Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter
Joy. This is an emotion and a state of being that is hard to explain. It is more than happiness, more than contentment. It is defined as “a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.” But joy to me means so much more. Joy is a deep, inner part of our being that shines through in all we do. Joy shines forth in our conversations, in our actions, in the way we approach the world. Joy comes from a deep belief in the love of Christ. I think it is rooted in the security of knowing that no matter what else happens in this life, we are committed to Christ, we are Christ’s. He is there to take care of us.
Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter
This past week I was talking with a person who owns a small vineyard. We began talking about it because of this gospel. This man described how much pruning of the vines was necessary. The year the vine will grow six feet, then you cut it back to one foot. The second year it will grow to ten foot and then you cut it back to one foot again. On the third year after it has been severely pruned then it can bear good fruit. The vineyard owner explained that the other years the vines would bear fruit, but that the grapes would be the size of a raisin and useless for wine. The third year it would bear grapes that were meaty and ready for eating or winemaking.
Tuesday of Fifth Week of Easter
As summer begins, I know that I, for one, am thinking about travelling. The past few years, my summers have been filled with many trips, whether abroad or more locally. I really love travelling; growing up in an Air Force family meant that I got to see many different places as a child and I continue to crave new places to visit. But as much as I love travelling, I must admit that it is exhausting. It is mentally and physically demanding to be on the move. I wouldn’t miss my friends’ weddings, my academic conferences, or my new cultural experiences for anything, but it sure is nice to be home sometimes.
Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter
Love is the pivotal word around Jesus’ teachings in today’s gospel. Jesus talks about the Father’s love for us, His love for us, and our love for God. He then says “whoever loves me will keep my word.” (John 14 24) What is this “word” that Jesus is talking about? Although some translations use the term “commandments” instead of “word”, I believe Jesus is talking in broader terms. This “word” is something that Jesus wants us to hold onto- to keep, and in that possessing we show God our love. As I reflect on this passage, I wonder if the “word” Jesus refers to is the faith in Him. With this faith we believe that God the Father so loved us that He sent us Jesus, and Jesus through His life and teachings shows us not only how to love others, but how to die to ourselves for the good of others just like He did. We show our love and trust in God with this faith, and with this belief we welcome God and His love into our lives. When we “keep his word” we hold the truths of our faith at the core of our being, and therefore we allow Christ to be our center.
Fifth Sunday of Easter
There is a story my second grade teacher told us in my catechism class. Strangely, I still remembered the story as I read today’s scripture. One day, Michelangelo walking through a garden in Florence, saw a block of marble in a corner protruding from the earth. It was half covered by grass and mud. He stopped suddenly as if he had seen someone. Then he said to his friends who were with him, exclaimed: "An angel is imprisoned in that marble; I must set him free." And, armed with a chisel, he began to work on that block until the figure of a beautiful angel emerged. The teacher continued, “Each of us is an angel in the making. And God is the artist. The chisel is the Word of God. God uses his word to bring out the best in us.” Later when I got older, I verified the truth of Michelangelo’s story. It turns out, that my teacher was correct. The angel is now in the Basilica of St Dominic in Bologna, Italy.
Memorial of Saint Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Jesus drops a shocking line in today’s readings. At least, I think it should be shocking to both its initial hearers and us. He says, “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these.”
Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter
Thursday of the Fourth Week of Easter
You may have noticed that the readings since Easter have been taking us through the book of Acts, the Acts of the Apostles. Acts gives us insight into how the first Christians lived in the years after Jesus’ Resurrection and Ascension. Today’s first reading (Acts 13: 13-25) continues the theme with Paul and his companions’ journeying and spreading the message of Jesus. Paul is addressing the Jews in the synagogue in Antioch in today’s reading; the first of several speeches to Jews, proclaiming the continuity between Judaism and Christianity, illustrating that Jesus is the savior brought by God to the people. This first reading ends with Paul quoting John the Baptist saying about Jesus who was coming after him, “I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.”
Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena, Virgin and Doctor of the Church
Alleluia, Christ is risen! As the season of resurrection continues, we are reminded through today’s readings that God is Trinity. The readings affirm our belief in God who sent us Jesus and empowers us with the Holy Spirit us to let God’s way be known among all the nations.
Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Easter
There is an interesting tension in today’s readings. One on hand, we see the power of the Gospel to transcend vast differences. On the other hand, we see the rejection its truth regardless of how many times it is spoken. We certainly live in troubled times. Truthful Words and deeds from faithful men and women are often met with skepticism, even their truthfulness seems plainly clear. Today’s readings challenge us to rejoice in the Gospel when we encounter it with openness and grace.
Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter
There have been many times in my life when I have found myself following the ‘rules’ of the Church rather mindlessly. Habit or commitment, and even fear, have all been part of the reason. That is just the way I grew up and that is where I have ended up on more occasions than I like to admit. What I have learned is that living in that ‘space’ is rather deadening. I have never found any joy there nor do I find much motivation to become a better Christian. On the other hand, the times I know I am following Jesus, when I am working to deepen that relationship, I experience gratitude, joy, and great motivation. During these times, I find I no longer even think about the rules; the rules just seem to take care of themselves!
Fourth Sunday of Easter
For Charles Gladden, home is a makeshift bed on a sidewalk next to D.C.'s McPherson Square Metro Station. He sleeps with his shoes by his side, and a few blankets to keep him warm. Gladden wakes up before sunrise, when he and the other homeless men and women here are kicked out, before the bustle of morning commute. He collects his worldly possessions -- which fit into a single bag – and begins his own trek to work. And his job is at the U.S. Capitol. For 8 years he has worked in Senate cafeterias, washing dishes and doing janitorial work. Gladden is 63, and makes about $11 an hour. He takes home about $360 a week. But he said he gives a lot of it to his children and grandchildren, who have their own financial troubles. "I take care of them," he says, "I don't want to be a burden on my kids." He also said, “I'm an embarrassment. I don't want to be an embarrassment to this country, the country I was born and raised in."
Feast of Saint Mark, Evangelist
There are a number of memes (an image, phrase, etc. that is adapted and spread rapidly by Internet users) that have the hashtag, “thingsJesusneversaid”. Not all of them are great, but there are some gems. The good ones can be funny and thought provoking, while the other ones can range anywhere from dumb to offensive. These memes came to mind when I read Jesus’ opening words in today’s gospel. He says, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.” This is Mark’s version of the Great Commission and I will use the #thingsJesusneversaid to hopefully help unpack this commandment.
Friday of the Third Week of Easter
Joel and I have a table grace that we say at meals when we have guests. It's the table grace we sang at our wedding: "Be present at our table, Lord - be here and everywhere adored. These people bless and grant that we may feast in paradise with thee. Around this table may the Lord be ever and always adored - the weary find a welcome rest and all who suffer want be blest." We love bringing this small reminder of our wedding to our family practices of hospitality. We are reminded often that the practice of hospitality is part of our vocation as Christians.
Thursday of the Third Week of Easter
“Look, there is water. What is to prevent my being baptized?” (Acts 8:36) These words, spoken by the Ethiopian eunuch in the first reading, teach us a refreshing way to approach life. I love that this man had been taught about Jesus from Phillip – had learned about our savior and immediately took his words and his lessons to heart.
Wednesday of the Third Week of Easter
Sometimes the joy of the resurrection is harder to participate in when times get tough. When we are in the midst of facing the loss of job, or struggling through the pain a shattered friendship, or even journeying with a loved one who is near death, Easter joy might seem vanquished. We may not feel it, but these times are when the Lord is trying even harder to remind us of his desire to feed us and lead us to from death to new life.
Tuesday of the Third Week of Easter
Today’s first reading is from the Acts of the Apostles. It is the account of the church’s first known martyr, St. Stephen. This also happens to be one of my favorite passages from Scripture to teach. I use it to talk about what was so radical about Christianity. Stephen is being persecuted for his Christian faith, and overseeing the whole thing is none other than St. Paul, called Saul before his conversion on the road to Damascus. Refusing to renounce Christ, Stephen says to his persecutors that although they are observant Jews, they remain “uncircumcised in heart and ears.” He is implying that they have not been open to God’s new work in Jesus Christ.
Monday of the Third Week of Easter
Just this past week a group of young women and men were confirmed at our parish. When the Bishop anointed them with chrism he said, “Be sealed with the Holy Spirit!” When I read today’s gospel, I was struck by the verse, “For on him, the Father God, has set his seal.” Not only has God set His seal on Jesus, but He has sealed us with His Holy Spirit. So what does it mean to be sealed by God, and how are we called to live in response to this marking? In the biblical times, seals were often made of wax, and then they were embedded with a personalized imprint of their guarantor (e.g. a signet ring would be an example of a seal.) A seal was used to guarantee security or indicate that the object/ person belonged to the person placing the seal. A seal could also be placed on a document to give it proof of its authenticity.
Third Sunday of Easter
Last week, a most gruesome video of an apparent chlorine gas attack in north-west Syria emerged. The footage shows the attempts of doctors to revive three children, all aged under four. All the three children died. Last week, more than four hundred immigrants drowned in the sea as they tried to escape the violence parts of Africa and the Middle East. Last week, New England Patriot’s rising star Aaron Hernandez was convicted of the murder of his time friend, Odin Lloyd. His contract with the Patriots was worth $ 40 million. Last week, an acquaintance of a very dear friend of mine was convicted of child sexual abuse. He is awaiting his sentence. These are serious crimes. If we examine own our thoughts, words and actions last week, we probably realize that even though we may not have committed serious crimes, there are times when we fell short. Perhaps a blatant lie, an unhealthy or impure thought, some form of prejudice, an unfair judgement, an unkind word, an omission, unjustified anger or a habitual act may have been part of our life. If, you are somebody with rationality and freedom and you were free of any of these things last week, please come forward; we would like to light a candle to you.
Saturday of the Second Week of Easter
We belong to a culture obsessed with replies. We like to have answers to every question and bumper sticker slogans to every situation. Sometimes that falls short though. For instance, maybe someone faces a tragedy and our first response is, “I don’t know what to say.” Why do you have to say anything? I think that we are so present to one another digitally that we have forgotten the power of real presence, but I think today’s readings remind us of the power of presence.