Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter
Today’s readings are pretty intense for significantly different reasons. On one hand, there is the persecution, imprisonment, and liberation of Paul and Silas. On the other hand, there is Christ’s departure and assurance to his disciples. Both attest to the power and presence of God in times of trouble and uncertainty.
Memorial of Saint Philip Neri, Priest
When I was growing up I knew a woman who came to our house to help my mother clean once a week. Her name was Shirley and we all loved her. Shirley always lived on the edge of poverty. She did not have a car and relied on the bus for transportation. She was a single mother providing for four children and faced many serious challenges while they were growing up. But Shirley had a way about her that I had never seen in anyone before. She was always happy, full of joy, and had a radiance that filled the room. “As clear, transparent substances become very bright when sunlight falls on them and shine with a new radiance, so also souls in whom the Spirit dwells, and who are enlightened by the Spirit, become spiritual themselves and a source of grace for others.” This is a quote by St Basil the Great and explains exactly what it was about Shirley that so attracted me to her. She was full of the Holy Spirit. It was nothing specific that she said or did but I knew she loved Jesus with all her heart and her radiance was because of the Spirit of Love. Her very presence was a powerful testament to the Risen Lord and the power of the Holy Spirit
Sixth Sunday of Easter
During the early years of my spiritual journey, I used a very simple analogy to help me grow in my God-experience. I would often think my heart as my house. Like every other home, I would think of my heart as having a living room, a dining, a kitchen, bedrooms, a basement and even an attic. And in each of these rooms were closets where I stored things and sometimes even hide things that I did not want other people to see or know about. Talking about my heart as my house, it was easy to let Jesus into my living room and I would be happy if he just stayed there. But initially I had restrictions. It was as if I was saying, “Lord, please do not come into my bedroom. It is not always made up and clean. And for heaven’s sake, do not open the closets. You do not want to see the thing I collect. Of all things, do not turn on the channels on TV that I turn on, do not look around the room, or lift the mattress to see what is underneath.” It was as if the Lord and I could live under one roof but lead pretty independent lives. But sooner than later I realized that I couldn’t do that. Can’t mess with Jesus! Gradually I let him into my bedroom, into all the closets of my life. Felt much better because my life was much cleaner. But the Lord seemed dissatisfied even with that. “Lord what more can I do? Is there something more?” There came a day when I wrote my house to his name. My house, my home, my heart, my life was no longer mine but the Lord’s. This analogy helped me take my relationship with God to the next level.
Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter
“How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop?” That is a question we are familiar with, but I want to ask “How many reflections can one draw from one passage?” My guess; far more than the number of licks it takes. That is what I want to do today, I want to provide three mini-reflections; reflection pops, if you will. All three are brought together in how we view others, ourselves, and both together. Also, all three come from our first reading from Acts.
Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter
“I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete” (Jn. 15:11). We hear this verse from John’s gospel today and we must admit an earthly truth – we are not complete on our own. We are not enough by ourselves. We need friends, family and the support of others. We need God in our lives.
Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter
Spring is now in full bloom and summer is around the bend. Watching the new growth appear has been awesome, but it feels like in the blink of an eye this new growth that given way to an over-abundance of uncontrolled growth. So it seems that it is time to trim the bushes even earlier than usual. I trim them now so that new growth does not go uncontrolled, but ultimately the pruning will call forth new life. We see this also in the flowers like geraniums that we must dead-head in order to have more flowers come forth.
Tuesday of Fifth Week of Easter
We often think of peace as the absence of something negative. For instance, peace can be the absence of stress, the absence of anger, and especially the absence of violence. All of these forms of peace are important and true. The world would certainly be better off if there was more of it. At the same time, none of these are the full measure of Christian peace, precisely because they defined by absence. Christian peace is a positive peace. It is a full, active, and transformed peace accomplished in and through Christ. More than absence, it is a peace of presence. Today’s readings help us understand peace positively.
Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter
I teach junior high students religious education at our church. Because these young people are entering a stage in their lives where they are beginning to become reflective and inquisitive, our discussions can sometimes be very lively. At one point, they questioned me to help them grasp what we mean when we say we believe in the Holy Trinity. Although I tried to use words as best I could to help them better understand, in the end I said that the Trinity was beyond our human understanding- it was a mystery.
Fifth Sunday of Easter
Twice in my life that I have made major moves - in 1983, I left home to join the seminary and then in 1999, I left India for Europe and then the United States. Like most of you, I am an adventurist. I love new places, tasting exotic foods and I welcome new experiences. Most of the time, though, my new experiences end up being bitter-sweet. Sweet because I enjoy every new experience; bitter because I want my family to experience what I experience. I clearly remember standing under the Eiffel Tower at the turn of the millennium. It was the most electrifying moment. When the Eiffel Tower broke out into the most spectacular fireworks, I called home from a pay phone. And I remember saying to mom and dad, “I wish you were here with me.” It was the same when I visited New York City. I stood night in the middle of Times Square and called home from a pay phone. And I promised them that one day, I would bring them here to see what I am seeing. I delivered on my promise. My parents have been to the United States not once but twice. And I took them from New York, to DC to Philadelphia to Florida. On the one hand, it was about seeing places they have only seen in books and magazines. On the other hand, it is about being together with them in the same place. Similarly, when mom and dad visited places in India and Europe that I have not visited, they would always say to me, “I wish you were here with us.”
Saturday of the Fourth Week of Easter
“The disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.” This is the closing line of today’s first reading. It is optimistic and uplifting. Thinking back on the days that I’ve been filled with joy, I can recall my wedding, the day Ignatius was born, the day my godson was baptized, and a number of other special occasions. My list of joy filled days includes achievements, milestones, and celebrations. My list, however, does not include rejection, persecution, failure, and expulsion from region I was trying to help. So what provided joy despite the circumstances for the disciples? I want to propose three things that that might allow us to face seeming failures with joy and grace.
Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter
Thursday of the Fourth Week of Easter
In the last four weeks since Easter, we have been following the story of the early Church. Recent readings have emphasized the importance of the inclusion of the Gentiles. But today we hear Paul preaching in a synagogue at the invitation of local synagogue officials. How interesting! Christianity was now unambiguously open to Gentiles in the eyes of the early Church, and yet, Paul had not given up on sharing the message of the Jewish Messiah with the Jews. Moreover, Paul and companions remained comfortable in the synagogue, which had been their place of prayer for their entire lives.
Feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle
The NFL football draft just happened this past week. Players and spectators are on pins and needles as they await who will be picked next. In today’s reading the Apostles are having a draft of their own. Imagine being Barsabbas or Matthias waiting to see which will be chosen. Do they want this job? Are they excited or are they terrified?
Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Easter
There is an interesting tension in today’s readings. One on hand, we see the power of the Gospel to transcend vast differences. On the other hand, we see the rejection its truth regardless of how many times it is spoken. We certainly live in troubled times. Truthful Words and deeds from faithful men and women are often met with skepticism, even their truthfulness seems plainly clear. Today’s readings challenge us to rejoice in the Gospel when we encounter it with openness and grace.
Monday of the 4th Week of Easter
Yesterday was Good Shepherd Sunday and today’s Gospel is a continuation of that particular discourse in the Gospel of John. While reading this along with the first reading from Acts I kept thinking about how inclusiveness is such a foundational element of Jesus’ life and mission. When I reflect on how I can live out this particular element of Christian discipleship I am overwhelmed by all the opportunities I have each day to be inclusive of others and, at the same time, convicted by how many of those God given opportunities I allow to pass me by.
Fourth Sunday of Easter & Mother's Day
Most of you know that recently I had a surgery. I received much love from parishioners and friends during this time. But there was one person who suffered my pain with me – my mother. Being far away from Dayton and unable to see me or care for me during my recovery was devastatingly painful for her. The day before the surgery, she reminded me of an incident when I first left home to enter the seminary. I was barely seventeen. Leaving home to go the seminary was the most difficult call I answered. This decision was even more difficult because I would not see my family for two long years. My mother and I suffered the most. My mother was very proud and supportive of my decision but it was as if her son was being snatched away from her. My parents came with me to Bangalore (about 850 miles my home) to drop me off. They stayed with me a few days and then the day came for them to return home. I think this was the most difficult day of our lives. That morning we attended mass at the chapel in the seminary. When everybody had left the chapel, my dad, mom and I remained in the chapel. We were all choking. I guess each of us was still pondering what all this meant. Hanging on the wall of the chapel was a picture of the Mother of Perpetual Help. The legend behind the picture is that as a little child, Jesus had a vision of his impending passion and death. In fear he ran into his mother who picked him up to console him. In the picture, this is symbolized by Jesus’ falling sandals. Perhaps my mother sensed my apprehensions. She took me in front of the picture of the Mother of Perpetual Help. We stood there is stunned silence. None of us could say a word without bursting into tears. And then, gathering the courage only a mother can, she said to me, “Thus far I have been your mother.” And then pointing to Mary she said, “From now on, SHE is your mother.” The day before my surgery, she entrusted me to Mary one more time.
Saturday of the Third Week of Easter
Four weeks ago, my best friend Ryan Mahle covered my Saturday reflection for me because my wife and I were at the hospital having our son, Ignatius. Now, I get to cover for Ryan as he and his wife come home from the hospital with their second son, Isaac. So now is a fitting time to reflect on today’s gospel and an important lesson that Ryan has taught me. He reached out to me with a view of Christian brotherhood that I had never encountered. His attitude conveyed to me the challenge of the Christian life, and that is what I want to spend time on today. That challenge is captured in today’s gospel and I want to examine it from three questions that appear in John.
Friday of the Third Week of Easter
“What IS the Good News, anyway?” This is a question that I first asked years ago, when I had some doubts about whether Christianity could be true. I wondered, back then: "What could the Good News possibly have to do with me 2000 years later?" Christians see Easter as very good, because of the resurrection – but this good news does require us to pause and consider how the resurrection of Jesus’ body might relate to us, in our world. Today’s readings help us do just that – take time to pause and reflect on the resurrection and its meaning for us today.
Thursday of the Third Week of Easter
The New Testament reading about Philip’s encounter with the eunuch is a story that we can all relate to. In this reading there are four important parts: First, Philip is nudged by the Holy Spirit to go and share his faith. Then Philip listens to this nudging and approaches the man. Philip shares all that he knows and believes. Finally, both Philip and the eunuch’s lives were changed by this encounter.
Wednesday of the Third Week of Easter
During the Easter season, the most joyous season of the Church year, there are still funerals. Though the church is decorated with flowers, and other reminders of Easter joy, we know of those who are suffering. Many in the pews are in the midst of facing the loss of a job, or struggling through the pain of a shattered friendship, or even journeying with a loved one who is near death. Sometimes the joy of the resurrection is more difficult to encounter when times get tough.