Saturday of the Sixth Week of Easter
In today’s Gospel, Jesus told his disciples, “Until now you have not asked anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete,” (John 16:24). But what are the disciples supposed to ask for? Throughout this chapter in the Gospel of John, Jesus is saying goodbye to his followers. He talked to them about their faith and belief in him and the love between him and the Father and the Father’s love for them (John 16:22). I noticed that of the theological virtues (faith, love/charity, and hope) mentioned, hope is missing. Perhaps that is what the disciples are to ask for so that their joy may be complete.
Friday of the Sixth Week of Easter
“Jesus said to his disciples: ‘When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived; but when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born into the world.’” (Jn 16:21) Whoa, slow down there Jesus…no longer remembers the pain? That’s a pretty stark shift. When was the last time you gave birth to a child? I am certainly no expert to have such a strong opinion but having witnessed the birth of all five of our children, I would be so bold as to testify to the fact that the pain doesn’t go away immediately. However, I can attest to the joy that follows the pain and anguish. As I shared in a reflection last month, we welcomed our newest child, Dorothy, at the beginning of April. Over the last several weeks, she has continued to be a resounding source of joy and peace. Through countless stories, examples, and interactions, we can confirm the way that her life causes our hearts to rejoice and “no one can take that joy away from us”.
Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter
Doing the morning drop off for my now almost 3-year-old has been part of my routine almost every school day. My son really struggled when he moved from an in-home sitter to a more formal day care setting. There were lots of tears, his and mine sometimes, when he transitioned. We’d sing “grown ups come back” from Daniel Tiger and I’d reassure him that it will only be for “a little while.”
In today’s Gospel (for those of us where we will be celebrating the Ascension on Sunday) Jesus tells his disciples that he’ll be gone for “a little while” and will return. The disciples are confused. Jesus goes on to say, “you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.” A few verses after today’s Gospel Jesus continues, “… I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.”
Wednesday of the Sixth Week of Easter
Recently, I’ve been pondering how marvelous it is that Jesus, our Messiah, Lord, and Savior, has given us everything we need to follow Him as disciples. We have a high calling from God; the path of discipleship is not easy—it is fraught with challenges and obstacles, and our fears, insecurities, and sin get in our way. And yet . . . and yet despite the daunting aspects of this journey, Christ has truly given us everything we need to be perfected in love and to follow Him every step of the way. We do not undertake this journey alone; we are not left to our own feeble efforts.
Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter
During a freezing, snowy Christmas week in 1973 me and a friend of mine made our way to a “premiere” of the film The Exorcist in Shaker Heights, a forty minute drive north from Youngstown. The book and now the movie both had taken the country by storm. It seemed at the time to be on the level with the Beatlemania & Batmania of the recent 1960s. It was all anyone was talking about. At some theaters the line stretched for ¼ of a mile. People got sick and some fainted with medical stations set up right next to the popcorn machine in theater lobbies.
In 1973 the notion of an “exorcism” was virtually unknown or at best seen as some weird relic of the Dark Ages. Science had no room for such nonsense, we thought. In the book by William Peter Blatty, based on a true story, the victim was a Lutheran boy, age 14. His minister told the family after countless tests and evaluations, “Go to the Catholics. They know more about these things.” In truth, the vast majority of Catholics didn’t know much about it at all. And the image most have of it, or of evil itself, is really distorted.
Monday of the Sixth Week of Easter
Going down to “the river” is where it all happens in both of our scripture readings today.
Patrick Marin wrote the following about rivers:
Rivers, as actual and as metaphor, are places of confluence and movement. People think differently and more deeply down by the river because permanence is passing by. The invitation to “go with the flow” to where it empties, or against it to the source, is always implicit. Our souls feel the fluidity of life near a river. A body of water is like a mother who rebirths and reminds us where we came from and where we are going.
Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter
As I reflect on today’s Gospel, I see a lesson in discipleship. To be Jesus Christ’s disciple means to follow him. Therefore, it’s interesting that he said to his disciples that because he didn’t belong to this world, they didn’t either. What does it mean to belong or not belong to this world?
Feast of Saints Philip and James, Apostles
“You look just like your mother!” “He’s a spitting image of his father!” A compliment or a cringe-causing comment? I primarily take after my father both in appearance and personality, although I’m really a blend of both of my parents. And yet, I’m also uniquely my own person, as is true for each of us. Although I am their offspring, I am not my father or mother, and they are not me. So, I think it’s challenging to grasp what today’s gospel passage from John (14:6-14) has Jesus telling his disciples. Apparently, it was difficult for them to grasp as well.
Memorial of Saint Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus says that He wants to share His joy with us. What exactly is the joy that Jesus wants to give us and how will we find this joy in the midst of our daily lives?
Over the recent past, the Mass readings have been focused on the Gospel of John. Over and over, Jesus reminds us that we are called to love just as He loves. Today’s reading, Jesus tells us that the love that He shares with the Father is the same love He has for us. When we keep the commandments of the Father, we keep Jesus’ commandments and we remain in His love. This is how Jesus says that His joy will be in us and it will be complete.
Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter
This past Saturday, as part of Jesus Day (a morning retreat for students preparing for First Communion), I helped lead a discussion with the students on what the deeper meaning of Jesus’ metaphor used in today’s Gospel, “I am the vine, and you are the branches” may be. Their insights were so profound and moving, I think I’ll let their words write the reflection for today.
Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter
In today's Gospel reading from John, Jesus addresses His disciples with the words, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you” (14:27). Jesus’ next comment, however, seems a little confusing at first glance: “Not as the world gives do I give it to you” (14:27). What does Jesus mean by this? For starters, Jesus’ peace might not always feel like what we think of as peace at all. Remember, Jesus was crucified, and He had to die on the cross before He could experience the Easter resurrection. In today’s first reading from Acts, we catch a glimpse of what following Jesus sometimes entails: “They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city” (Acts 14:19). In this instance St. Paul survived stoning, but he eventually dies by beheading in Rome.
Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena, Virgin and Doctor of the Church
Following his prophetic action of washing feet, the Twelve barrage Jesus with many anxious concerns. Peter outright resists having his feet washed. Philip, unsatisfied, wants to see the Father. And Judas (not Iscariot) asks him, “how is it that you reveal yourself to us and not to the world?”
Who is this “Judas”? Judas or Jude is listed among the Twelve. In tradition, “Jude” in Luke & John is believed to be the “Thaddaeus” of Matthew and Mark. What Jude says today in our Gospel is the only time he is quoted anywhere, yet this quiet apostle is extremely popular as patron of lost causes. His cult in the US has its origins in two immigrant groups: Mexicans and Lebanese.
Saturday of the Fourth Week of Easter
In today’s Gospel, Philip asked Jesus, “Show us the Father, and that will be enough for us?” (John 14:8). Jesus replied to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father," (John 14:9). This passage challenges us to look at the times when we failed to recognize Jesus. Do we know Him well enough to see Him?
Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter
Car trips in our family are never dull, never quiet, and always curious. I am struck by the awareness of our children when we drive places. They are very familiar with the routes that we take to get to frequently traveled destinations such as school, church, downtown, daddy’s work (CJ), and grandparents’ houses. Life in our family has its routines but also enough variance from being on the go with 5 kids that quite frequently, we hear the question, “Where are we going?”. The beautiful thing about children is that they trust (most of the time) that mom and dad know the way to get places. (They just want to know how long it’s going to take: are we there yet? How many more minutes?) Do we have that same trust in our faith in Christ?
Feast of Saint Mark, evangelist
Last Friday, I took my students in ENG 364 to the largest Amish settlement in the world, in Holmes and Wayne counties here in Ohio. We visited the Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center in Berlin where we were given a tour of a 265-foot cyclorama that, with the help of a narrator, tells the history of the Amish and Mennonites—in particular, their experience of persecution for their beliefs in adult baptism, separation of church and state, and pacifism.
Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Easter
Reading today’s Gospel, I find myself drawn to one line in particular: “for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world” (John 12:47). I find myself reflecting on the meaning of condemnation. Condemnation can mean expressing strong disapproval, to censure or blame. There is an element of shame, disapproval, punishment, conviction with the word condemnation. But we hear Jesus say that this is not what he came for. He did not come to express disapproval towards us. Rather he came to save the world—to redeem, to rescue, to make safe. When I think of condemnation and salvation, I know which one I would prefer.
Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Easter
In today’s Gospel, Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice…I know them and they follow me.” It strikes me that in the first reading we have several examples of both hearing the Shepherd’s voice and listening for it. Stephen’s martyrdom, a tragedy for that early Christian community, turned into the blessing of the spread of the good news of Jesus’ life death and resurrection to distant lands and beyond the Jewish community. Hearing this news prompted the apostles to send Barnabas to Antioch. We are told “he was filled with the Holy Spirit” and encouraged these new “Christians” to “remain faithful in firmness of heart”. We too are called to faithful following and discerning what our next best step is in witnessing to Jesus’ life and resurrection in our own day and time and place.
Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter
Today in Acts, in a startling vision, it is revealed to Peter that Jewish kosher laws are no longer required for followers of “the Way.” Afterwards, he is summoned to Caesarea by “God-fearing” Roman centurion Cornelius. God-fearers were Gentiles attracted to Judaism and the Jewish God. Caesarea was the seat of the Roman governor, and a place filled with a wide variety of ethnicities, including some at odds with the Jews.
Saturday of the Third Week of Easter
“How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good he has done for me?” (Psalm 116:12)
How often are we grateful? Today’s Responsorial Psalm reminded me of a book I read during a retreat called Between Heaven and Mirth by Fr. James Martin. In it, he wrote about the importance of joy, humor, and laughter in our spiritual lives. Gratitude is an expression of joy. Nonetheless, with wars around the world, polarization leading to conflicts between individuals and groups of people, climate change, and other societal issues, it is difficult to be grateful. However, it is in times like these when gratitude and joy are especially important.
Friday of the Third Week of Easter
I generally support rational thinking and behavior that is based on logic and reason. I take it as a compliment to be referred to as a “rational person,” especially as opposed to irrational. I appreciate the predictability of math and science and recognize all the ways these disciplines have helped us as a civilization. And yet, today's readings remind me that we are sometimes called to set aside seemingly rational thinking to listen and respond with our hearts, with hearts of faith.