Feast of the Pentecost

FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

The First Reading and the Gospel of today agree on the fact that the arrival of the Holy Spirit set the fearful disciples on the path of mission. Today’s liturgy is based on the tradition described by Luke in the Acts of the Apostles that Jesus continued to appear to his disciples for several weeks after his resurrection. There are alternative traditions in the other Gospels that the ascension took place on the same day as the resurrection. Today we come to celebrate that important event in the early Church that changed the timid disciples to enthusiastic promoters of Jesus’ life and message. God gives us His Spirit to strengthen us and also to motivate us in our lives. We have received this gift at our baptism and we do not lack this gift as we continue to live our lives. Does the Spirit motivate us?

Liturgical materials for the Feast of the Pentecost.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ztXqhHauHRs0BFrCZ9arpEVmeyl6TSri?usp=share_link

Feast of Ascension

RETURNING TO GLORY

Dear brothers and sisters, today the Church celebrates the Ascension of Our Lord. The first-born of the new creation is gloriously returning to the Father. And all of us his brothers and sisters are destined to follow him in the glory of the Father. We do not have a permanent city here on earth. With the Ascension of Jesus, we also belong to heaven. But how very often we lose sight of our heavenly inheritance! How carelessly we conduct our lives as though we belonged totally to this world! Let us humbly ask the Lord to pardon for all our sins and especially for our undue attachment to the things of this world.

Liturgical materials for the Feast of Ascension of our Lord.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1sYNY4KPf882XyiESeDsA2oR9JZ4dZkOr?usp=share_link

6th Sunday of Easter

ANOTHER HELPER

If a child is born in a Catholic family, the child is Catholic. The parents will baptize the child at a very young age thereby ensuring that the child grows under the power and influence of the Holy Spirit. The child’s family and the Church and its institutions will help the child to further advance in faith. This is the dynamic that is taking place in the life of a believer in Christ. But the fact is that the believer has to do something more to advance in the faith that he/she has received. Our parents, teachers and Church personnel help us in this process. But the ultimate source and power behind our faith is Jesus himself. Jesus makes it very clear in Today’s Gospel passage. In his long exhortation at the Last Supper, Jesus promises to send them the Paraclete who will represent Jesus himself. He will not leave his disciples desolate or abandoned because by dwelling in the person and working along with him/her he will take the person’s life forward. This is the awareness that we need in order to grow in our faith. Of course, above all else, there is the towering presence of the Father who sees everything.

Liturgical materials for Sixth Sunday of Easter.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1SI3EMc8N02wGnIHyx24OmZkx28vY-GZl?usp=share_link

5th Sunday of Easter

APPOINTED TO SERVE

The Christian community in its initial days lived in peace and harmony albeit the isolated events of corruption and deceit as in the case of Ananias and Sapphira. As it happens in any community where people live and interact, there will be issues regarding day-to-day living. The First Reading of today throws light on a problem and shows how the apostles dealt with it. The problem began when a group of women started complaining about the daily allocation of food. The apostles found a way to tackle it. They appointed a group of men to take care of it while they themselves would devote to the building up of the community through prayer and exhortations. Having lived with Jesus and experienced his acumen in dealing with problems, the apostles have now become able administrators of the community. What is our experience of Jesus?

Liturgical materials for the Fifth Sunday of Easter.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1NkyWD-twLQ0dwoqIBvRd9j4_vy2YZZA3?usp=share_link