Be on guard . . . Consecrate yourselves. Both sets of words appear in the readings for the day. Both readings also lead to impending departure. Paul is about to leave the Ephesus community, “never to see his face again” (Acts 20: 38). Jesus is speaking to his...
Eternal life is this, to know you . . . (John 17: 3) “And eternal life is this, to know you . . .” But how do we know you? Do we know you from the inside? Do we know how you think? How you feel? On a crowded bus or in a shopping mall. There is a little girl. Do I...
I chose you . . . to go and bear fruit that will last . . . (John 15: 16) On this feast of St. Matthias, the call of Matthias makes me think: I may not have chosen Judas, but Jesus did! Jesus loves us and wants us to love him and love him in ALL others, regardless of...
So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. (Mark 16: 19) As we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord into heaven, I think of the role of intercessor. An intercessor is someone who speaks or...
Apollos began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the Way of God to him more accurately. (Acts 18: 26) From this one verse, we can see something significant happening. Apollos was excited! So...
“Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.” (John 16: 20) We just cannot take short cuts. To get to the cake and ice cream we have to eat some spinach first. In the Gospel, Jesus...
