Welcome!

Our special “holy day” that we refer to as “the Ascension” is not an event that took place, literally, 40 days after Easter.  It is, rather, part of the Resurrection narrative itself—the Resurrection and Ascension being 2 aspects of the Easter event.  It takes place sometime between the moment a resurrected Jesus tells Mary Magdalene NOT to touch him and when he tells doubting Thomas TO touch him.  Sometime within this context, the Ascension took…

Picture yourself in the crowd of people who were disciples or followers or regular folks who just liked to hear Jesus speak to them.  You really benefited from his presence, and now he is gone.  Although he was executed for challenging the status quo, you’ve been buoyed by learning that he rose from the dead and still animates those who knew him best.  You learn that he did not just leave the memory of his…

Today’s Gospel has Jesus tell us that our “love” for one another is the mark of his disciples.  On the surface, we might smile and say “Yes, that’s a nice attribute to have.”  But what does “love” mean? C.S. Lewis, one of the 20th century’s most acclaimed theologians, wrote a book that addressed “the 4 loves”—affection, friendship, romantic, and divine. However, the word is used in everyday speech so much that all sorts of meanings…

In these weeks after Easter, scripture readings include passages from Acts of the Apostles.  This book is Luke’s second work, and it takes up where his Gospel left off.  Namely, he’s now showing how the Holy Spirit moved the first Christians to spread the word of God—revealed in Jesus—to the ends of the earth (Rome—symbol of the world this empire ruled).  In a way, this second work could just as well be titled the “Activities…

In the weeks after Easter, we have readings from The Acts of the Apostles.  Written by the Gospel writer Luke, this work takes up where his Gospel ends.  We thus have a 2-part work that shows how Jesus was born and eventually went to Jerusalem where he met his death and where he rose FROM the dead.  Acts begins with what scholars refer to as “post-resurrection” narratives.  Today’s reading is one of them. Notice how…

This week’s reading from John is rich with topics that stimulate reflection.  Before looking at some of those topics, let’s first look at the author himself.  Contrary to what you may have thought (as I did), this writer named John is NOT the apostle John.  Many fine thinkers throughout Christian history have concluded that we’re reading a Gospel written by “the disciple whom Jesus loved,” the apostle who was there at the crucifixion, the apostle…

With the Pope’s passing, many commentators are rendering an array of judgments.  Conservative media have been quick to criticize the man’s representation of the Gospel.  Others, however, have expressed gratitude for his efforts to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, protect the oppressed, and save the earth from our destruction of it.  From the New York Times, the Pew Research Group released the following: 90% of Catholic Democrats gave Pope Francis a…

Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday. We listen to the Passion narrative and a selection that tells of people waving palm branches as they joyously celebrate Jesus arriving in Jerusalem on a colt.  The week is itself a symbol of each life here—Palm Sunday seeing us celebrate (as when your parents and grandparents celebrated your arrival in the world).  Joyous feelings come to mind as we think of small and great moments of happiness we’ve…