A Restless Life

This weekend, we celebrate the Lord's Ascension.  I cannot pretend to understand or comprehend the Ascension; I only assume that those closest to Jesus had already seen so many amazing things done by His hand, that they had some greater capacity to grasp the occasion.  In leaving the apostles behind, Jesus promised to return again, though it was not for them, nor us, to know the time or the season of His return.  And from this moment, Jesus sent forth His followers forth to all the ends of the earth to proclaim God's Word until the day when He returns.  It is in the state of waiting that we have been since that day two thousand years ago.  What does that mean for us today?   We must always believe that Jesus is coming and conduct ourselves accordingly.  And yet, we can't sit around watching the skies, waiting for the Lord to appear.  I had mentioned faithful and vigilant servants in my post on Pope Leo's election and, though not in this weeke...

This Sunday, we sing out 'O God, let all the nations praise you!', and yet do we mean it?  We see the struggles to include "outsiders" in the first reading as some are upset with how the newly converted gentiles are worshiping and practicing their faith.  This is less than a generation removed from Jesus, the apostles, those who walked and heard the words of Christ, are there.  And yet, there was a desire to hold on to the old ways.  But Jesus did not come here to reinforce the Old Testament covenant with a select group - He came to renew that promise with all the nations and all the people.  And so, guided by the Holy Spirit, the early Church dramatically reduces the rules of the old Mosaic laws and reduces the "barrier to entry" to be one of God's people. With all of humanity now able to partake in the New Covenant, the big question is how?  How do we join this special relationship of Jesus and His Father?  Well, I may be stretching my license here, ...

Two phrases bookend this weeks' reading for me and I want to focus on those today.  In the First Reading, we see Paul and Barnabas successfully spreading the Gospel.  And, stuck in between the accomplishments, they say a phrase that stuck with me: "It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God."   Let that sink in for a moment.  It is easy for us in modern times to distance ourselves from the trials and persecution that those of the early church faced as part of their daily lives.  But we are blind if we do not see the distractions and temptations of this "modern" eras as hardships hindering our entry into God's kingdom.  These isolate us and drive communities apart.  But where do we find the courage to endure in spite of the obstacles in our way? Well, that brings me to the second phrase from this week.  In the Gospel, Jesus is telling of God's Glory both expressed through and shared with Him, in fulfillment of all...

What an occasion today is with the announcement of Pope Leo XIV!  I pray that the Pope will be ever guided by the Holy Spirit in the tremendous opportunity and responsibility that lies ahead of him.  By all accounts, Pope Leo XIV is a truly remarkable and capable individual, equal to the task at hand.  I pray for his faith, love, and compassion to be felt by all of us in his flock that now come under his stewardship.  One of the passages I frequently reflect on is at the end of the twelfth chapter of the Gospel of Luke, where Jesus is speaking of Vigilant and Faithful Servants.  To paraphrase, Jesus states that much will be required of those whom much has be entrusted, and still more so of those entrusted with more.  Keep our Church and our new Pope in your prayers. Habemus Papem!

This week, I am drawn to the same underlying message laid out in all of the readings this week, and its importance necessitates that I focus solely on it.  In the Gospel, we hear Jesus's words that He is our shepherd and has given us Eternal Life.  This is played out in the following of Paul and Barnabas through their preaching and we see the ultimate reflection of this in John's vision in Revelation.  What this means cannot be understated.  God made a covenant with descendants of Abraham, and only with them, and yet, through His Son, Jesus, the covenant has been expanded.  Not only are all who listen and follow welcome to partake, but eternal life has been promised through Jesus's Resurrection.   Let that sink in.  At one point, the Israelites were the Chosen, the people destined to receive God's protection and grace.  But now, through Jesus, God has extended that special relationship to every single one of us.  We all now have the chan...