Claire Smith

Scripture:

Acts 19:1-8
John 16:29-33

Reflection:

Lord, Sometimes I feel so fatigued by our increasingly divisive world of war, dissension, senseless cruelty, dismissively abrasive language and blocked minds.  A bewildering world where a teen can run up behind an old man, slap his ear hard enough to rupture his eardrum and call it a “prank.”  Everything sometimes seems so chaotic and haphazardly confusing as our parish is gray-haired and our young people are abandoning the Church. 

In dark moments of despair, I think of You at the Last Supper.  Jesus knew how little time was left to prepare His disciples as well as how much they were lacking.  You set Your night of pain in motion by telling Judas to “Do what you must do”, and he slipped away into the night to betray you.  

Still sitting at the Passover table was the man You had chosen as the next head of Your Church.  In Peter’s moment of darkness, he would deny even knowing you, not once but three times.  You knew the twelve men You had chosen and loved the most would desert as You died alone on the cross, and that was surely an incredibly painful and terrifying part of your Passion and Death.  

Help me strive to follow You, and refuse to desert You, even in times of fear, pain, and loneliness.  I know I am never alone, just as You knew the Father is with You in all that exists.     

Ray Alonzo is the father of three children, grandfather of two, and husband to Jan for over 45 years. He is a USN Vietnam Veteran, and a 1969 graduate of Mother of Good Counsel Passionist Prep Seminary. Ray currently serves on the Passionist Alumni Council.

The Ascension of the Lord

Scripture:

Acts 1:1-11
Ephesians 1:17-23
Matthew 28:16-20

Reflection:

When I was in Catholic elementary school, I was fascinated by paintings of the Ascension showing the apostles standing there looking up at the sky as Jesus ascended into heaven. Two angels appeared and said, “Men of Galilee why are you standing there looking at the sky.”   Our teachers usually told us we needed to get busy showing love to others through kind deeds and treating each other with respect. In the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Jesus promises that he will always be with us. Do you and I really believe and live this truth on a daily basis?

In the second reading, “Jesus remains accessible to us now in the life-giving Holy Spirit, assuring us that one day we, too, if we live out our faith in Him through the mission of loving service, he calls us to we will experience the rewards of heaven.”  (Fr. Antony Kadavil, Reflections for the Feast of the Ascension of our Lord, Vatican News, 30 May 2019, 11:28)

In the gospel, just before the Ascension, Jesus entrusted to the disciples the mission of preaching the Good News and evangelizing the entire world by bearing witness to him through their lives. Jesus promised us the Holy Spirit to energize us to spread the Good News throughout the world. (Fr. Antony Kadavil, Reflections for the Feast of the Ascension of our Lord, Vatican News, 30 May 2019, 11:28)

There is the story of Leonardo Da Vinci and the Unfinished Painting. The story goes that Leonardo had started work on a large canvas in his studio for a while he really worked hard on it measuring, studying colors, and applying the colors. Suddenly he stopped working on the canvas. He turned to one of his gifted students and asked him to complete the painting. The student protested saying he wasn’t a good enough artist to finish the painting. But da Vinci silenced him. “Will not what I have done inspire you to do your best?”  

Jesus spread the good news by what he said and what he did especially in suffering his crucifixion, death, and resurrection. Jesus left us to finish the picture. Do we love Jesus enough to finish the picture. (http://frtonyshomilies.com/  )

Carl Middleton is a theologian/ethicist and a member of the Passionist Family.

Scripture:

Acts 18: 23-28
John 16: 23b-28

Reflection:

In our first reading this morning we meet an interesting married couple, Priscilla and Aquila.  In today’s reading they clearly had a well-established reputation for being experts on the early Christian beliefs about Jesus.  An already famous preacher named Apollos comes to town and does an amazing job of preaching the Gospel.  However, it seems he is only aware of the baptism of John the Baptist and not that of the baptism Jesus gave the community.  So, it is members of that Community, Priscilla and Aquila, who take him aside and teach him about the baptism that Jesus taught.  Apollos seems to welcome their teachings and then continues on his apostolic way.

This early Christian couple appear in several places in the Acts of the Apostles as well as in Romans, First Corinthians and Second Timothy.  They apparently were tentmakers who fled from Rome to Corinth when Claudius Caesar forced all the Christians out of Rome.  In Corinth they hooked up with Paul the Apostle, another tentmaker(!), who refers to them as his “co-workers in the ministry of Christ Jesus” (Romans 16:3).  Every time they are mentioned in the New Testament they are spoken of as important and influential leaders in the Christian Community and authentic witnesses to the Gospel.

Priscilla and Aquila remind us that it wasn’t just the “big time” Apostles like Peter, Paul, Apollos and the other Apostles and Evangelists mentioned in the New Testament who were important to the building up of the Christian Community.  From the very earliest days of the Community, Priscilla and Aquila along with so many other ordinary people, often not mentioned by name, were the bedrock of the proclamation and spread of the Gospel.

The same is true in the Church today.  There are those who are well known as preachers of the Gospel, for example, Our Holy Father, Cardinals, Bishops, Priests, Deacons and other public faith leaders.  But the truth is that it is the people in the pews, men and women, married and single, young and old, who have a living relationship with Christ and are faithful to Him, who are the most authentic and effective witnesses to Christ living amongst us.  It is their love for God, their families and the many other people in their lives that witness to God’s loving presence among us.

In truth, each of us is called to live in faith.  And, as we are able to grow in our ability to love those around us, Christ is made present.  Today we pray that we can cherish our own personal call to proclaim the Good News that God embraces us and our world through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Fr. Michael Higgins, C.P. is the director of retreats at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California.

Scripture:

Acts 18:9-18
John 16:20-23

Reflection:

As I read the gospel of John today, I think of my own life experiences. When we suffer grief, maybe the loss of a loved one or some other devastating change in our life, we may be in the depths of pain, but the rest of the world goes on, unknowing of what we have experienced. As women who give birth to a child, that pain and anguish can be horrible – in the moment. And then, as your newborn baby is placed in your arms moments later, you almost immediately forget the pain you had just experienced, because it is replaced with a joy that you never fathomed. 

Now, think of the day we may see Jesus face to face. This joy of Jesus’ presence is immeasurable compared to any other joy we may experience in our lifetime. All of our suffering, all of our heartache – will all be replaced with the joy of His presence. We will no longer be alone; we will no longer doubt or question what the Father has in store for us. All of those things we consider the mysteries of our faith will no longer exist for us. When all of that happens, we will know unending joy.

As we wait to see our Jesus face to face, let’s continue to work on our trust in God. Ensure that your relationship with him is solid and steadfast. Always remember his words, I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.

Patty Masson is the Director of Adult Formation and Evangelization for St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Church in Spring, Texas.

Scripture:

Acts 18:1-8
John 16:16-20

Reflection:

As we get close to the end of the Easter Season, our readings take a turn towards the Ascension of Jesus and then to Pentecost. On this day in many places around the world, the feast of the Ascension is celebrated. Our readings for today offer a taste of the impending feasts that we will celebrate over the next few Sundays before we once again have Ordinary time. I have always loved this time of the year when our first reading is always taken from the Acts of the Apostles. We are treated to many stories of perseverance in the early Church. I think if they could speak to us, they might suggest that there was nothing ordinary about their struggle, either. Today’s Gospel offers us an insight into what the early Church understood about seeing Jesus again. Even, Paul was preaching that Jesus was coming back again and he was certain that he would have the whole Mediterranean world converted to Jesus. He worked diligently towards that goal. Jesus’ comments about “a little while” have now stretched to two millennia.  

In the Gospel, today, the disciples seem equally confused, having no context to understand Jesus’ words. As usual in the Gospels, the disciples seem not to understand what Jesus was saying. They simply had to wait in hope and trust, until they would see him.

I think the readings for today offer us the idea of perseverance. Paul is working diligently, daily for the church. Can you imagine running into Paul in those days? When Timothy and Silas arrived from Macedonia, he doubles down in his efforts to convert the Jews in Corinth to Jesus, and he finally gives up trying to get “his people” as he will mention in another letter.  Sometimes it is necessary to know when enough is enough and in the Scripture today, Paul walks away with a clear conscience and for the rest of his life, he ministers to “the Gentiles.”(v.6.) He still ministers to us today, through sacred Scriptures. He shares that message with us. I wonder did he think his words would live on and bring consolation, conversion, and nourishment to so many people?

Amazing, the strength, wisdom, and power of the Holy Spirit. We are not alone in our ministry labors.  Come Holy Spirit and fill the earth with your presence. Amen.

Jean Bowler is a retreatant at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center in Sierra Madre, California, and a member of the Office of Mission Effectiveness Board of Holy Cross Province.

Scripture:

Acts 16:22-34
John 16:5-11

Reflection:

The Holy Spirit Empowers

“But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the ^aHelper (parak’laetos) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.” -John 16:7

One of the many beautiful words in the inspired Greek New Testament for prayer is parakaleo.   Kaleo in Greek means to call out to someone.   It can often mean calling for help.   The word para means to stand by,  or around me.      So the frequent word for prayer is para+kaleo or to call someone to be around me to help.  It is a wonderful call to God for Him to be close to me for help or comfort in His loving presence!   

Paraclete is someone who comforts us by His closeness.    The word for comfort in Greek is parak’lasis.   So the etymology of the Greek word for prayer or call for help is a great aid to understand what Scripture means for comfort and even a name for Holy Spirit.   He is called The Comforter, or the Advocate, as a good lawyer is a great help when we are in trouble.

The Holy Spirit has many vital functions in our life.  Perhaps the simplest one for us to understand is that He comes to our side when we desperately need help and call for assistance. 

I fell the other day and could not get up from the pavement.  I was helpless for about half an hour till I finally yelled for help when I saw somebody, and they kindly answered my call.  

The last words of Jesus in Luke’s Gospel He tells His Apostles don’t get started in evangelizing until I send the Holy Spirit to empower you.  The first thing we need to follow Jesus is empowerment from Holy Spirit!    “And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” Lk 24:49  Jesus repeats the same need in Act 1:8  “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”  “No one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.”  1 Corinthians 12:3  

Fr. Bob Weiss, C.P. preaches Parish Missions and is a member of the Passionist Community in Louisville, Kentucky.