June 25, 2017: 12th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Jesus sent forth His Apostles to proclaim openly and boldly the messages He gave them in secret, which is the mission we as His people have in our present day.  Because of sin and evil in the world, we are bound to face persecution in fulfilling this mission.  Yet we can take courage because He is with us.  He has conquered sin that entered the world through death because of the disobedience of Adam and Eve.  So while they may kill the body, they cannot harm our souls, because they are kept safe in Him, caring us even more so than for birds, because of Christ's graces flowing so abundantly onto us.

This weekend, the Sunday 11 AM Mass at Ascension Parish was the final Mass at which Deacon Lendell Richardson assisted, as he is moving onto an assignment at a new parish.  He has always given great homilies, and this one was no exception:  Drawing so richly from the readings, he spoke about the fears he's faced in the various experiences of his own life, and how in the midst of those fears, he has found reason to praise God, and entrust Himself to Him Who has lavished His care on us so richly.  It was stirring to hear those words spoken in such a heartfelt, real way from someone entering a time of transition, reminding us of how God calls all of us to entrust ourselves to Him, knowing we can count on the God Who has saved us.  A translation of Jesus's words in the Gospel passage renders, "Stop being afraid".  Indeed, in the midst of so much fear, we can stop being afraid, and cry out to Him in trust.

June 18, 2017: Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

Just as the bells that ring at the words of Institution during the Eucharistic prayer often at many places where Mass is celebrated summon our attention to something special happening, so this Feast is an annual opportunity to remember that something special is happening when we gather at Mass.

Jesus, the Bread come down from Heaven, comes to us to feed us in our state of need, which compels us to acknowledge God's Word as the one true source of sustenance in this life.  He brings us all, His people, together as One Body as we partake of the One Bread that is Him, as together we share in Him.  And He gives us Life as we partake of His Body and Blood.  Thus we live forever, and are filled with His Divine Life as we are sent forth into the world to meet the needs of those we encounter.

June 11, 2017: Most Holy Trinity Sunday

While it's oft said that the Trinity is a hard to understand doctrine of our faith, we are aware of the presence of Godhead Who is three Persons of One Substance abiding with each other in harmony, and reflect that harmony in our own relationships.

We acknowledge God as Almighty, yet He is so near to us.  The relationship of the Trinity poured forth into bringing into existence all of Creation, so that God pervades everything.  In His mercy God makes Himself known to us, and draws us into a relationship with Him.  He pours forth His love on us in the presence of the Son Jesus Christ, Who came to Earth to make God real to us.  He brings us to Eternal Life, even now as He believe and abide in Him.  And He abides with us through Holy Spirit.

So we praise Him as the Trinity works in us to display peace and harmony with one another, and the very glory of God, Who is ever present.

June 4, 2017: Pentecost Sunday

We celebrate the great feast commemorating when the Holy Spirit descended upon the gathered disciples of Jesus and fulfilled the promises of Jesus Christ and His New Covenant by bringing into being the Church.  We rejoice that the Holy Spirit is the bond that binds us together as the one Body of Christ.  The Holy Spirit is the very breath of God that brings the Life of the Risen Jesus into us.  With this Life in us, we are made alive and are sent forth to proclaim the Gospel that announces His Good News.  We are no longer divided by barriers that arise from our sinful world, like happened at Babel, as the Holy Spirit makes us one, connecting us with one another and God.  So we show the world that God is real, as we use our Holy Spirit-given gifts to proclaim the marvelous works of God Almighty, as His Spirit fills us.

May 28, 2017: Feast of the Ascension of the Lord Sunday

We have great hope in Christ because He died, rose again to New Life, and now is in Heaven, where He reigns at the right hand of God--all through the working of God's mighty power.  We have hope because of His promise that in joining with Him in dying and rising, we will one day join Him in Heaven in His Glory as God the Father works that mighty power in us.

Indeed, God is working His Mighty Power in us even now, as we live out the mission Christ gave to His Church upon His departure, to make disciples of all people, through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Since He ascended to Heaven, He no longer has a physical earthly body, but promises to be with us forever, because He grants us the Holy Spirit as His abiding presence within us.

Indeed, we are given a great mission by which we continue to know the presence of God, and continue to make Him known, as we live in the power of the Holy Spirit coming upon us.

May 21, 2017: Sixth Sunday of Easter

God is doing a great work in saving us, especially by sending the power of the Holy Spirit into us.  This is the Advocate Jesus promised would come to be with His disciples, continuing His abiding presence with them always.  It gives us reassurance that no matter what troubles we face, we are grounded in the Truth of God.  It is this Truth we share when we face hostility, and this Truth that the Holy Spirit works in us so that we are brought alive and make His presence known, as He show our Love for the Father by living out His Love for others.  Indeed, by the power of the Holy Spirit, the Life of Jesus lives in us, so that we truly live.

May 14, 2017: Fifth Sunday of Easter

The Last Supper discourse of Jesus Christ is an extraordinarily rich passage of Scripture.  In a selection that is today's Gospel reading, Jesus tells His Apostles that they will participate in doing His works, and do even greater works than Him because He is going to the Father.

We see the great works being done in Acts.  In today's first reading, the Church chooses seven reputable men to minister to the needs of Hellenist widows.  They are empowered by the Holy Spirit to do their part in the work of Church's ministry to the needs of people.

We, indeed, can do great works when we follow in the Way that is Christ, Who is the Truth, and is Life, empowering us through the Holy Spirit to do His works in our lives as we entrust ourselves to Him, to let Him work in us, because He, the Living Stone, Who was once rejected by people, is now the foundation of our faith.  He rescued us from sin, and brought us into glorious Light that we may praise Him.  We become living stones ourselves, who make God manifest to the world, as He accomplishes great works in and through us, greater than when Jesus was on Earth, because He is now with the Father and lives in us by His Spirit.