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Weekend Masses
Saturday, May 19: 5 p.m.
Sunday, May 20: 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m.
Monday, Tuesday & Thursday:
8 a.m.
Wednesday: 7 p.m.
Communion Service*
Friday & Saturday: 8 a.m.
*Subject to change
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| The Word from Father Mark
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Entries for 'mcook'
The Ascension of the Lord 40 days after Easter is a moment of departure and of new beginnings. After experiencing a time of fullness with the Risen Lord, the disciples must now say goodbye. Letting go of the Lord must have brought a sense of sadness and disorientation. They gaze into the sky. The angel asks: “Why do you stand and look?” The next days will be a time of transition as they await the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. It is also a reminder that this world is not all we are made for.
One of the most beautiful childhood memories I have is of the annual May devotions we shared at Sacred Heart Church in Lawrenceburg. As children we delighted in singing the popular Marian songs like “On This Day—On this day, O beautiful Mother, on this day we give you our love, near you Madonna fondly we hover…” and “Bring Flowers of the Fairest—from garden and woodland and hillside and vale…O Mary we crown you with blossoms today, Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May…” Mary, the Mother of Jesus, is our mother, too, “the loveliest Rose of the Vale.”
Jesus, as the Son of God who took on our humanity, is the great model of all prayer. The Catechism of the Catholic Church notes he “learned to pray according to his human heart … He learns … from his mother … He learns to pray in the words and rhythms of the prayer of his people, in the synagogue at Nazareth and the Temple in Jerusalem.” (CCC 2599) The prayer of Jesus also emerges from a deeper place. It ‘‘springs from an otherwise secret source,” which is the eternal relationship of Son to Father, something our tradition speaks of as “filial prayer.”
The Book of Psalms truly gives us an open window into our relationship with God. They are the prayers of God’s people, par excellence, but “embrace all creation” as the Catechism of the Catholic Church notes (CCC 2586). The Psalms of the Old Testament are a “masterwork of prayer” that nourishes and expresses the faith of God’s people. They are profoundly personal and yet communal.
The story of Elijah, the “father of prophets,” at the Mountain of God has much to teach us about prayer. Elijah has gone to be alone with God on the mountain (and we very often need such solitude to meet God) when God reveals himself to the prophet. There is a strong driving wind, a mighty fire and an earthquake but God is to be found in none of these. It is only afterward, in the “tiny whispering sound” or as an old translation called it, “a still, small voice” that Elijah meets God.
David, the shepherd boy, who would become a king after God’s own heart, has much to teach us of prayer. The Psalms of the Old Testament are attributed to David because of his unashamed praise of God. Though David has his own weakness and sinfulness (think of his affair with a married woman and his murder of her husband!) yet he truly repents in sorrow for his sin. One of the great moments of prayer is the way David “dances with abandon” before the presence of the Lord in the Ark of the Covenant.
The silence of Good Friday and the rest of Holy Saturday give way to the Resurrection. Christ is Risen as he said, alleluia, alleluia! By the power of the Spirit, the Father has raised his Son from death. No mortal witnesses the resurrection of the Son of God. Yet it is the women who discover his empty tomb. They who had watched him crucified and buried receive the angelic proclamation: “Why do you seek the living one among the dead? He is not here, he has been raised up!”
The hands that touched the sick and fed the hungry, that washed the feet of the disciples, are now pierced with nails. The feet that carried glad tidings have been opened. Jesus, Son of God, is nailed to the wood of the cross. He dies after six hours of agony, crying “My God, My God why have you forsaken me?” Yet he gives himself completely for us in that final moment.
Perhaps the greatest “man of prayer” in the Old Testament is Moses who the Scriptures tell us met God “face to face” as one friend speaks to another, even though “one may not see the face of God and live!” What unparalleled intimacy with God. After being with God on the mountain, Moses would have to “veil his face” because of the brightness of the reflected glory of God!
In the Book of Genesis we hear of a couple of mysterious encounters that Jacob has during the night. In one such encounter he experiences the presence of a mysterious “ladder” between heaven and earth with the angels of God ascending and descending. This reminds us that prayer is a “link” as it were between heaven and earth, often surrounded by great mystery.
Abraham is often called our “father in faith” and stands at the beginning of the three great religions of the West: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. All of these acknowledge the One Merciful God who is the Creator of all. Abraham is a model of faith and prayer, first of all in action. When he is called by God to begin a journey to a “land that I will show you” he trusts God and obeys.
After the first humans have broken away from God and are hiding in the garden in fear, God takes the initiative in reaching out to them. “Where are you? ...What is this you have done?” This is “God’s sorrowful call to his first children.” (CCC 2568) Since then God has never ceased to reach out to us, especially when we are feeling estranged from God, when we find ourselves alone and afraid.
As we begin the Lenten journey we walk with Christ into his temptation in the wilderness. We experience temptation on many levels in life: temptations of flesh, world and spirit. Jesus was tempted in every way that we are, yet never sinned. In our union with Christ, we too are victorious.
We begin the journey of Lent this Wednesday, February 22nd, with the celebration of Ash Wednesday. The words we hear as we receive ashes are: “Remember that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return.” It is a reminder of our mortality. We will not live forever.
Abraham Joshua Heschel, the distinguished Jewish scholar of the 20th century, wrote a beautiful book entitled God in Search of Man in which he reminds us that God first and foremost begins the great search for humanity even before we begin our search for God. There is in the depths of our being what has been called a “God-shaped hole” which we try to fill with many different things throughout our lives.
Prayer is an “encounter” with the God who created us, a sometimes unexpected “meeting” with the One who loves us from the first moment of our conception all the days of our lives. The beautiful scene of Jesus sitting down in the heat of the day, tired from his journey, waiting at the well of Jacob speaks eloquently about the life of prayer.
Prayer is first and foremost a gift from God. It requires on our part a willingness to recognize our own need for God and for his help. Many years ago I heard someone quoting St. Augustine to the effect that “God desires to give us so many good things, but the problem is our hands are already full so we can’t receive what God wants to give us!”
As disciples we know that prayer is at the heart of the Christian life, yet very often we don’t take time to be alone with God. St. Ignatius of Antioch on his way to face death for Christ noted that he was still a “beginner” in the Christian life! In some ways we are all still beginners in the life of prayer. This should give us some encouragement.
Prayer and meditation often seem to be mysterious things. But in essence, prayer and meditation are simply taking time to be with God. A good way to begin each day is with prayer, something that used to be called the “morning offering.”
As we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany today, we are reminded of the great generosity of the Magi who brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the Christ child. Each gift was an expression of the gift of self which they offered to Christ the Lord.
As we gather to celebrate the season of Christmas, the words of the Prefaces of our Eucharistic Prayers from the former Sacramentary have much to say about the deeper beauty and meaning of this celebration.
The Twenty-fifth Day of December,
when ages beyond number had run their course from the creation of the world,
when God in the beginning created heaven and earth,
and formed man in his own likeness;
when century upon century had passed
since the Almighty set his bow in the clouds after the Great Flood,
as a sign of covenant and peace ...
As we ponder moments in our own life when an announcement brought us great joy, we might have some idea of the joy Mary felt when the angel, Gabriel, appeared to her. Think of when we have received good news...
Our ancestors in Northern Europe found this time of year to be a very dark and difficult time. The days would grow markedly colder and shorter and the rains would turn the primitive wagon roads to mud. Travel was often ruled out until the arrival of spring. So our ancestors did something very interesting ...
When the newly consecrated Body of the Lord is lifted up at the altar before communion we will now hear the words: “Behold the Lamb of God…blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.” We will respond: “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof…”
During the Eucharistic Prayer the presider at Liturgy repeats the words of Christ uttered at the Last Supper as the elements of bread and wine are consecrated to become the Body and Blood of Christ. Instead of “Then he took the cup…” we will now hear the word “chalice” which is from the Latin word for cup.
“Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again” is one of the strongest and most memorable statements of our faith and expresses a core belief of Christian faith. It will not be among the new acclamations of faith during the Eucharistic Prayer because it is not a prayer addressed to Christ, but a statement about him.
Other changes in the Creed many of us will notice focus on the person of Jesus. We will soon say “begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father.” Formerly we said “one in being” with the Father.
The new translation of the Creed has many slight changes, but there are a few changes that will probably stand out the most. Instead of saying “We believe” we will be saying “I believe.” The origin of the Profession of Faith or Creed has its roots in the baptismal Liturgy ...
The Gloria originally became part of the Liturgy during the celebration of Christmas in the city of Rome. Later it spread throughout the world and is now used on Sundays and solemnities throughout the year, except during the seasons of Advent and Lent. The new translation, given below, will be experienced here at St. Matthew ...
The new translation of the Confiteor has some modifications. We will now say “I have greatly sinned… through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault” rather than the simpler “I have sinned through my own fault.” This reflects the Latin text which is admittedly more poetic in language at this point than the English.
By now you may be wondering what the words will be in our new translation of the Mass. This week we begin the survey. The first change many will notice is the response we offer when the priest or deacon says: “The Lord be with you.” Like well-trained students, we automatically say “And also with you.” The new translation will be: “And with your spirit.”
When Pope John Paul II issued a Third Edition of the Roman Missal on April 10, 2000, we began a new chapter in the post-Vatican II Liturgy. The guidelines for translation into the many languages of the world were spelled out in 2001 and called for the use of “formal equivalency” when translating the Mass texts.
During the Second Vatican Council, when the Mass began to be translated into the many languages of the world from Latin, Pope Paul VI formed a Consilium to prepare for a new Roman Missal. It would be the first time in centuries that the Liturgy would be celebrated in the ordinary language of the people.
For those old enough to remember, the Second Vatican Council (1962-65) brought about the greatest changes in the way Catholics celebrate Liturgy in many centuries.
The earliest description of the Mass given about 150 AD by Justin Martyr has the same basic structure that we still follow today: the community gathers, hears the Word proclaimed, a presider prays the Eucharistic Prayer over the elements of bread and wine, the gathered faithful receive communion. They return to the world strengthened by the presence of Christ that they have received.
Preparing for the new translation of the Mass is a bit like experiencing a home renovation. Many things will feel a bit different, but a doorway is opened for new insights into the familiar home that is the Mass. It is important to remember what remains constant in the midst of the change.
As we prepare for a new English translation of the Mass, it is important to remember that while many of the words will be new, the great mystery that unfolds during the Eucharistic celebration remains the same. The great mysteries of our faith are always “ever ancient, ever new.”
This Fall we will be saying goodbye to a good friend that most of us have been familiar with for the past 40 years or so. That “good friend” has been the current translation of the Mass that many of us have grown up with. For those under 50 it is probably the only way we remember the Mass being celebrated. On November 27 we will have a new translation of most of the prayers that we pray at Mass.
Faith is a journey as much as it is a destination. In the journey of faith we take life one step at a time, one day at a time. Faith is like tending a garden. As long as we are alive there is still work to be done in us to become more like Christ.
I was once asked, “Would you rather be right, or would you rather have peace?” Sometimes I want so much to be right that I lose all peace of mind. One of the great challenges of the spiritual life is learning to “let go” of the need to be in control.
Trusting God in our daily life can be a frightening proposition, especially if we have lived our lives with the idea that we have to be in control and take care of ourselves. Sometimes our desire to be in control of our own life can become a very fearful and self-centered way of living. How ready and willing am I to let God truly guide and direct my life?
“…Nothing that enters a person from outside can make him impure…” but only “what emerges from within… wicked designs come from the deep recesses of the heart…fornication, theft, murder, adultery, greed, maliciousness, deceit, sensuality, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, an obtuse spirit…” (cf. Mark 7: 17-23) These words of Jesus remind us that we must tend very carefully to the garden of our hearts.
The original meaning of the 8th commandment: “Thou shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” applied principally to matters where one was called to testify in court (or at the city gate in ancient Israel). Truth telling in such a situation was critically important in determining the guilt and innocence of persons accused of a crime, and remains fundamental to this day.
Although all the earth belongs to the Lord and is given to us that we might be good stewards of creation in service to each other, we also recognize a fundamental right that each person has to their property. One may not take from another that which belongs to him or her. To steal is to violate the dignity of the human person.
When couples enter the sacrament of marriage, rarely do they ever expect that the outcome will one day end in a broken relationship, but too often these days relationships do in fact end in separation or divorce. This happens sometimes even though one or both of the spouses sincerely desires to make the marriage survive.
In the Old Testament the full meaning of the marriage covenant developed gradually over time. The early patriarchs and kings had multiple wives, but the bond of marriage was not something to be violated ...
The Ascension of the Lord 40 days after Easter is a moment of departure and of new beginnings. After experiencing a time of fullness with the Risen Lord, the disciples must now say goodbye. Letting go of the Lord must have brought a sense of sadness and disorientation ...
With the fourth commandment we move from our fundamental obligations to God toward our fundamental obligations to each other. It is the first commandment to involve a promise: “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which the Lord your God gives you.”
We can thank our Jewish ancestors for handing on the third commandment of Sabbath rest. “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy…” The scriptures remind us that in the great work of creation, God himself rested on the 7th day and thus made it holy.
The second commandment continues our reflection on our obligations to the God who created us. “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain…”
In the ancient world names were very important because they signified the reality that was named.
The first and pivotal commandment of the Covenant given on Mount Sinai is a strong reminder of the God to whom we belong. “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before me…”
The Decalogue, or Ten Commandments, of the Old Testament may be among the best known literature in the world. They may be found, with slight variations, in Exodus 20:2-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21. They have been seen by both Jews and Christians as great summations of the ethical obligations that God gave his people.
The silence of Good Friday and the rest of Holy Saturday give way to the Resurrection. Christ is Risen as he said, alleluia, alleluia! By the power of the Spirit, the Father has raised his Son from death. No mortal witnesses the resurrection of the Son of God. Yet it is the women who discover his empty tomb.
Chastity, as the catechism defines it, is about integrating our sexuality into the whole of our life. It is about the right balance, discovering and using the energy that God has given us in a way that is respectful of ourselves and others.
Some of us have thought it our job to control everyone and everything around us. Such an attitude often leads to frustration and resentment on our part (and irritation on the part of others!) In fact, I am invited to live as a person of self-control, graciously responding to the challenges life throws at me daily.
Modesty is perhaps one of the least valued virtues today. Society is telling us we need more and better and exalts those who “have made it” and are “at the top of their game.” “If we don’t toot our own horn, no one else will,” is the attitude of the modern world. How different is the way of the Son of God.
When the Lord reveals himself in the burning bush on Mount Sinai Moses wants to know God’s name. The reply is mysterious: “I am who I am” or “I will be who I will be.” Though God remains Awesome and Holy Mystery, he allows Moses to know he will be there for him and his people over the long haul ,,,
It was said of Moses that he was the “meekest” or gentlest man of all the earth. One of our beatitudes speaks of the meek or gentle, who shall inherit the earth. But it is in the face of Jesus himself that we meet true gentleness.
During my years at St. Ambrose College the rector of the seminary, Fr. Ed Dunn, was a man of remarkable generosity. I recall late one evening knocking on his door, needing someone to listen ...
I love the phrase “Good-bye” not because of the sadness of parting, but because of its deeper meaning. It comes from the old English phrase: “God be with you.” What a wonderful wish when we are leaving the presence of another... that God would be with them as we journey separately for a time. It reminds us ...
Sometimes it is the smallest and simplest acts of kindness that matter most in life. It is not that I show up to watch a child’s ballgame, but the gracefulness with which I am present for him or her when I am there ...
A good barometer of where I am today is when I get behind the wheel of my car. When I am in a hurry, I can find no peace in the present moment. Every other car becomes an obstacle in my way. Why is she taking so long? Why can’t he move faster? Such thoughts cloud my mind and I lose charity and thoughtfulness. Patience is the refreshing antidote.
In my home there is a beautiful image of Jesus stilling the storm. He ommands: “Peace! Be still!” Above the boat, the clouds are opening to a quiet stillness, the disciples hovering below. I have discovered that I have little control over the storms around me in life.
After many gray days in a row, when the sun makes its appearance, its warmth on our faces often brings smiles. Joy lived in the heart is contagious, and brings delight to the hearts of others. I have often recalled ...
As we ponder the meaning of life, what our purpose is, I am reminded of the famous quote of John F. Kennedy: “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” That small quote captures one of two directions our life can take.
As our journey continues this year looking at the “good life” (a life lived as God wills us to live it) we look more deeply into the fruits that flow from the action of the Holy Spirit in our life. The tradition of the church lists 12 fruits of the Holy Spirit ...
As I indicated some weeks ago, the “fear of the Lord” is one of those often misunderstood phrases in Scripture. Someone who has been abused as a child often carries a lifetime of insecurity and fear before any authority figure, and can have a hard time relating to God as God truly is. Such persons must be reminded of the words of Jesus ...
“Piety” is one of those old-fashioned words that are not often used in common speech today (unless you have made Cursillo!) Piety is closely related to the word “faith,” and it describes our total response to all that God has done for us in Christ.
January 1st marks the beginning of a New Year. My prayer is that this time of new beginnings will be marked by gratitude, peace, joyful service and faith. First, gratitude. For all that God has done for us, Deo gratias!
As we gather to celebrate the Feast of Christmas, the words of the Prefaces of our Eucharistic Prayers have much to say about the deeper beauty and meaning of this celebration.
The Hebrew word for knowing describes more than simply “head knowledge.” It is the word most often used to describe the intimate union of husband and wife in marriage. Adam knew Eve, and they gave birth to a son. When God’s people are oppressed in Egypt, Exodus tells us that God knew.
Often as I begin a new hike in a wilderness or park, I begin with great joy and enthusiasm. I am so excited at the beginning, I almost leap out the car and put my pack on. Especially if I have chosen a beautiful and challenging destination, I am eager to “hit the trail.” But often, once the first fervor has worn off, especially as the day drags into afternoon and I begin to tire, I begin to have doubts.
None of us are our own best advisors or counselors! A doctor who treats himself has a fool for a physician! This is because all of us have blind spots, and we find it very easy to rationalize and convince ourselves of what we really want or need in life!
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” the Scriptures often tell us. Such “fear” is not the craven fear or terror we feel when we are in some kind of danger, but a sense of “awe” and “reverence” before the God who is Holy...
The first traditional gift of the Holy Spirit is Wisdom. One definition of wisdom is to “know what the Lord wills.” This type of wisdom is not about having all the right facts (although correct information is essential in gaining moral clarity) but more about having the right intuitive knowledge of what God desires of us.
Socrates felt that the true cause of most human problems was due to “ignorance” or a lack of knowledge.” If only people understood what was truly right, then they would do it. My own experience is different. Sometimes I know the right thing, but have a hard time doing it.
As a young child, I preferred to read books, even at recess when others were busily playing. One day a group of classmates were having a blast playing in a newly raked pile of leaves, and kept calling for me to join them. Absorbed as I was in my reading, I resisted the call, but finally gave in.
Early one morning in the seminary, I walked into class a few minutes before it was to begin. My professor said with a sour disposition, “Beckman, you’re late!!!” I took my seat quietly.
It has been said that those of our generation are great multi-taskers (we can text, drive and eat a sandwich all at once, in addition to listening to our music!) Actually, this is a myth. Recent studies indicate that those who “multi-task” rarely do anything very well! Experience usually proves this so. So, it is not surprising that if our hearts are divided and we allow ourselves to be drawn in multiple directions at once, we never get very far down any particular path.
Two of the qualities most often used to describe God throughout the Old Testament are hesed and emet. My first Scripture professor described emet (often translated as “true”) as the kind of faithfulness or fidelity that true friends show. He described hesed (often translated as “mercy” or “steadfast love” or “graciousness”) as heartfelt mercy or tender compassion, the kind of tenderness a mother feels for her children.
We hunger for much in life, for food indeed, but also for affirmation, acceptance, love and so much more! One contemporary song notes “everybody’s got a hungry heart.” All these yearnings and desires point us deeper into the soul where there is a far deeper and more profound hunger.
Strength and power seem to be the goals of most people and nations. We admire those who have the ability to run big companies, officials who have established wealth, influence, and fame, the “stars” of this world! How different is the way of Jesus.
There is probably no pain quite like the emptiness in our hearts when someone who is dear to us dies. Our modern world doesn’t face death very well. We try to hide from it, from the aging process, and we often hide from those who are close to death.
“Living the good life” has many meanings in our contemporary world, but true goodness is the purpose for which all of us are created. As we enter the third year of Why Catholic? our focus this year in our small faith communities and for our Sunday adult faith formation program will turn to the third part of the catechism, “Life in Christ.”
“Honesty is such a lonely word… when everyone is so untrue,” the lyrics from a Billy Joel song (from the 70’s I think) sometimes occasionally echo through my mind. Most of us probably consider ourselves fairly honest people. After all, we don’t usually tell direct lies about important things, do we? But how honest am I really?
“Acceptance is the answer to all of my problems today.” It has been pointed out that whenever I find myself disturbed, irritable, resentful or unhappy it is because I find some reality in my life unacceptable.
We are called to be contemplatives in life. By this I am not suggesting that we abandon home and work and sneak off to a monastery or deserted place to find God (although occasional retreats can be wonderful … that’s a later topic) but a way of living life.
Mary, who from the first moment of her conception was kept free from sin, who had uttered her great “yes” and become the bearer of the Word of God made flesh, is now taken body and soul into the glory of heaven. She is the new Eve, bright as the morning star.
Pain and suffering are realities we usually seek to avoid, yet they are part of every human life. Although we should never inflict pain and suffering on another, and do what we can to alleviate them, all of us inevitably experience suffering in life.
I was once asked, “Would you rather be right, or would you rather have peace?” Sometimes I want so much to be right that I lose all peace of mind. One of the great challenges of the spiritual life is learning to “let go” of the need to be in control.
Gerald May in Will and Spirit writes about the difference between willfulness and willingness. When we are willful, we try to control reality. May points out that we are not open to the life of the Spirit in such a condition. Openness and willingness lead us to the place of surrender.
Some of the great barriers in growing spiritually are the hurts that happen in life, the harm done. A wise person once pointed out that learning to love others is a lot like learning to dance, and sometimes we step on each other’s toes in the process.
Paul once asked the Lord to remove a “thorn in the flesh” (we don’t know for sure what it was) that was causing great pain, but the Lord answered: “My grace is enough for you, for in weakness power reaches perfection…” So Paul became content with weakness for, as he says, “when I am powerless, it is then that I am strong.”
Faith is a journey as much as it is a destination. In the journey of faith we take life one step at a time, one day at a time. Faith is like tending a garden. As long as we are alive there is still work to be done in us to become more like Christ.
Trusting God in our daily life can be a frightening proposition, especially if we have lived our lives with the idea that we have to be in control and take care of ourselves. How ready and willing am I to let God truly guide and direct my life?
Prayer and meditation often seem to be mysterious things. But in essence, prayer and meditation are simply taking time to be with God. A good way to begin each day is with prayer, something that used to be called the “morning offering.” I take time to thank God for the start of the new day, ask his guidance today in my life, and offer myself to his service today.
Sometimes the picture of life and others that I have is very distorted by the chaos inside my own head and heart. When I am consumed with fear, hurt, anger, resentment, jealousy, envy, or any other dark emotion, I find little peace with myself ... I am gently reminded that it’s time for me to look inside and do a little “spring cleaning” in my own heart.
In the Liturgy we know that the Lord Jesus Christ is present. He promised us that where “two or three gather in his name” he is with us. After he had risen from the dead, he told the disciples, “know that I am with you until the end of time.” (Mt 28)
One of the most beautiful childhood memories I have is of the annual May Devotions we shared at Sacred Heart Church in Lawrenceburg. Mary, the Mother of Jesus, is our mother, too,
We come at last to the end of the great 50 Days of Easter, when the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles at Pentecost. It is the birthday of the church, and therefore our birth as well.
Mary, who from the first moment of her conception was kept free from sin, who had uttered her great “yes” and become the bearer of the Word of God made flesh, is now taken body and soul into the glory of heaven. She is the new Eve, bright as the morning star.
Fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus, the promised Spirit descends upon the apostles gathered in the upper room. Mary is present there at the birth of the church. The Spirit enters as a strong, driving wind moving as it wills, and in tongues of flame. It is the fire of God’s love that will direct the church where God wills.
In these days of Easter joy, we turn our attention to the mysteries of our ultimate destiny founded on the resurrection of Jesus from the dead and the coming of the Holy Spirit. The silence of Good Friday and the rest of Holy Saturday have given way to the Resurrection. Christ is Risen as he said, alleluia, alleluia! By the power of the Spirit, the Father has raised his Son from death.
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