Ascension Sunday (A)

(Edited) Sunday reflections: (From) Years 2014 (A), 2015 (B), and 2016 (C)

June 1, 2014
Liturgical readings
Acts 1:1-11
Psalm 47
Ephesians 1:17-23
Matthew 28:16-20

Know that the Lord is with us always, until the end of the world.

At the very end of Matthew's gospel, God in His word consoles all the faithful: "Know that I am with you always until the end of the world". These are words of encouragement not only for the apostles, but for all the members of Christ's Body, the Church. The Lord promises His presence to all the baptized, that His responsibility of building the kingdom may be continued and extended. God has given, is giving, and will give all that is needed for each baptized individual to fulfill his respective responsibility in life. Most of all, He has encouraged each one now to make known the gospel message - in word and by deed.

The Catechism (cf #669) establishes the basic truth that Christ is the head of the Church, and we are members of His Body. We are members of His Body who will continue to accomplish the mission He began in His earthly life. It is by virtue of our baptismal consecration that we are called to share in the Church's mission to extend God's Kingdom to those who are in most need of it. God's kingdom is a kingdom of peace, of joy, of charity, and of bringing all men and women to the fullness of life with Christ.

As many seasoned Catholics know, to extend this Kingdom of God takes much of life. To extend God's Kingdom is to live the gospel values first, before that life can be a credible witness to the life-giving power of God. The Scripture (in the Acts of the Apostles) describes the difficulties of Jesus' followers in building God's kingdom. But they were not alone in this; and so are we now. The Lord is with us always, until the end of the world. We can live evangelically anywhere we reside, or go - even in the heart of the city. Each one can witness to life of Christ by being a positive influence to others. God continues to believe in us. And so should we, that others too may believe in Him.

Scripture quotes for reflection:
God mounts his throne amidst shouts of joy; the Lord amid trumpet blasts (Psalm 47)

Memorial of Saints (May 15)

St. Isidore was employed as a laborer in a farm outside of Madrid, Spain. He married, and had a son who died at an early age. After the death of his son, he and his wife decided to practice the virtue of chastity and continence. Isidore continued to work in the fields, but spent the mornings in prayer at church - causing him to be late at work. When the master of the land in which he worked, tried to find out why he was late, the master saw from a distance saw St. Isidore arriving late but with angels by his side. Many more miracles were attributed to St. Isidore the Farmer (died ca. 1130 A.D.).

St. Torquatus was one of the seven missionaries sent out by Sts. Peter and Paul to evangelize Spain. His six companions were: Caecilius, Ctesiphon, Euphrasius, Hesychius, Indaletius, and Secundius. Each of these seven evangelized each a region in Spain, with Torquatus having great success at Guadix, Granada. All seven died as martyrs in the 1st century.

St. Isidore of Chios was an officer in the army of Emperor Decius, and was with the fleet that went to Chios, in Greece. The commander of the fleet, Numerius, learned of Isidore's Christian faith. Isidore was arrested, tortured and then beheaded when he refused to renounce his faith. His body was thrown into a well at Chios - a well which became famous for its miracles of healing (died ca. 251 A.D.).

St. Hilary of Galatea was attracted to religious life at the young age of 12. Years past and he decided to leave home to build a hermitage. This hermitage grew to become the Galatea Monastery. He became its abbot. When the Goths invaded their land, Hilary convinced Theodoric (leader of the Goths) not to destroy his monastery. Hilary also convinced Theodoric to grant him additional land for his mission (died ca. 558 A.D.).

St. Dympna fled home upon the death of her mother, and went to Antwerp together with her confessor St. Gerebernus. With two other companions, they built an oratory at Gheel, near Amsterdam, where they lived as hermits. Since Dympna's father was a pagan Celtic chieftain, he had his daughter tracked down. When her father found them, he had her companions killed and Dympna was beheaded by her own father. During the 13th century, discovery of their tombs led to reports of healing miracles - most of which were the healing of epileptics and those mentally ill (died ca. 650 A.D.).

St. Bertha owned extensive properties along the Rhine. After her husband was killed in battle, she devoted to raising her son Rupert as a Christian. With her wealth and political influence, she founded several hospices for the poor. St. Bertha then gave their possessions to the poor and together with her son Rupert, became hermits near Bingen, Germany. St. Rupert died at 20 years of age, while St. Bertha spent the remaining years of her life there (died ca. 840 A.D.).

St. Hallvard was a Norwegian trader in the Baltic islands. A woman, who was accused of theft, sought sanctuary in Hallvard's ship. Hallvard tried to defend the woman, but he was killed together with the woman, with arrows from her accusers. The accusers attached a stone to his body and threw it into the sea. Miraculously, St. Hallvard's body floated to the surface. This story became widespread, and Hallvard had since then been revered as a martyr and a patron saint of Oslo, Norway (died ca. 1043 A.D.).

St. Isaias of Rostov became a monk at the Monastery of the Caves near Kiev, Ukraine. In 1062 A.D., he was named abbot of St. Demetrius in Kiev. In 1077 A.D., he became bishop of Rostov. He then started the extensive work of converting the pagans of his diocese. St. Isaias is well known for his preaching ability and for working miracles (died ca. 1090 A.D.).

St. Peter of Lampsacus was arrested during Emperor Decius' persecution of the Christians. When he was ordered to sacrifice to the pagan goddess Venus, St. Peter refused. For this refusal, he was tortured and beheaded at Troas, Cyzigus. Also arrested with Peter were Andrew, Niomachus and Paul. Sts. Andrew and Paul were tortured and then stoned to death. Niomachus on the other hand apostasized under torture. 16 year old St. Dionysia saw how Niomachus apostasized and denounced him. The authorities got hold of this 16 year old girl and had her beheaded also (died ca. 251 A.D.).

6th Sunday of Easter (A)

(Edited) Sunday reflections: (From) Years 2014 (A), 2015 (B), and 2016 (C)

May 25, 2014

Liturgical readings

Acts 8:5-8, 14-17

Psalm 66

1 Peter 3:15-18

John 14:15-21

The Lord will not leave us orphaned.

Christ's death in the eyes of His followers made all the apostles and disciples feel discouraged and orphaned. They have experienced the loss of a leader responsible for what they have learned. However, the Resurrection event and the ensuing resurrection appearances gradually brought their courage and faith back. Christ Jesus performed many Risen appearances before ascending into heaven. With His earthly ministry completed, it was now time for His followers to go forth and continue His mission. Since Christ Jesus wanted the apostles to continue building the Kingdom, He did not leave them on their own. He promised the Holy Spirit - the Spirit of truth who will unite all His followers into one Body, the Church.

God has sent his Son Jesus that all may be one community in His name. Jesus is the bond of unity that gathers into one all who believe in Him. This truth is well expressed by St. Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 A.D.), in one of his commentaries for the Easter season (as can be found in the Breviary - Office of Readings, Non-Biblical Readings):

Christ is the bond of unity. If, in Christ, all of us, both ourselves

and he who is within us by his own flesh, are members of the same body,

is it not clear that we are one, both with one another and with Christ?

He is the bond that unites us, because he is at once both God and man.

St. Cyril of Jerusalem refers to Christ as the bond of unity in the Church, and through her Sacraments and mission. It is especially in the Eucharist where Jesus is "within us by his own flesh" and makes us "one, both with one another and with him".

Christ Jesus has not left orphaned all those who followed Him since the time of the apostles, and as the early Church was formed and grew in numbers. He continues to be with the Church in the present times. Christ lives in us as His will is done in every corner of the world. When His faithful members receive His body and blood, He truly becomes God-with-us until the end of time. The faithful become bonded to one another by His body and blood. It is the task now of every Christian to share the Lord and His gospel to all who experienced abandonment in its many forms. By His presence in every speech and work, many will know that God is always near and never ceases to provide for all.

Scripture quote from the Readings:

"Venerate the Lord, that is, Christ, in your hearts." (1 Peter)