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Our life as Christian believers has been described as being lived between "the already and the not yet." We are already taking part in the kingdom brought by Jesus, but that kingdom has not yet reached its full expression. Our readings bring out that idea forcefully today, on this Sixth Sunday of Easter, as we approach the feasts of Ascension and Pentecost.

Passover, pasch, passage, transition...the old order has passed away. We hear today of the early Christian community transitioning from a Jewish sect to a Gentile Church. The Book of Revelation describes the transition from the Church on earth in this "valley of tears" to a Church in glory, the bride of Christ. In the gospel Jesus gives a new commandment of love. The old has passed away, "Behold I make all things new."

The risen Lord Jesus is both the Lamb of God and the Good Shepherd. The Responsorial, Psalm 100, says that "we are his people, the sheep of his flock." Today is traditionally called "Good Shepherd Sunday," because the gospel is always from John 10 - the beautiful "Good Shepherd" chapter.

Did your parents or teachers ever drill something into you when you were a kid so that you couldn't forget it? I'm guessing that most of us would answer yes.  I think it's that way with the Scriptures, too. When something is repeated often and insistently in Scripture, you get the feeling that we had better pay close attention and take it very seriously!

Easter is about victory! God the Father raises his Son Jesus from the humiliation and apparent defeat of the cruel death by crucifixion. Jesus is raised to a new life in the resurrection. Jesus is then raised from the earth to heaven in the ascension. God exalts Jesus to his right hand, where he pours out the Holy Spirit upon his followers, and from thence he will come to judge the living and the dead. God exalted him...let us exalt Jesus as well!

This Sunday has been called by many names. Perhaps the earliest was The Octave of Easter. It was also called Dominica in albis, referring to the practice of the newly baptized at Easter laying aside their white baptismal garments on this day. It has also been known as Quasimodo Sunday, after the Introit verse in Latin ("As newborn babes, crave pure spiritual milk"). It was also popularly called "Low Sunday," in contrast to the "high" celebration of Easter a week ago.

"You are dupes! I am a liar! Your faith is foolish! And you are still in your sins!" I still remember Easter homilies starting out that way for years at St. Joseph Seminary, before Abbot Columban paused and added, "If Christ is not risen." His reference to St. Paul's statement in 1 Corinthians 15:17 usually grabbed everyone's attention! It does get across the point that everything - absolutely everything - depends upon the resurrection of Jesus, which is what we celebrate today.

We know that our life on earth is filled with transitions. The liturgy today, Palm Sunday, also describes some swift transitions in the life of Jesus, especially in the space of one week...which we now refer to as Holy Week.

How do you pray? I know, it's a very personal question. There are many different ways to pray and methods of prayer. I would like to share a bit of my personal prayer life. I am especially attracted to some prayers that are found in the gospels. I have tried to make them my own and to use them frequently. I would like to share a few of my favorite prayers here.

"Regrets, I've had a few," the Sinatra song says. I suppose we all could say that as we look back at our past. But this Sunday as we near the end of Lent, the word of God is exhorting us not to look backward but forward. Our readings today urge us to break with the past, especially the sinful past, and look ahead to new life in Christ.

There's something about sharing a meal together that enhances fellowship. I once heard a company executive say that he thought, at least in New Orleans, more business deals got done over lunch than in the office!  Today's readings talk about reconciliation, restoration, and communion - symbolized by eating a meal together.

"Remove your sandals! Take care not to fall! Repent or you will likewise perish." Sobering messages all, on this Third Sunday of Lent. The word of God challenges us today to respect the holiness of God!

The Second Sunday of Lent is a liturgy of contrasts. The first reading relates God's covenant with Abraham, using fire, shining in the darkness. The gospel describes the glorious Transfiguration of Jesus, probably in the dark of night. In the second reading, there is the contrast of our lowly body with the glorified body of Christ and the promise of our own transformation.

The Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR) has been around now for 55 years. ​I have been involved with the CCR for 54 of those years, nearly all of them in leadership. Over the years, I have heard my share of criticisms of the movement. Some have been valid and worth taking seriously. One of the most unfair criticisms I've heard, however, is that the CCR is not really Catholic.  The fact is, the Renewal has made some very significant contributions in the life of the Church and to the Catholic faithful. I have reflected on some of these in the past and would like to do so again here.

On this First Sunday of Lent, our thoughts naturally turn to fasting, sacrifice, "giving up" things we like. However, Lent is also a time for feasting...feasting on the word of God! And today's Scriptural fare is a great beginning for us.

Sometimes fruit may look good at first glance. Closer inspection, however, reveals that it's bruised or even...rotten! People can be the same way. But true character is usually revealed by a person's speech, especially unguarded speech.

Acting against our human inclinations is difficult, requiring a death to self. For example, it's natural and easy to love people who love you and treat you well, but not easy at all to love those who don't. That is the lesson in today's readings - David sparing the life of Saul, and Jesus' teaching on loving our enemies.

So, is it "Who do you trust?" or "Whom do you trust?" I know that whom is correct (objective case) but it seems that who is more and more commonly used (offending my grammatical ear). At any rate, that is the question before us today, "In whom do you put your trust?" Is our basic trust in the Lord or in other persons or things?

Have you ever felt unworthy to speak, write, or testify for the Lord? If so, join the club! Everybody is tempted to feel that way. We know what we are. St Paul says, "I am what I am." But we also know that God doesn't call the qualified, but rather he qualifies the called. Today we see examples of great men of God who felt unworthy of their mission - Isaiah, Paul, and Peter - and how God accepted them and used them in mighty ways.

"Behold the days are coming, says the Lord God, when I will send a famine on the land; not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east, they shall run to and fro, to seek the word of the Lord, but they shall not find it" (Amos 8:11-12). There are certain Scripture passages that "chill my soul," that is to say, they are able penetrate my inner being and make a greater than usual impact within me. This is one of those passages.