June 23, 2019

Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ C
Genesis 14: 18-20; 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26; Luke 9: 11-17
How precious is the Eucharist to me? How important is my reception of the Eucharist? How often do I
spend time in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament? Is this quiet time with the Lord important to me?
Do I believe that God is always present in my life? What do I do to refresh this presence? What do I do
to share this presence to others? Is my faith active?
Fr. Jack Robinson, OFM shares and interesting attention-getter in Today’s Sunday Homily Helps: “Many
years ago, the people of a Native American village in the US southwest were once unable to celebrate
the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, for there was no priest available, and the Blessed Sacrament
was not reserved in their church. Some leaders of that faith community chose to put a circular piece of
white paper in their monstrance in order to hold their annual Corpus Christi procession. We can all
agree that their knowledge of the doctrines of the Church was faulty, but the fervor of their faith in our
need for the Real Presence of Christ among us and their longing to celebrate that presence are things
that we can all admire.”
What can I glean from today’s readings to increase and strengthen the gift of God’s presence in my life?
Today’s first reading from Genesis comes after Abram is introduced and his father, Terah, took Abram,
his grandson Lot, the son Haran and his daughter in law Sarai out of Ur of the Chaldeans to the land of
Canaan. God promised to make of Abram a great nation. Today’s reading comes after Abram had joined
other kings to defeat a five-king alliance including the King of Sodom where Lot had settled. When
Abram heard of Lot’s capture he assembled a force of just over 300 men and defeated the enemy kings
and rescued Lot and everyone else. In a gesture of gratitude the King of Salem blesses Abram and offers
gratitude to God in a ritual which included bread and wine some of which was offered up to God and
some of it consumed by those participating in the ritual. Then Abram offers him a tithe, therefore
accepting the blessing of Melchizedek who has the dual role of being king and priest of God Most High.
Abraham announces, “I have sworn to the Lord, God Most High, the creator of heaven and earth,” (14:22) which
is the first time the Lord is being called, ‘the God Most High.’ God gives His total protection to Abram
and his faith continues to grow even stronger. Abram’s riches come from God, not an earthly king. We
continue to see that Abram’s loyalty belongs to God alone. His life is a lesson for all…He trusts God,
even in the eventual attempt to sacrifice his son, Isaac.
Paul is writing to the Corinthians sharing what is the earliest written account of the institution of the
Lord’s Supper in the New Testament. Jesus here declares that the bread and wine is His Body and
Blood. This food is real food for each person’s journey of faith until the Lord returns at the end of time.
Paul shares that the only proper way to celebrate the Eucharist is one that corresponds to Jesus’s
intention to repeat this action in His memory which Paul emphasizes in Jesus’ double command to do
this in His memory. The footnote in the Catholic Study Bible states, “If the Corinthians eat and drink
unworthily, i.e., without having grasped and internalized the meaning of Jesus death for them, they will
have to answer for the body and blood, i.e., will be guilty of a sin against the Lord Himself.” The
Eucharist or the ‘Breaking of the Bread’ was celebrated in homes. By the end of the first century, these
‘house churches’ had grown so large that the Lord’s Supper was no longer celebrated in the context of a
meal and the new ritual began to be formed.
The account of the miracle of Jesus feeding the 5,000 + people with five loaves and two fish is the only
miracle reported in all four Gospels. This brings to memory the feeding of the Israelites as they
wandered in the desert (Exodus 14). It also brings to mind Elisha’s feeding of 100 people with 20
loaves (2Kings 4: 42-44). A unique part of the dialogue before the miracle is when the twelve wanted
Jesus to dismiss the crowd since they were hungry and also in a deserted area. Jesus said, “Give them
some food yourselves.” I’m sure this startled the disciples and they got very defensive, “Five loaves and two
fish are all we have, unless we ourselves go and buy food for all these people.” How often do I become
defensive and think, ‘I just can’t do that…I don’t have the time…I don’t have the resources.’ Am I
being challenged? Am I hanging on to things too much? Am I hesitant to share from my abundance?
Am I even reluctant when I don’t have the resources but I do have the time and I’m unwilling to share
my time? What is the ‘side’ lesson OR maybe even the ‘direct’ lesson that Jesus is teaching and I’m
avoiding? Could it be that, like the apostles, what matters is in placing our resources in the hands of
God to help, there will always be enough. I’m reminded of Peter’s encounter in Acts 3 of a crippled
beggar who pleads for hand-outs. “Peter said, ‘I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have I give you: in
the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, rise and walk.” We feel that this is a wonderful miracle as did the
people who witnessed it in the praise of God. Peter added, “You Israelites, why are you amazed at this, and
why do you look so intently at us as if we have made him walk by our own power or piety?…You denied this Holy
and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. The author of life you put to death, but God
raised Him from the dead; of this we are witnesses.” Am I reluctant to accept that God is with me helping me
in all ways to be witnesses to His love, care, forgiveness and mercy? Eucharist in Greek means ‘to
humbly give thanks to God.’ Don’t I do this best by sharing my gifts with others and let God supply
what is needed? Is it my trusting God that is lacking? My saying, ‘AMEN’ when I receive is a
affirmation that I believe that what I eat and drink is the Body and Blood of Christ. I receive the
presence of Christ. I am to take what I have received and share God’s presence to nourish and refresh
others with the Lords’ presence, and to satisfy hungry hearts. I am loving when I love…This is the only
way I share my Lord. Amen, so be it!
So I reflect on:
• What do I have to offer as nourishment that makes Christ present to others?
• How do I thank God for all that I have and all that I am?
• Have I ever experienced physical hunger? What was it like? Fearful, confusing? Have I ever
experienced Spiritual hunger? What was this like? What did I need?
• If I was never able to attend Mass (or celebrate Mass) again, how would my life be different?
• What do I resist sharing with others?
Sacred Space 2019 states:
“Mother Teresa said about Jesus, ‘He uses us to be His love and compassion in the world in spite of our
weaknesses and frailties.’ In this miracle, Jesus does not produce food out of nowhere. He takes the little that the
apostles have, and He multiplies it a thousandfold. No matter how little I think I have to give, once I freely place my
gifts in Jesus’ service, they become limitless.
In the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, I am reminded that Jesus can also provide spiritual
sustenance beyond my imagining. There is a mysterious disproportion between what I give and what the Lord
makes of it.”

June 16, 2019

Most Holy Trinity
Proverbs 8: 22-31; Romans 5: 1-5; John 16: 12-15
So often we get up early in the morning and journey out into the crisp morning air. It really doesn’t matter what
time of year it is... there is something about the newness of the day and the recognition of the newness of
creation. We could say that we feel ‘at one’ with creation. There are also frequent times in our lives when we are
touched by a person’s attention and/or care showered upon us that makes us feel important, special, blessed
even. Again, we feel that we are ‘at one’ with creation. There are those surprised times when we feel that we are
not just part of creation but that we are an integral part of God’s creation and even more especially that we are
really loved. This is so deep seated that again we feel we are ‘at one’ with God’s plan for the world.
At other times we feel totally disconnected with the world and with God. We are wandering lost in a sea of the
unknown, wondering if anyone cares or even if I care. These times bring a feeling of being just a pebble on the
vast sea of sand along our worlds oceans and seas. Can anyone notice me? I need to be found...I need to be
appreciated...I need to be loved.
In analyzing these words, one could say that they are very astute and perceptive. One might say they are very
wise and deep. The first reading today is taken from the Book of Proverbs which is an anthology of teaching
poetry whose primary purpose is to all who desire advanced training is wisdom. It reads as if one is listening to
wisdom’s voice. This advice will lead to riches far beyond our imagination as seen in these verses preceding
today’s reading: “Those who love me I absolve, and those who seek me find me. With me are riches and honor enduring
wealth and prosperity.” (Proverbs 8: 17-18). Wisdom is of divine origin. It was with God from the beginning. Long
before the actual creation, we can see God’s purpose in fashioning the world and God’s relationship with
humanity. God created the world in total security and safety for humans to live and thrive in His creation. All
this so that all may know of God’s goodness and His care for each individual and every part of His creation.
God first loved us. This helps in understanding of the Trinity: the individual love of the Father, Son and Holy
Spirit. In Genesis we are told that all of creation and humanity especially is ‘very good’ and ‘a delight’. God can be
described as a community of love since God always loves all the time and lives in constant relationship with
humanity. Do I let God love me, because that is what God does? Do I have to do anything in return? Not
really...but appreciation and gratitude is showing in acknowledging that love. Do I live for me or for God?
Paul describes the new situation people are in because Jesus has let us know that God has first loved us. As a
result we are at peace with God. The phrase Paul uses is “believers have been justified by faith.” Jesus’ death and
resurrection has acquitted us and declared us innocent. As a result we are in a wholesome, right relationship
with God because of what God has done for us in Christ, NOT because of anything we have done. When Paul
writes that we “...have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” he means that we have been reconciled with
God. God loves us and has redeemed us...and glory with God has been promised us, even while we endure
suffering and afflictions. Am I grateful? Do I reflect on the depth and intensity of God’s love for me? Does He
really love me that much? YES!
John, A Devotional Commentary-Meditations on John’s Gospel developed from Word Among Us monthly
publications shares these tremendous insights and reflection on our gospel today:
“Have you ever noticed how difficult it can be at times to determine the truth in a given situation? We are
barraged with conflicting voices in everything from choosing a shampoo to raising children. Every alternative
set before us claims to be the best way, and we find ourselves pulled in so many directions that we lose sight
of what we started out to do. God knows our every need and has made provision to lead us from confusion
into clarity through the gift of the Holy Spirit. Through the action of the Spirit, we can separate wheat from
chaff, truth from deception and choose life instead of death.
What characterizes the Spirit of truth and what are the truths He addresses? To begin, the Spirit gives us
knowledge that leads us to praise God the Father and Jesus His Son. He is our Counselor and our teacher
(John 14:26). He intercedes for us when we ourselves do not even know how to pray (Romans 8:26). The Spirit
leads us to truth in every situation—spiritual and physical—if we but listen to Him. He leads us to recognize
that each of us is a participant in the fall of man. None of us is sinless. The Holy Spirit teaches us about the
righteousness of Jesus, His sinless nature, and His actions saving us from everlasting separation from God.
Through the Spirit, we come to accept the forgiveness that God has given us through His Son. Lastly, we
come to know that Satan and his power have been defeated and that judgment will come for each of us.
(John 16: 8-11) In all things, the Spirit leads us to a deeper knowledge of Jesus as “the way, and the truth, and
the life” (John 14: 6)
In all these ways, the Spirit guides us into the truth. But greater even than all this, the Spirit brings us to a
personal, ongoing encounter with Jesus Christ, who is truth incarnate. He fills our hearts with the love and
presence of Jesus, and in the light of the love of the Lord, we begin to think differently about our lives and
about the world around us. We long for heaven. We burn to share the gospel. We are filled with compassion
and are moved to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and care for the ailing. Through the Spirit’s continuing
work in our lives, we are set free “...to become partakers of the divine nature.” (2 Peter 1:4), and our hearts
are inflamed with the hope that we will one day be fully incorporated into the life and love of Jesus, our
hope.”
“Holy Spirit, work in my life in a new way. Teach me about the kingdom of God. Show me my need for Jesus.
Reveal to me the love of Christ and lead me according to His will Give me the desire and the strength to serve
the body of Christ and to share this new life with those I meet.”
So I reflect on:
• As I look back in my childhood and as teen...how did my caregivers reveal God’s
love for me?
• Am I conscious of the Holy Spirit leading me to a sense of ‘the true, good and
beautiful’?
• How do I care for others? What signs of love do I show others?
• What people, places, or events have most helped me to grow in faith?
Sacred Space 2019 states:
“You cannot bear them now, you said. Lord, you time your interventions for my readiness. They that wait upon You shall
renew their strength, says Isaiah. May I learn how to wait upon You. The Spirit of truth did indeed come, but how often am I
aware of this? Do I address the Holy Spirit in my prayers, asking for help, asking to be guided into the truth of everyday
situations? I say such a prayer now.”

June 9, 2019

Pentecost Sunday C
Acts 2: 1-11; Corinthians 12: 3-7, 12-13; John 20: 19-23
Today we are celebrating the Feast of the Church: Pentecost. What does Pentecost mean to you today.
Would you say it is the birthday of the Church? It is. Would you say it’s the day the promised Holy
Spirit was given to the Apostles. It was. Would you say it is the day I celebrate that the Holy Spirit is a
daily part of my life? It is. The question, is do I believe this? I’m not sure how many would say this.
The Spirit of God is the force for everything good and powerful in people’s lives. It is the courage to
stand up and be a witness for Christ in our daily lives. It is the ability to see through petty problems and
realize that God is in control. It is living the belief that God has a plan for each one of us to be in heaven
and to help those in our daily lives through the grace and help He gives us to make a difference.
The first reading from Acts of the Apostles tells how Jerusalem was filled with people from all different
countries speaking different languages making their pilgrimage to this holy place. But something totally
different and not planned on happened. Luke describes this as a time of fulfillment which had arrived.
He uses this phrase at very unique times in Jesus’ life. The first time is announcing of Jesus’ Birth, Luke
2:6: Joseph and Mary journeyed to Bethlehem, “While they are there, the time came for her to have her child,
and she gave birth to her firstborn son.” The most important and most waited for event in human history
takes place.
Another place, this term is used is in Luke 9:51in the part entitled “The Journey to Jerusalem: Luke’s
Travel Narrative.” We know that in the synoptics, Jesus only goes up to Jerusalem once for His passion
death and resurrection, the focal point of His message and God’s eternal plan. Luke says, “When the days
for His being taken up were fulfilled, He resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, and He sent messengers
ahead of Him.“ The last time this phrase is used is in today’s passage, “When the time for Pentecost was
fulfilled, they were all in one place together.” These are the three significant and key moments of God’s plan.
The apostles and the community of believers were all in one place because the Lord had directed them to
do so. They were awaiting something never experienced before, the Father’s promised gift of the Holy
Spirit. They were at prayer. “And Suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind…” Is
this an indication of what will happen, since the first time the wind appears is in Genesis 1: 1-2: In the
beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless wasteland, and the darkness
covered the abysses while a mighty wind swept over the waters. Then God said….” Here Luke seems to be
implying another new creation is about to take place. This is not ordinary. God has intervened in the
history of the world…these three times…am I aware of the significance of these events in my life? And
what happens: “Then there appeared to them as tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of
them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled
them to proclaim.” THE strong implication is that this special gift is for each person who is to become
God’s witness to the world; that means each one of you and myself. What happens is confusion, not
because the many different foreign languages being spoken and people can’t understand what is being
said…they can. Language presents no barrier to understanding communication. All languages are
one…it is God’s language…and this language is the living of love. This is putting the things of God
first…living the life of love, mercy, forgiveness, care for all as our brothers and sisters.
St. Paul continues this message in his letter to the Corinthians showing how the Spirit of God gives
countless spiritual gifts to the community. Each gift helps others along the journey of faith. “To each
individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.” He is using the image of a body to explain
Christ’s relationships with each one of us. The Holy Spirit is vigorous. It gives each person what he or
she needs to live out the Gospel message. There are no obstacles, the Spirit fills each person with what
is needed to be Christ in their own neighborhood and world.
The ‘popular’ version of Pentecost is given in the first reading from Acts of the Apostles. Today’s
gospel from John shares a much briefer and less dramatic version. It is Easter Sunday evening. The
apostles and all those gathered are very well aware that Jesus has been killed. They were afraid, terrified
would be a better word, and they were hiding in a safe place, the upper room where Jesus had celebrated
the Passover Meal, the first Eucharist with them three nights earlier. Without any explanation as to how
it happened…”Jesus came and stood in their midst…” Did he just appear, probably. Knock on the door, that
doesn’t seem plausible…come down the chimney…no…these take away from the most important
proclamation, “Peace be with you.” Even in showing His hands and His side, this didn’t calm them
down…He still had to give them and you and myself The Message: “Peace with you. As the Father has
sent Me, so I send you.” Jesus immediately gets to the purpose of His life and mission and God’s plan
from eternity. He commissions this faith community to go out and continue the same work that He has
been doing. They can’t say, Oh, I could never do that…I’m not strong enough…I’m not bright
enough…I don’t know how…I’m just to nervous…, etc. And Jesus makes this commission official by
breathing on them the Holy Spirit. This, incidentally, is how God breathed new life into Adam, the first
person , so that this person became a living being (Genesis 2: 7). They are to make God in Jesus known
to the world. This same Spirit has been given in Baptism, Confirmation, each reception of the Eucharist
and every moment we are presented with a situation to make Jesus known. Connections, a newsletter of
ideas and images for preaching the Sunday Gospel states; “The Spirit of God is that love that enables us to
do for others what we don’t believe we can do, that love that inspires the courage and generosity to endure what
terrifies us, that love that reveals the strength and hope we possess to move stones to open tombs of despair and
fear. May the Spirit of God lift our hearts and voices to ‘sing’ compassion and care, whether our song be a song of
peace for the dying or outreach to the lost, the vulnerable, the despairing.”
I reflect on:
• Jesus tells us that we need to clean house, not with cleaning products or a mop, but by living Christ’s
words and loving others the way that He loved us: totally, unconditionally, and sacrificially.
• Am I living in the peace of Christ? Why or why not?
• How many different languages do I speak? The language of forgiveness? A prophetic language? The
language of compassion? What languages do I need to learn?
Sacred Space 2019 states
“Take time today and allow the word Peace echo in your mind and heart. Let the word and all it may mean
fill your body and remain within you. Peace is the constant promise of Jesus to His followers. It is a gift nobody can
take from us. Give time each day to receive this gift of God’s Spirit. He gives it without even being asked. As your
receive peace from God, send this peace in a prayer to those close to you or those who may sorely need prayer
today.
The risen Jesus penetrates the disciples defenses, overcomes their fears, and brings them joy. I ask Him
to pass through all my security systems and liberate me from whatever prevents me from having life and having it in
all its fullness.”

June 2, 2019

Ascension of the Lord C
Acts 1: 1-11; Hebrews 9: 24-28; 10: 19-23; Luke 24: 46-53
In Jerusalem is a religious site called the Chapel of the Ascension in the Mount of Olives section of
Jerusalem, an Arab majority neighborhood. (Mount of Olives in Arabic is ‘At-Tur’.) There’s not a lot to
see here other than a place of some Biblical significance. It’s a small, very high chapel converted into a
mosque by Saladin in 1187. Now it is a tall circular building containing a large preserved footprint,
many believe is the last footprint of Jesus on earth. At first sight it seems like a singular enormous
footprint burned in by an ‘rocket like force.’ There is nothing else in the structure. What people could
come away with is that Jesus: came, lived, died and is now up in heaven and has no contact with us at
all. But the Ascension of Jesus is more than an ‘extraterrestrial excursion’ which has no significance to
us. The Ascension teaches us more about who Jesus is and what He does for us. And most importantly
it leads us into what we should do in return. The Good News is that God loves us, Jesus showed us this.
Jesus has redeemed us from our sins and showed us our place is in heaven. This has been God’s intent
forever. Am I living, knowing that God loves me so much that He has a place for me in Heaven? Am I
living in a way that accomplishes this ‘mission’? Am I living the life God needs me to live as being His
creation? We look to the readings today to connect the mystery of the Ascension to real life.
Early Christian tradition from the late second century identifies Luke, a Syrian from Antioch as the
author of the third gospel. The prologue of his gospel makes it clear that he is not part of the first
generation of Christian disciples but is very dependent upon the traditions he received from
eyewitnesses. It is possible that Luke wrote His gospel about A.D. 60 and Acts around A.D. 62.
Now Luke Gospel closes briefly describing the Lord’s ascension around Bethany and then the apostle
returning to Jerusalem. Acts describes this in further details. Here Jesus is preparing His apostles for
their mission: being witnesses in spreading God’s kingdom of love. They are not ready for this yet.
Over the course of the next forty days, the risen Lord opens their minds to understand God’s plan. They
knew the Old Testament and the prophecies but they had no idea that the Messiah would be the
Suffering Servant who came to show God’s total love. This was God’s purpose. They wanted a return
to Israel’s glory years where they were a dominant nation under Saul, David and Solomon. Jesus had to
show them the bigger picture, there is much more to God’s plan than they could have ever imagined.
We could say that they went into an intensive review of Scripture as it pertained to the Messiah and
God’s plan for the redemption of the world. The final step in the preparation was the apostles realizing
the role of the Holy Spirit. Jesus had repeatedly promised them that He would never leave them alone
and would send the Holy Spirit. Saying this, and then realizing the truth of all of Jesus’s preaching and
mission, was a work in progress. We can see this in their questions: “Lord, are You at this time going to
restore the kingdom of Israel.” They were still hoping that this would happen and they would have ‘big
positions’ in God’s new kingdom. Now after Jesus ascended, the resurrected Jesus will make no more
appearances in the Acts of the Apostles. They have now received their mission as we have: “But you will
receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea
and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Paul takes a different approach: He looks at the ritual sacrifices that the people had made in the Old
Testament years. What worth was that…which animals were chosen…even in some cultures, there was
human sacrifice…the purpose was to appease God. Jesus came to show that the single sacrifice of
Himself is the final annulment of sin. Now we have direct and confident access to God through the
person of Jesus. He is our Lord and Redeemer. He has commissioned us to spread the word of His love.
The Gospel account of the Ascension switches our focus on to Jesus. Everything that has happened to
Jesus has been part of God’s divine plane. There have been no coincidences, nothing has happened by
chance. Jesus reminds His disciples of this in the opening words today “Thus it is written that the Christ
would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be
preached in His name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.” Now they are
to wait in Jerusalem until they are “…clothed with power from on high.” The Holy Spirit in their lives…and
the Holy Spirit in our lives. What happened is the tremendous missionary activity of the disciples
empowered by the Holy Spirit in the Acts of the Apostles. Their activity has continued down throughout
the ages to each one of us. We would not be here if not someone had told someone, who passed the
word on and it has reached our ears and our lives.
Living the Word, Scripture Reflections and Commentaries for Sundays and Holy Days presents a
wonderful analysis of Luke’s two readings today.
“When I served the Dominican sisters of Grand Rapids, Michigan, we accompanied a sister’s body to the
hearse after a funeral Mass. When her body was placed in the hearse, a bell tolled and we sang the Salve Regina,
watching the hearse until it was out of sight. Reverent silence followed until someone led us back into the building
for the reception. Someone who arrived at that point might have asked, ‘Why are you standing here looking down
the road?’ We were speechless until someone or something broke the silence.
I think that the Ascension was like that. Two angels break the disciples’ silence and shift their focus. The
Gospel account differs from Acts. They do Jesus homage and return with great joy. Deep experiences elicit
different responses. Awe. Silence. Wonderment. Sadness. Joy. Each response reflects a human reaction to the
departure of a person. It is the presence of God and the power of the Holy Spirit that often help us to integrate the
experience into our lives and give witness to the impact a persons had on us, for good or ill. The presence of God
and the power of the Holy Spirit can help us ascend out of an experience. We look up or out from it. We get a new
perspective. We can discover where Christ offers us hope and new ways of being. Sometimes we must first
descend into the depths of an experience before we are willing to look up, look out, and see God with us, clothing
us with power from on hight Those ascensions empower us to witness life in the midst of death, hope in the midst
of despair, or freedom in the midst of paralysis. So look up! Look out! Received the power of the Holy Spirit! Then
go into the world bearing the name of Christ.”
So I reflect on:
• Do I believe that my faith would be easier had I seen Jesus in the flesh?
• What is my inward vision of Jesus? How would I describe Him?
• Where have I experienced the power and the majesty of my faith?
• How do I view my ministry as being a witness of Jesus? As a Joy? As a mystery?
Sacred Space 2019 shares:
“Lord, strengthen my faith—faith that will give me eyes that see and ears that hear; faith that will reveal Your
luminous presence at the very heart of myself. Then, I may begin my own long ascent. Grant that one day I may
be where You are and behold the glory the Father gave You before the foundation of the world.
I pray to experience joy in worship and in the work of God’s kingdom