“In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” This is how we Christians begin all our prayers because we believe in and worship a triune God. But, what do we actually mean when we say that God is a Trinity? As we celebrate Trinity Sunday, allow me to offer some reflections on this very important mystery of our faith.
First of all, it is important to realize we are dealing with a mystery, a reality that is well beyond our total understanding, just as […]
“He breathed on them…” Well, that certainly wouldn’t make Jesus very popular today, especially if he wasn’t wearing a mask! But, the breath of Jesus wasn’t deadly; in fact, it was just the opposite. Just as God had breathed life into the man that he had formed out of the clay of the earth – as we hear in the creation account in the Book of Genesis – so Jesus breathes life into the Church; we celebrate that today with great joy on Pentecost Sunday. In today’s first reading, we […]
When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.
(Acts 2:1-4)
With this dramatic description, we hear today the evangelist […]
I imagine you have all heard the good news! Governor Wolf has announced that he expects to move the five counties around Philadelphia to the yellow phase in two weeks; this will allow churches to reopen; our long wait may soon be over! I don’t know about you, but I hate to wait. I’m a doer; I like to get things done. Whether it’s waiting in a traffic jam or waiting for a package to arrive, it’s hard to wait. Sometimes, waiting is particularly difficult, like when you’re stuck in […]
Can you believe this weekend will already be Memorial Day Weekend? If it hasn’t already ended for you and your family, the school year is almost over and the summer looms large. Ordinarily, we would all be looking forward with great excitement and eager anticipation to getting away for some rest and relaxation. But, this isn’t an ordinary time, is it? Rather than excitement and eager anticipation, we’re feeling anxious and concerned. We want to get away but we’re worried. Is it safe? Do we have to make alternate plans? […]
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows him. But you know him, because he remains with you, and will be in you. (Jn. 14:15-17)
As we prepare to come to the end of the Easter season once again with the celebration of Pentecost Sunday next week, I would like to offer some reflections on the importance […]
We all know that God gave Moses 10 Commandments on Mount Sinai. These commandments were given to help the ancient Israelites know how to show their respect and love for God and his people. Unfortunately, they reduced their relationship with God to just following rules. And, since they thought God liked rules, they made even more rules. If you go through the Old Testament, you will find 613 of them. And, the people thought that, if they followed these rules, God owed them a good life. God then sent his […]