Archives for May 2009

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Pentecost: When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. Acts 2:1-4 Pentecost commemorates the Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, an event which occurred fifty days (including Easter Sunday) after the Resurrection. Historically and symbolically, Pentecost is related to the Jewish Festival of Weeks, celebrating the day (occurring fifty days after the Exodus) on … [Read more...]

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension, which is the elevation of Christ into heaven by His own power in presence of His disciples. In Sacred Scripture, this occurred on the fortieth day after the Resurrection – which was actually last Thursday, traditionally called “Ascension Thursday. However, the celebration of the Ascension has been moved to Sunday to encourage a more active participation in the Feast. In terms of modern aviation, I guess Jesus' flight got postponed for three days! The Ascension was prophesized by Christ's own words. In John 6:63, Christ asks the Jews: “What if you were to see the Son of Man ascend to where He was before?” and in 20:17, He says to Mary Magdalen: “Do not touch Me, for I am not yet ascended to My Father, but go to My brethren, and say to them: … [Read more...]

Friendship and love are the keywords in the Gospel this weekend.  Even before Christ, these were heavily discussed topics among Greek philosophers and Roman orators. Friendship was so important to Cicero that he once said “Without friends no one would choose to live, even though he had all other goods.” But what is friendship? The Greek philosopher Aristotle mentions three “types” of friendships: the first type is where there is a quality in a person which gives me pleasure (I like this person because she's funny), the second type is where the other person is useful to me in some way (I like this person because he takes me fishing), and the third type is when I recognize the goodness in another person that causes me to desire to be that person's friend.  In the first two types, I am … [Read more...]

“Motherhood” is the first concept we understand as a child. Our earliest experience of love is the embrace of our own mother. And the love of our mother becomes the defining experience that helps us to understand God's love for us. A Jewish proverb says that: “God could not be everywhere, and that's why He created mothers.” The safest and surest thing in the world is a mother's love. It doesn't have to be acquired or deserved. Even when it's rejected, it still stays strong. The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness. And motherhood has the greatest potential influence on human society. Our mother's embrace awakens our original sense of security. In her kisses, we first experience affection. In her empathy and sympathy we receive … [Read more...]

As I mentioned in the bulletin and during Mass over the last two weeks, this Sunday is our parish “Ministry Fair.” It's a chance to see the different ways that the members of Good Shepherd Parish serve the Church and each other. And it's a chance to find some way to get involved in the mission of Jesus Christ. In the documents of the Second Vatican Council, there were tremendous exhortations for the lay faithful to actively participate in the life of the Church.  This participation begins in the Sacred Liturgy, where we actively seek to encounter Jesus Christ in Word and Sacrament. That doesn't mean we all need a “job” during Mass; it means that we are attentive and reflective when we hear the readings, and that we prepare ourselves devoutly to receive Holy Communion, and that we do … [Read more...]