Cycle A Pentecost

 Acts 2:1-11; 1 Cor. 12:3b-7, 12-13; Jn. 20:19-23

Today, Pentecost Sunday, we come to the climax of our Easter celebrations. It is often referred to as the birthday of the Church. Today's three readings made reference to the arrival of the Holy Spirit, being baptized in the Spirit and being sent forth to proclaim the Word of God. The arrival of the Holy Spirit was affirmed in the First Reading “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages. [Acts 2:1-11] Being baptized in the Spirit was affirmed in the Second Reading "In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body." [1 Cor. 12:3b-7, 12- 13] And being sent to proclaim the Word of God was affirmed in the Gospel Reading "As the Father has sent me, so I send you." These three passages are the gist of Today’s reading. [Jn. 20:19-23]

"On the day of Pentecost when the seven weeks of Easter had come to an end, Christ's Passover was fulfilled in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, manifested, given, and communicated as a divine person: of his fullness, Christ, the Lord,

Cycle A The Ascension of the Lord

 Acts 1:1-11; Eph. 1:17-23; Mt. 28:16-20

According to the Bible, Enoch and Elijah are the only two people God took to heaven without them dying. Genesis 5:24 says, "Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away."  Second Kings 2:11 relates the translation of Elijah, "Suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind." Enoch is described as a man who "walked with God for 300 years" (Genesis 5:22-23). Elijah was perhaps the most powerful of God’s prophets in the Old Testament. There are also prophecies of Elijah’s return (Malachi 4:5-6).

The most popular Ascension story is the Ascension of Jesus. When the Apostles spoke about the ascension of Jesus their audience did not find any problem in accepting it as they were  very familiar with the Ascension of Enoch and Elijah.

In the early churches, some very interesting customs took place to mark this feast. Often the paschal candle would be

Cycle A 6th Sunday of Easter

Acts 8:5-8, 14-17; 1 Pet. 3:15-18; Jn. 14:15-21

The Words of Jesus in the conclusion of the Gospel Reading were, "They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them." [Jn. 14:21]

Like the Ten Commandments, these commands that Jesus gave in the gospels were not the ten suggestions but imperative commands that we have no room to rationalize them away.  Jesus came down to earth and told you to do something. Love One Another. John 13:34-35 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Here is “a new command” that Jesus gives to us.  We are commanded to love one  We are to love one another just as Jesus loved us.  

When a homeless man walked into Cesia Abigail Baires’ restaurant asking for money, she refused.