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This past Easter, as we celebrated the Lord's resurrection and victory over Satan, sin and death, the following verse was very much on my mind: "Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David has conquered" (Rev. 5:5).   This verse, referring to the Lord Jesus, has captivated me for some time now. To speak of Jesus as the Lion of Judah is a strong and forceful image. He has indeed conquered Satan, sin and death and is victorious forevermore - not only for himself but for all of us who are his followers. Jesus is called the Lion of Judah to display his absolute authority and power over all creation.

There is an author who writes about de-cluttering your life and only keeping "what brings you joy." Today we are told what should bring us real joy from a spiritual perspective. The first reading tells us to "Rejoice with Jerusalem." The Responsorial, Psalm 66, is a great song of joy and praise to the Lord. St. Paul talks about boasting in the cross, that is, finding his joy in being crucified to the world. The gospel tells us that true joy is having our names "written in heaven."

Someone has said that if we are not truly shocked by some of the sayings in the gospels then we are probably not reading them carefully enough. I think today's gospel might be one of those times. Consider this: "Let the dead bury their dead."

When I was in grammar school in the late fifties, I was in some kind of program or presentation that had to do with explaining the Mass. I don't remember much about it except that I had to read something with the name "Melchizedek" in it. Some names just stick with you and that one stuck with me! His offering of bread, wine, and a blessing prefigured the Eucharist some 1900 years before Christ. Today, on Corpus Christi, we read about Melchizedek as we honor the gift of the Lord to us in the Holy Eucharist, the Sacrament of the Lord's own Body and Blood.

The Trinity is a mystery which our finite minds cannot understand. You have probably heard the story of St. Augustine meditating on the Trinity while walking by the seashore. He comes upon a small boy digging furiously in the sand and running to the water and back with a bucket. Augustine asked what he was doing and the boy replied, "I'm trying to fit the great sea into this hole." When Augustine laughed and gently told him that was impossible, the child responded, "And so you could never possibly understand the Holy Trinity." Then the boy disappeared. All we can do in the face of this tremendous mystery is believe, adore, and love.

Last Fall Patti and I had some of our older grandchildren for a weekend sleepover. We all had a great time, talking and playing board games. Just before it was time for them to leave for home, we had a time of prayer with them, laying hands on them and praying especially for the Lord's blessing and guidance for the coming school year. I had planned to share a few thoughts with them by way of a teaching, but wanted it to be "short, significant, and memorable."

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.

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!