News - May 2023 RSS Feed

"God is love," we read in 1 John 4:8 and 16. And God is Trinity - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Today we celebrate our loving and Trinitarian God, and give thanks for his gracious love and care for us.

I always wanted to be an altar boy. Even before I started school, I remember pretending that I was serving Mass at home while wearing a cassock and surplice my aunt had sewn for me. When I would go to church, I was fascinated watching those boys who could actually serve Mass for real. I became an altar boy "for real" when I was eight years old, in third grade, and continued serving in elementary school and throughout my years in the seminary, run by Benedictines - the religious order acknowledged to be leaders in the liturgy. I was even appointed Master of Ceremonies, which meant I had responsibility for assigning and training servers for all liturgical ceremonies.

Most Catholics would probably identify Christmas and Easter as great feasts of the Church. Perhaps not as many would think of Pentecost in that way. But indeed it is! Pentecost is called the “birthday of the Church.”

Thursday or Sunday? Some years ago, I was visiting Vatican City and was present for Ascension Thursday Vespers in St. Peter’s Basilica. The following Sunday, however, I attended Mass elsewhere in Rome and the Ascension was celebrated there! The fact is, in many places, even in the Diocese of Rome, the Ascension is now transferred to the Sunday before Pentecost. The mystery, of course, remains the same: After his resurrection, Jesus ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

"The entire mission of the Messiah can be summarized in this: to baptize us in the Holy Spirit" (Pope Benedict XVI). Today's readings are a preparation to celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The first reading describes the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Samaria. The second reading proclaims Jesus, crucified and risen to a new life in the Spirit. In the gospel, Jesus speaks about the coming of the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit.

In our first reading today, seven deacons are appointed to help build the House of God - the Church. The second reading  speaks about our being built up into "a spiritual house." In the gospel, Jesus refers to many dwelling places in the Father's house. We see that God is definitely in the house-construction business!

May...month of Mother's Day and of Mary. With that in mind, I would like to share a story that was told to me some years ago. It concerns a non-denominational minister whom I'll call Carl. He pastored a large congregation, which was constantly growing and expanding with multiple ministries and outreaches. It was very successful, both pastorally and financially. Everything seemed to be going well for Pastor Carl, except for one problem - he ran into a brick wall in his prayer life.