ASCENSION OF THE LORD (Acts 1:1-11; Ephesians 1:17-23; Mark 16:15-20) Today we celebrate the solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. It is one of the most important festivals on the liturgical calendar. Perhaps some have not thought this way since the Church has changed the day of celebration. Where it was on Thursday, the fortieth day after the resurrection, the Ascension is now celebrated mostly on the Sunday after. But the change was made precisely to facilitate people's attendance at mass where they could reflect on the meaning of that great festival. The meaning is more than the Lord leav ..read more

Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter (Acts 18:1-8; John 16:16-20) Jesus’ reference to “a little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me” refers, of course, to his death and resurrection.  Jesus will be buried for two days and nights during which he cannot be seen.  On the third day, he will be raised from the dead and will show himself that evening to his disciples.  During his burial, the disciples did indeed grieve. They not only lost a teacher, but also one who loved them so much that he called them his friends.  The grieving turned to ..read more

Wednesday of the Sixth Week of Easter (Acts 17:15.22-18:1; John 16:12-15) In today’s reading from Acts St. Paul observes that people have an innate sense for religion.  This is borne out by the many inquiries at parish offices about becoming Catholic.  The callers may say that they feel something missing in their lives.  Or perhaps they have an exemplary friend who is Catholic. But relatively few inquirers join parish catechumenates.  The no-showers will have different excuses.  Whatever their reason, it is regrettable.  They are allowing something to keep them fr ..read more

Monday of the Sixth Week of Easter (Acts 16:11-15; John 15:26-16:4a) For a generation after Jesus’ death and resurrection, his followers worshipped along with Jews in local synagogues and the Jerusalem Temple.  Like their fellow worshippers, they were immune to Roman law that had everyone worship the Roman gods.  Then Judaism experienced a crisis.  The Roman army responded to a Jewish rebellion by destroying the Temple.  The rabbis had to reform Judaism giving greater emphasis to studying the Law.  They also disassociated themselves from those who claimed Jesus as the ..read more

SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER, May 5, 2024 (Acts 10:25-26,34-35,44-48; I John 4:7-10; John 15:9-17) The gospel and the second reading today touch on a central theme of our faith. We believe that God created us out of love and wants us to love around Him and others. But in the world love is often talked about in unedifying ways. Therefore, it is worth asking: what kind of love does God want from us? And how can we distinguish it from unworthy kinds of love? We can begin with the first reading of the Acts of the apostles. Peter baptizes the non-Jews when he sees them showing the effects of the Holy Spi ..read more

Feast of Saints Philip and James, apostles (I Corinthians 15:1-8; John 14:6-14) Saul, the first king of Israel, was recognized for his good looks.  He is introduced in the Bible in this way: “There was no Israelite handsomer than Saul; he stood head and shoulders above the people” (I Sam 9:2b).  One commentator says that his demeanor was what most recommended him to be king.  In contrast, nothing is said in Scripture of how Jesus looked.  Nothing.  Yet he tells Philip in today’s gospel that anyone who sees him, sees God the Father.   Philip is asking for a theopha ..read more

Memorial of Saint Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (Acts 15:7-21; John 15:9-11) Today the Church celebrates another saint of enormous proportions.  Saint Athanasius deserves attention for being a creative theologian.  He developed the insight of Christ’s having a divine nature together with the Father and the Holy Spirit.  This complemented Christ’s human nature.  Inasmuch as Christ has existed from all eternity in the Trinity, it is said that he is a divine person with two natures. Athanasius was also a popular writer.  His classic biography of the desert m ..read more

(Optional) Memorial of Saint Joseph the Worker (Acts 15:1-6; John 15:1-8) On this Memorial of Saint Joseph the Worker, it is fitting that the gospel pictures God as a farm worker.  Jesus tells in his parable of the vine and branches that God prunes the branches of the grapevine so that they can produce more fruit. Jesus has in mind the word of God when he cites God as pruning grapevines.  Scripture prunes by instructing and chastising so that its readers know God’s will.  It also encourages and consoles so that they do not fail when life demands hard choices. The times seem to f ..read more

Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter (Acts 14:19-28; John 14:27-31a) Toward the end of his letter to the Philippians St. Paul writes that he learned how to be satisfied with whatever he had.  He could endure hardship with equanimity because of his relationship with Jesus Christ.  This relationship of love brings the peace to which today’s gospel refers. Believing that Christ will return to reward them, his disciples need not fret about persecution or worry about death.  They know that Christ will give them the fulness of life in eternity.  He suffered a worse trial than they ..read more

Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena, virgin (Acts 14:5-18; John 14:21-26) One of St. Catherine of Siena’s modern biographers admits that he had trouble warming up to her.  He says in the introduction of his book that at first he was put off by her domineering style.  But in time, he continues, after carefully considering all that Catherine wrote and did, his attitude changed.  Like an early Franciscan critic who thought Catherine a fake, he turned into one of her avid followers.  Reading her story, people of modernity readily dismiss Catherine as a fanatic.  Her self ..read more