WITNESSES TO THE END OF THE EARTH

ASCENSION SUNDAY - Acts 1:1-11

We celebrate today the Ascension of the Lord. Jesus himself had explained to the disciples, "I came from the Father and have come into the world and now I leave the world to go to the Father.” (Jn 16:28). The ascension is this return to the Father. As the eternal Son, He had accepted to put aside His glory, humbling Himself and becoming a human being in everything, like all other human beings. He took “the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men." He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Fil 2:6-11).

Jesus said goodbye to his disciples and rose to glory, to the glory He has as the beloved Son of the Father. Reading about that event in the Acts of the Apostles, we get surprised by the disciples’ attitude. 

The desire for power was so embedded in them that they had a last go at it. They asked, “Are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” Their expectations were about an earthly kingdom, and Jesus had to be straight with them: “It is not for you to know times or dates that the Father has decided by his own authority”, Then, he promised them the Holy Spirit, who would be bestowed on them so that they might proclaim the Gospel and be witnesses of Jesus Christ. They are entrusted with the mission to give witness to “the ends of the earth”. And they remained there transfixed, looking to heaven. They had to be called back to reality, keeping hope in the Lord Jesus, who will come back in glory to finish the work of salvation, taking us into plenitude. Up to then, we must proclaim the Good News to all peoples, making disciples of Jesus Christ. All those who accept the Good News must be baptised, and Jesus’ commands must be taught to them. This is the mission entrusted to the Church, and every Christian is called upon to carry it out. The final word that Jesus gave his disciples is one of reassurance: “I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.”.

THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH GUIDES US TO CHRIST

 VI EASTER SUNDAY - John 14:15-21

As we come to the end of Easter Time, our attention is drawn to the Holy Spirit, promised to the disciples by Jesus and received by them on the day of Pentecost. The resurrection of Jesus served as a gathering event for the disciples, who began to assemble on the first day of the week. However, they gathered in silence, avoiding calling attention to their group, afraid of being caught and punished by the authorities. It was only on the day of Pentecost that they got emboldened by the Holy Spirit who came upon them like a mighty wind, putting them on fire to proclaim without fear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Since then, the Holy Spirit would play a vital role in the life of the Church. When the Holy Spirit came upon Cornelius and the members of his household, who heard the word, Peter was forced to accept in amazement that God shows no partiality and calls both the Jews and the Gentiles to salvation.

The first reading (Acts 8:5-8, 14-17) makes clear the connection between the Holy Spirit, the proclamation of the Gospel and the building of the Church. The deacon Philip went to Samaria, and there he successfully proclaimed the Good News, with many people asking to be baptised. “When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.” Since “they had only been baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus”, “they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.” Thus, the receiving of the Holy Spirit is connected to the ministry of the Apostles, who prayed for them and laid their hands on them. This link with the Apostles and this dependence on them is necessary to be fully empowered as disciples of Jesus Christ and recognised as members of the Church.

The Holy Spirit was promised by Jesus as the Advocate (παρακλητον), the Spirit of truth, who is with us and in us. Through him, Jesus goes on being present among us. As the Spirit of truth, He leads us to an ever-deepening understanding of the relationship between Jesus and the Father. Through Jesus, we are being introduced into that relationship: “On that day you will understand that I am in my Father and you in me and I in you.” It is the Holy Spirit who enables us to keep Jesus’ commandments, thus living in a deep relationship of love with Him and with the Father. “Anybody who receives my commandments and keeps them will be one who loves me; and anybody who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I shall love him and show myself to him.”

JESUS, THE LIVING STONE

V EASTER SUNDAY - 1 Peter 2:4-9

Speaking of Jesus Christ, the apostle Peter tells us that He is “the living stone”, “chosen by God and precious to him”. Despite being rejected by men, there will be no building that may last but the one built upon this stone. He is the cornerstone that becomes a stumbling block that will bring down all those who refuse to believe in Him. Thus, Peter invites us to become living stones in communion with Him. The Church is the “spiritual house”, built upon Christ, that is to be our home. In Christ, we become “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a people set apart to sing the praises of God”.

In the gospel, Jesus presents himself as the Way, the Truth and the Life (Jn 14:1-12). Through him, we come to the Father, and we must realise that “He is the image of the invisible God” (Col 1:15). Thus, when we see him, we see the Father. In communion with Him, we are in communion with the Father.

In the first reading, taken from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 6:1-7), we see the struggle of the Early Church to live out that communion with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Since the beginning, the Church has had a social dimension, paying attention to the most vulnerable, looking after the widows. However, being human, the good intentions become easily tainted by selfish interests. And signs of discrimination on a tribal basis appeared: "The Hellenists made a complaint against the Hebrews: in the daily distribution their own widows were being overlooked.”

In an attempt to solve the problem, the apostles “called a full meeting of the disciples”. Indeed, matters affecting the Church are matters that must be the concern of all. The apostles made it clear that they should concentrate on the proclamation of the word of God. That is their ministry: they must be at the service of the word, accompanied by prayer. The community must take responsibility for other matters. Thus, it was decided to create a new ministry – the ministry of deacons – to be at the service of the community and its needs. As the Church grows, all members must be actively involved in the search for solutions to the arising problems and involved as well in the actual service of the community. That is what nowadays is called the synodal dimension of the Church. However, to the apostles belongs the great duty of giving witness to Jesus Christ and dedicating themselves to the proclamation of the word and to worship.

I AM THE GATE

IV EASTER SUNDAY – John 10:1-10

This fourth Sunday of Easter is also called the 'Good Shepherd Sunday’. We fix our eyes on Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd who leads us to fresh and green pastures, where he gives us repose. 

In the first reading, Peter gives a brief summary of the essential tenets of our Christian faith. The Crucified rose from the dead and is seated at the right hand of the Father, who made him Lord and Christ. He is the Saviour and the Redeemer. This is the basic proclamation of faith, which has implications for us who hear it: we must repent, be baptised in the name of Jesus and then receive the Holy Spirit, the great gift of God’s love. And Peter ends his message with a clear warning to all of us: “Save yourselves from this perverse generation.” (Acts 2:14, 36-41). Indeed, this world we live in is full of perversity and corruption. We may be taken in very easily; thus, we must be on the alert, being guided by Christ, who is the true Shepherd that takes us to the wells of salvation. Jesus Christ suffered for us; he passed through threats, insults and torture. “He was bearing our faults in his own body on the cross so that we might die to our faults and live for holiness; through his wounds you have been healed.” Like sheep gone astray, we were lost, and he came for us, becoming “guardian of our souls” (1 Peter 2:20-25).

In the gospel, Jesus presents himself as the gate, through whom we may pass and find safety. In a different passage, Jesus advised his disciples to pass through the “narrow gate” (Mt 7:13). Jesus is the gate, but, like him, we must carry our cross, having a share in Jesus's sufferings. We must be sure that, going through him, we will be welcomed in Paradise.

The Lord is my shepherd;

  there is nothing I shall want.

Fresh and green are the pastures

  where he gives me repose.

Near restful waters he leads me,

  to revive my drooping spirit.

Psalm 23

LORD, EXPLAIN THE SCRIPTURES TO US

III EASTER SUNDAY - Luke 24:13-35

According to Peter (1 Peter 1:17-21), we live in a foreign land, as in exile, walking towards the promised land in the Kingdom of God. Being in this situation, we “must be scrupulously careful”, aware that we were freed from slavery by Jesus Christ, who paid our ransom with his blood.

In his first speech after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, Peter confronts people with their biggest sin: they killed the Messiah, the pure and innocent lamb who offered himself as a sacrifice for the redemption of our sins. Then, he proclaimed the resurrection of Jesus Christ and invited all his listeners to repent and convert. Jesus is the only way to the Father; believing in him, we find life and salvation.

Whenever the Gospel is proclaimed, we are invited to become disciples and to join the group of disciples, that is, to become the body of Christ, his Church. It is essential that, in the Church, we make the encounter with Christ and recognise that He is risen. This encounter is made possible through the Word of God and the Eucharist. These are the two sides of the same coin, as we discover in this Sunday’s gospel.

Jesus walks with us along the paths of life. We may not recognise him, but he listens to us and tries to understand our frustrations and backsliding so that we may find hope and purpose in our lives. For that to happen, we must allow ourselves to be confronted by the word of God. His word is both challenging and revealing; it gives understanding and meaning. It guides and motivates us, leading us to faith in Jesus Christ, He who is the Truth and the Life.

However, the proclamation of the Word must end in the breaking of the bread at the table of the Lord. As we discover in the story of the two disciples going to Emmaus, the word led them to invite Jesus into their home. In their hearts, there came a desire to hear more from the master of truth, thus opening new horizons and going deeper into the mystery of salvation. Learning from them, we must press Jesus to be with us: “Stay with us.” The celebration of the Eucharist – the breaking of the bread – is essential for us to recognise the Lord Jesus as the Risen Lord. It was this experience that gave them the strength to return to Jerusalem and give witness that Jesus is alive. The Eucharist makes the mission possible. After this eucharistic celebration, we are sent to our families and our working places to be witnesses of Jesus Christ.

DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY

II EASTER SUNDAY - John 20:19-31

Pope Saint John Paul II established the second Easter Sunday as the Divine Mercy Sunday. We are invited to celebrate God’s mercy in an attitude of thanksgiving, giving praise to God for his eternal mercy. His mercy is the paramount proof of his love. That’s why we repeat with the psalmist:

Let the sons of Israel say:

  ‘His love has no end.’

Let the sons of Aaron say:

  ‘His love has no end.’

Let those who fear the Lord say:

  ‘His love has no end.’ (Psalm 118)

In his first letter, Peter praises God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for his great mercy which has led him to accept us as his sons. This is a cause of great joy for us. We may go through hardships and suffering, and our faith may be put to the test, but this faith will lead us to the salvation of our souls.

God’s mercy is the fountain of the mercy we must exercise to our brothers. This mercy makes reconciliation possible. Jesus entrusted to his disciples the ministry of reconciliation (2 Co 5:18-19). In his gospel, John clearly presents Jesus entrusting to his disciples the power to forgive sins, that is, to exercise mercy. It is through them that, in the Church, we receive mercy. Then, as we ask for the forgiveness of sins, we must forgive all those who have injured us.

Jesus entrusted to the Church the mission he received from the Father: “As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.” To enable us to carry out this mission, he gave his disciples the Holy Spirit. It is in the power of the Spirit, poured upon the Church by Jesus Christ, that the ministry of reconciliation is exercised.

The first reading (Acts 2:42-47) and the gospel stress the importance of the Church as a community of believers. The bonds of love that establish the communion of the children of God demand our participation and our commitment to the community so that we may be, like the first Christians, “one heart and soul" (Acts 4:32). In the gospel, Thomas was absent from the Sunday assembly. That's why he could not make the experience of the encounter with the Risen Jesus Christ. Once he gathered with the other disciples, he recognised the Lord's presence and was able to profess his faith: “My Lord and my God!” This is our profession of faith as well. This is the profession of faith of the Church. With him we say: “My Lord and my God!”

CHRIST IS RISEN. ALELUIA!

EASTER SUNDAY - Acts 10:34, 37-43

Easter is the greatest feast in the Christian calendar. It comes from the Jewish Passover, in which the liberation from slavery was celebrated. On Easter Sunday, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who conquered death, defeating the slavery of sin, for us to become the beloved children of God. Thus, we are invited to die with Christ to rise with Him. 

On the first reading, taken from the Acts of the Apostles, while addressing Cornelius, Peter presents a summary of the great events surrounding Jesus Christ. According to Peter, everybody heard, and many saw what happened with Jesus. After John the Baptist, Jesus, being full of the Holy Spirit, “went about doing good and curing all who had fallen into the power of the devil”. And Peter stresses the fact that there were many witnesses of what Jesus said and did. However, despite his goodness, they killed Him on a cross; “yet three days afterwards God raised him to life and allowed him to be seen, not by the whole people but only by certain witnesses God had chosen beforehand.” Peter and his companions are the witnesses who had the privilege of having the experience of the Risen Lord. Indeed, “we have eaten and drunk with him after his resurrection from the dead.” From the Lord himself, they received the mandate “to proclaim this to his people and to tell them that God has appointed him to judge everyone, alive or dead.” Jesus is risen and has been constituted the judge of the living and the dead. As a consequence of his rising from the dead to be at the right hand of the Father, “all who believe in Jesus will have their sins forgiven through his name.”

With Peter, we give witness that Jesus is alive, being glorified and constituted the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings. He is the Saviour and Redeemer of humankind. Before him, all knees shall bow, and all tongues confess “that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Fil 2:11).

In his letter to the Colossians, Paul tells us that, if we die with Christ, “when Christ is revealed – and he is your life – you too will be revealed in all your glory with him.” For that to be true, Christ must become our model so that we “look for the things that are in heaven, where Christ is, sitting at God’s right hand. Let your thoughts be on heavenly things, not on the things that are on the earth.” (Col 3:1-4).