the Exsultet, proclaimed toward the beginning of the service, with the Paschal candle having been set in place. It is truly a night to rejoice when Heaven and Earth come together so wondrously.
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