Reflections

Today, in the United States, is Memorial Day, originally known as “Decoration Day,” an opportunity to decorate the many graves of the over 600,000 men who died in our Civil War (April 12, 1861 to April 9, 1865). It was, by far, our nation’s costliest war in terms of human life: we lost about 2 […]

The name “Pentecost” comes from the Greek word meaning “fiftieth.” Like Easter, it is tied to a Jewish feast. Jews celebrate the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot) 49 days (7 weeks, or “a week of weeks”) after the second day of Passover.   Passover celebrates the freeing of the Jews from slavery; Shavuot celebrates their becoming

It is the time of year when we celebrate young people concluding their studies and graduating from either high school or college.  The celebration of graduation often is called “commencement,” and for very good reasons.  The graduates will commence a new life where they will apply the methods and means that they have spent the

Last week we witnessed the glorious Ascension of Jesus back to his Father.  Back to our Father.  Back to his home. Back to our home.  Now we are waiting for Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit will again descend upon us and be with us forever.     Have you noticed that Christ frequently puts waiting

“… that they all may be one, as you, Father, and I are one … so that the world may believe …” Unity seems to be the theme for the readings during this seventh week after Christ’s resurrection Easter Morning.  In many ways, these are among the saddest words in the Bible. Sad, because we

The farewell words of Jesus and Paul in today’s readings (John 17:11‑19; Acts 20:28‑38) are wonderful.  Jesus is addressing his Father, and Paul is saying goodbye to the priests of Ephesus.  It is moving to listen to Jesus pray for us.  It is powerful, almost shocking, that he asks his Father that we might be

“But now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem.” Like Jesus, the master he knew in the Spirit but not in the flesh, Paul takes leave of his friends to whom he has selflessly preached the kingdom of God, and heads for a dark and unknown future (Acts 20:17-27). “What will happen to

As we approach the feast of Pentecost this coming Sunday, our readings lead us to reflect on how the Spirit intervenes in gathering the Church. In today’s Gospel (John 16:29-33), Jesus predicts that the disciples will fall apart under pressure and abandon Him, despite their very vocal professions of faith right now. Jesus tells them

Most of the World celebrates the Solemnity of the Ascension of Jesus to heaven exactly 40 days after the resurrection of Christ on Easter (remember the importance of the number 40 in biblical writing?).  If you count the days after Easter, you will discover the 40th day is always a Thursday.  So historically the Solemnity of

The gospel passage for today (John 16:23-28) comes as Jesus is preparing the disciples for what was to come:  his death, burial, and resurrection.  This passage, like every verse in the Bible, is timeless. Jesus is not only talking to his disciples, at that time and place; He also is talking to us, in this