Ascending to the Father in Heaven

Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord: May 29, 2022

Readings: Acts 1:1–11; Psalm 47:2–3, 6–7, 8–9; Ephesians 1:17–23; Luke 24:46–53

(Ascension of Jesus into Heaven by Lash Larue, 2022)

To listen to my audio-video reflection on YouTube, please click on the link: https://youtu.be/SbGcb_uRrFA

When you live in a faraway foreign country leaving behind your parents and making a visit once in two or three years, and saying goodbye to them before you take a flight is always difficult. It is difficult to part from those who are of your flesh and blood. Often the thought of, will I see my parents or my dear ones again dominates the back of your mind. We are so interconnected with our relationships, that saying goodbye or bidding farewell always brings tears to our eyes. On this Ascension Sunday, the liturgical readings give us a mixed scene of joy and sadness in which Jesus bid farewell and was taken up into heaven. His final words to his disciples demonstrate that it was not easy. The story of Jesus did not end with the empty tomb, or with Jesus’ appearances to the Apostles over the course of forty days. Jesus continues to live in and around us from his seat in heaven.

1. We are witnesses of the Lord

We celebrate the Ascension Sunday, after 40 days of Easter. This feast celebrates how the resurrected Lord went back to his Father. Even though the Gospels of St Mark and St John do not speak about the ascension of our Lord, St Matthew and St Luke give us a beautiful description of how the Risen Lord Jesus was taken up into heaven. In fact, St Luke begins the Acts of the Apostles with an awesome description of Jesus ascending into the heavens. In fact, this is the end of Jesus' life on earth and his departure from this earth once and for all. We see the contradictions in which the narration about Jesus' final moments on this earth are given. The truth behind this ascension is an assurance that the truth revealed by Jesus will be proclaimed to the ends of this earth.

All the Ends of the Earth Fear the Lord

 Sixth Sunday of Easter: May 22, 2022

 Readings: Acts 15:1–2, 22–29; Psalm 67:2–3, 5–6, 8; Revelation 21:10–14, 22–23; John 14:23–29

To listen to my audio-video reflections on YouTube, please click on this link https://youtu.be/YUkKsKvrCXE

Cardinal John Henry Newman (1801-1890), an Anglican priest, a convert to Catholicism now a saint, published an article in 1859 titled "On Consulting the Faithful in Matters of Doctrine." He argued that in the life of the Church consulting the faithful in matters of faith is an important factor in Church life. In fact, he pointed out a kind of synodality, that we are talking about today, where doctrine and tradition are testified by the living faith of the people. The liturgical readings of this Sunday invite us to enter deeper into the mystery of Easter because we are all participants in building the Church of God here on earth. So, everyone is invited to contribute one's mite to forming a church built on faith, hope and love. 

1. Synodality as a way forward in the Early Christian Communities

The first reading of today (Acts 15:1–2, 22–29) from the Acts of the Apostles is a testimony to the presence of the Spirit in the Church. The Church which is built on the foundations of the Apostles and their experience of the Risen Lord witnessed tremendous growth in its early years. As the Church made its presence felt among different nations, cultures, traditions and people, questions and doubts, dissensions and debates arose about whether what they were doing was right or not, especially with the question of those non-Jews embracing Christianity who had to obey all the complex ritual and purity laws of the Jews and their circumcision. In order to find the right solution, the community of Christians along with Paul and Barnabas decide to consult the apostles who were in Jerusalem. 

Love as Answer to Hatred

 Fifth Sunday of Easter - May 15, 2022

Readings: Acts 14:21-27; Psalm 145:8-13; Revelation 21:1-5; John 13:31-35

(Jesus and his disciples)
To listen to my audio-video reflections on YouTube, please click on this link https://youtu.be/3UVySEJvOVQ

A dominant feeling of Easter is a sense of belonging to the person of Jesus. In fact, along with a sense of excitement which is pervading during the Easter Season, there is an encouragement to cling on to the person of Jesus. Moreover, there is no other person in the world who has caught the imagination of people so deeply and drawn to himself after his death so powerfully than the person of Jesus. It is all because of Easter. Therefore as we read the Word of God on this Sunday, we are invited once again to make a commitment to the person of Jesus with love. 

1. God chooses the right people at the right time

The first reading (Acts 14:21-27) drawn from the Acts of Apostles gives us a detailed journey of Sts Paul and Barnabas. They are on a life-transforming journey. Through them, God is “making all things new” around them. Every person who comes in contact with them are touched and transformed and converted to the faith of these disciples. Both Paul and Barnabas go through a lot of hardships but through prayer and fasting are able to see the growth of the Church and appoint elders who would take care of those little communities to remain in the steadfast love of the Lord. 

Leading to Springs of Life-Giving Water

Fourth Sunday of Easter: Good Shepherd Sunday - May 08, 2022

Readings: Acts 13:14, 43–52; Psalm 100:1–3, 5; Revelation 7:9, 14–17; John 10:27–30

(Jesus the Good Shepherd)
To listen to my audio-video reflections on YouTube, please click on this link

These days, we are flooded with the news of the bloody war in Ukraine unleashed by its neighbour Russia, the national economic crisis in our neighbouring country, Sri Lanka and unending communal hatred being spread by the loyalists and fanatics of the BJP supporters and its government/s in India. It would be interesting to ask if Paul and Barnabas were around what would have been their reaction as they go on their preaching trail? Which city they would have chosen as a base for their mission of saving work? The Acts of the Apostles says 'Iconium' was the city that they preferred. It was the safest. Paul and Barnabas even though they preached in Antioch in Pisidia had trouble from the community and so had to leave for Iconium. The passage reads: "The disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit" in that city of peace and tranquillity (Acts 13:52). 

1. God's strength in spite of failures 

A lot of political game is going on here in Greek lands. We see first both Paul and Barnabas speaking with new converts to Judaism but now followers of Paul's faith and Paul tells them to remain faithful to their call of God. Then Paul and Barnabus turn to old Jews, and say to them these words, “It was necessary that the Word of God be spoken to you first, but since you reject it and condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles" (Acts 13:46).  Paul is demanding absolute obedience from them. In spite of many failures that Paul encounters a great multitude of people joins his way.