Second Sunday of Easter

Posted on by Cassie

The appearance of the risen Jesus moves the disciples from a state of fear locked behind closed doors to an experience of joy and wonderment.  The Lord’s greeting, “Peace be you,” was a common Hebrew greeting.  Yet hearing those words on the lips of the one who suffered and died, and now stands among them, gave them a new richness.  Peace (in Hebrew, shalom) is not just the absence of conflict; it is an experience of deep confidence that dispels fear and is full of hope.  As Jesus showed them the wounds in His hands and His side, they knew that the risen one was truly their beloved master who died on the cross.

The mandate Jesus gives His disciples is a summary of His life and ours: “as the  Father has sent me, so I send you”.  As the word of God, Jesus revealed the Father for all to see—through His teachings, His healing signs, and finally His total self-gift on the cross.  Now Jesus sends us, His disciples, on that same mission.  We are to be to the world what Jesus has been to the world.  We are to embody the Fathers love, to teach and heal, to comfort and bring peace, to love as Jesus loved.

Jesus enlivened and empowered His disciples as he breathed on them and said “Receive the Holy Spirit”.  Much as the Creator breathed life into the first human being, Jesus breathed His Spirit into God’s new creation, the community of disciples empowered to forgive, heal, teach and love.

God Bless

Msgr. Powell

Pentecost Sunday

Posted on by Patrick Leyden

The apostles were frightened in the upper room.  They heard from Peter and John about the empty tomb, but they were afraid.  We are a bit like them as we believe in the resurrection but still often feel intimidated by difficulties and opposition.  Now Jesus reveals Himself to His disciples and their fear melts away in joy.  Jesus’ gift of peace to them was not for themselves only.  Peace is the effect of Jesus’ presence in the Church, His lasting peace to us.

In the beginning of human existence, God breathed into Adam.  By blowing on His followers, the risen Jesus now signals the beginning of a new human existence.  A new way of being human has come into existence in Him, for He is the  Word of God become human; in Him, human nature has  been renewed by being united to God.  Jesus Himself is human life made new.  Through His death, resurrection and ascension, He now draws us into His divinely renewed human existence.  He breathes on His disciples: He gives them the Spirit of God.

The disciples expected resurrection and a new creation at the end of time.  Now they see Jesus already risen, and they themselves begin to experience  a new creation.  The wind that will blow in the new heavens and new earth already begins to gust in their minds and hearts.  Through them Jesus will now continue His mission of bringing reconciliation with God to people everywhere.

We are called to be disciples of Jesus.  We have received the Holy Spirit at Baptism, Confirmation, and every time  we receive Holy Eucharist.  May Jesus breath the Spirit of God once again on Pentecost Sunday.  May the breath of God help us to bring the fire of God’s love to all we meet this day and everyday.

God Bless

Msgr. Powell