Sixth Sunday of Easter, May 22

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Dear Brothers and Sisters,

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Here we are six weeks after Easter Sunday. Next Sunday
we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord into Heaven and in
two Sundays we conclude the 50 days of the Easter Season
with Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit.
Traditionally, the Ascension of the Lord happened on the
40th day after the resurrection, Ascension Thursday. Now it
is transferred to the Sunday after the Thursday. Remember
the 40 days of Lent, enough time to accomplish something.
How well did those 40 days go? Were you lead through
“Compunction?” Were you able to deflate yourself of your
over-inflated ego? Were you able to grow in discipline,
master your passions, and grow in holiness? Was Easter
Sunday a true day of resurrection, being born-again, and
renewed in your baptismal calling? Now, how well have
you been paying attention to the teachings of Jesus in our
Gospel readings each week and learning from the apostles
from our on-going reading from the Acts of the Apostles.
The infant Church reminds us what we are called to today.
The on-going second reading from the Book of Revelation
has presented to us the Heaven reality as we participate in it
here on earth as the Church. So now, our faith is put to the
test. Remember that Jesus told us last week, “As I have
loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how
all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for
one another.” So God has chosen to leave it up to us to give
witness to Him so others will know Him and love Him.
Our lives are to be a visible witness. But we are not alone
in this. Jesus, today, tells us that “The Advocate, the Holy
Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach
you everything and remind you of all that I told you. Peace
I leave you… “ So, how well are you a learner of Jesus?
For that is what a disciple is, a learner of the teacher. To be
reminded of what we have learned is why the Father sent
the Holy Spirit. When we live out what Jesus has taught,
and lead others to do the same, then we will have a peace
that the world can never give us. This peace is the surety
that what we do is what Christ does, and we are at peace
with that no matter what it takes to do it and no matter how
someone would reject it. The world that we live in has
confused many of the Natural Order and the Moral Order.
But there is no confusion in these two orders when you
keep God’s word. This will be re-enforce for us by the
Holy Spirit. So, Shout out your you and let the world see
your gladness, for the Lord is with us. He loves us and has
promised to stay with us till the end. So don’t be afraid or
let your heart become troubled, the madness and the
confusion is dispelled when we are the learners of Jesus.
We are the Church, the bride that Jesus has made us to be.
 

St. Joseph, patron of the Universal Church, a patron of our
Parish, Pray for us.

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Fr. Steven Guitron,

Pastor