Sunday, May 17, 2026

THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD
(Acts 1:1-11; Ephesians 1:17-23; Matthew 28:16-20)

There are only two accounts of the Ascension in the Bible; both were written by Luke. The first is found in his Gospel, and the second in the Acts of the Apostles. Interestingly, the accounts do not agree, at least regarding the day of the event. In the Gospel, the Ascension takes place on the night of the Resurrection. In Acts, Jesus stays with his disciples for forty days before ascending into heaven.

We may ask: which date is correct? Scholars do not offer a definitive answer to this question. They say that Luke probably wanted to conclude his Gospel on the very day of the Resurrection, the event of overwhelming importance for the Church, then and now. Meanwhile, they view the forty days of appearances as symbolic, indicating a period of instruction parallel to Jesus’ time in the desert. In any case, they consider the date of the Ascension less important than its meaning.

The Ascension affirms the lordship of Jesus Christ. When he ascends into heaven, the Father gives him all power to guide the events of the world to their fulfillment. He does this through the Holy Spirit, who forms the Church as the Body of Christ. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, the Church proclaims the Gospel to the whole world. In this way, it offers all men and women the opportunity to embrace salvation. While Jesus remains in the world, the Spirit stays with him. But once he takes his place at the Father’s side, the Son asks the Father to send the Spirit upon us. The Spirit makes us members of his Body to carry out his mission in the world.

We receive the Holy Spirit in Baptism. His presence within us is strengthened through Confirmation and the Eucharist. What are we going to do with so great a gift? In today’s Gospel, Jesus sends the apostles to all nations to teach what he has commanded. We can fulfill our role in this great mission by living with the selfless love inspired by the Spirit. Or we can avoid participation in the mission until the power of the Spirit atrophies within us like muscles that are never moved.

If we pray daily, asking the Lord for our relatives and companions, for those in need, and even for our enemies, we are fulfilling our role in the great mission of Jesus Christ. If we carry out our work well, fulfill our responsibilities at home, and live faithfully as citizens, we are fulfilling our role in the great mission. If we visit the sick, share our resources with the less fortunate, or teach those who lack education, we are also fulfilling our role in the mission.

On the other hand, if we pray only when we feel like it, we are avoiding participation in the mission of Jesus. If we always seek our own comfort, the praise of others, or financial gain, we are avoiding participation in the mission. If we perform no works of mercy, whether corporal or spiritual, we are also avoiding the mission.

There is a widow in El Paso, Texas, who for more than twenty years crossed the border once a week to teach English to the women of a sewing cooperative. Now, in her old age, she can no longer travel as before. Yet she continues serving the poor by writing thank-you notes to the cooperative’s benefactors. She is a living example of a person filled with the Holy Spirit, carrying out her role in the mission of Jesus.

Next Sunday we will celebrate Pentecost, the feast of the Holy Spirit. We will remember the coming of the Spirit upon the apostles and how he drove them out from the Temple to preach the Lord Jesus to the ends of the earth. The same Spirit sends us forth from this and every Mass to carry out our role in the mission of Jesus.

 

  

Friday, May 15, 2026

 

Friday of the Sixth Week of Easter

(Acts 18:9-18; John 16:20-23)

Successful poker players know when to play their hand and when to give it up.  From years of experience, they have a sense when their cards will win and when they will lose.  Similarly, in today’s reading from Acts Paul has an intuitive “vision” what the Lord Jesus wants him to do.  He has developed a firm understanding of his will through years of prayer.  He can say with confidence that the Lord wants him to stay in Corinth to preach the gospel.

Corinth is Greece’s principal port city.  From it ships traverse the Mediterranean, the center of the western world.  Based there, preachers have access to all the known nations.  The city was like a major airport hub city today.  From it preachers can easily reach the places in need of the Word of God.  Probably for this reason, the Lord wants Paul to establish a Christian base there.

In Paul’s vision the Lord assures him of both his accompaniment and his influence.  These advantages are immediately evidenced.  Gallio, the proconsul or governor of Corinth, is such a “friend” of the Lord.  He dismisses the Jews’ charge against Paul as frivolous so that Paul can continue preaching. 

The Lord is with us as well.  We need to develop a close relationship with him through prayer.  Then he will tell us when to proceed on a project and when to give it up as futile.  Paul gives the reason for his confidence in his Letter to the Romans: “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Thursday, May 14, 2026

 

Feast of Saint Matthias, apostle

(Acts 1:15-17.20-26; John 15:9-17)

Today’s reading from Acts gives us hope and a warning.  Peter proclaims, “’The Scripture had to be fulfilled.’”  He is referring to Psalm 41 which says: “Even the friend who had my trust, who shared my table, has scorned me.”  His statement also rings true generally.  Scripture, the Word of God, will be fulfilled.  It includes the good news that God exonerates us from sin when we embrace His grace.  The gospel will likewise alleviate the fear deep within that our sins and shortcomings will ruin us.

Peter’s message implies that those of us who betray Jesus will be punished.  Whether because they do not follow Jesus’ teachings or because they absolutely reject Jesus as Lord, betrayers will be ousted from the community of the saved.  This judgment may sound harsh until we think of all the ways Jesus has favored us.

Do you suppose Matthias was happy to be chosen to replace Judas?  Maybe not!  The apostles were told that they would suffer the fate of Jesus, which meant a violent death. Yet he promised as well that he would accompany them until the end.  That is not death but eternal life.  This promise has become Scripture to be fulfilled.  With Jesus at our side as well, there is nothing to fear.  The bad news-good news we hear from Peter becomes our assurance of reaching our destiny in Christ.

 

Wednesday, May 13, 2026

 Wednesday of the Sixth Week of Easter

 (Acts 7:15.22-18.1; John 16:12-15)

 No doctrine of the Church is harder to grasp than the Holy Trinity.  How the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are both three and one almost defies explanation.  They are not three individuals making up a collective like a three-person volleyball team.  The three persons have but one mind and one will.  The Son, of course, has taken on a human nature, which involves his body in his heavenly presence.  But this extrinsic quality does not explain the real difference among the three.  They differ only by their relationships – one is Father; one is Son; and one is the life or Spirit among them.  In today’s gospel Jesus reassures his disciples with reference to the unique triad and unity of the Holy Trinity.

Jesus underscores the unity of the Trinity when he says that the Spirit will teach only what it receives from him.  In turn Jesus passes on only what he has received from the Father.  One might ask whether only the Spirit would be present to Jesus’ disciples or to Christians today.  No, Jesus has said in this same discourse that all three are present to his disciples.  The Church would formulate the Trinity’s presence in this way: “The Father is present to us through the Son and in the Holy Spirit.”

Although they are one, we can develop a relationship with each of the three divine persons.  To do this daily we can make an examination of conscience with the three in mind.  We can say, “Thank you” to the Father, the source of all things, for any good that we have experienced during the day.  We can say, “Forgive me,” to the Son who died because of our sins for any sins we committed.  And we can say, “Please…” to the Holy Spirit who is sent to help us for any special need we have tomorrow.

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

 

Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter

(Acts 16:22-34; John 16:5-11)

Robert Duvall, the recently deceased actor, made a movie called “The Apostle.”  He played the title role, a flawed but charismatic preacher.  The movie ends with the preacher on a chain gang leading fellow prisoners in a song praising the Lord.  Much like Paul and Barnabas in today’s reading from Acts, he never stopped evangelizing.

Song lifts up hearts.  It is especially helpful when working with children, the aged and the sick.  These people have limited self-preoccupation so that they aren’t embarrassed raising their voices, even if they sing off key.  Asking them to sing praise to God not only evangelizes; it also heightens their hope.

Nevertheless, singing is usually better when done well.  Even those who are inhibited when quality is lacking may be stirred to join in good singing.  In any case, singing praise to God should be encouraged because it gives God added glory.