And as he was blessing them, Jesus withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. they worshipped him, and returned with great joy to Jerusalem. They stayed constantly in the temple blessing God. Luke 24: 51-3 In a homily which he offered on this feast of the Ascension in 2013, Pope Francis pointed out…[read more]
Then Paul stood up at the Areopagus and said: “You Athenians, I see that in every respect you are very religious. For as I walked around looking carefully at your shrines, I even discovered an altar inscribed, ‘To an Unknown God.’ What therefore you unknowingly worship, I proclaim to you.” Acts: 17:23 Even as a…[read more]
I am reminding you, brothers and sisters, of the Gospel I preached to you, which you indeed received and in which you also stand. 1 Cor. 15, 1 Where do we stand and what must we stand by? Today’s reading from 1 Corinthians challenges us with a most fundamental question. Paul tells the Corinthians, who…[read more]
Indeed, the hour is coming when those who kill you will think that by doing so they are offering worship to God. And they will do this because they have not known the Father, nor me. John 16: 2-3 It is often said that history is written by the winners. Protagonists and antagonists are largely…[read more]
No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what the master is doing, but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. John 15: 15 In his classic spiritual text on Spiritual Friendship, Aelred of Rievaulx writes: “But…[read more]
And God, who knows the heart, bore witness by granting them [the Gentiles] the Holy Spirit just as he did us. He made no distinction between us and them, for by faith he purified their hearts. Why, then, are you now putting God to the test by placing on the shoulders of the disciples a…[read more]
I am the true vine and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that bears no fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes that it may bear more fruit. . . . Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself…[read more]
They strengthened the spirits of the disciples and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” Acts 14: 22 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.…[read more]
And he said to them, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” Mark 16: 15-16 The gospel reading today comes from one of the added endings to the gospel of Mark. The first readers…[read more]
“And you know the way where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but by me.” John 14: 4-6 How…[read more]
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