Sunday Reflections from the Fr's John
The Most Holy Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi)
June 14, 2020
June 14, 2020
On this feast of the Body and Blood of Christ it would be good to reflect on the wonderful gift of himself that Jesus has given us in the Eucharist. Over the last several months when we have not been able to gather for the Liturgy, many have commented on how much they miss gathering for weekly Liturgy. Something that we used to doing as part of our weekly routine may have led to take the Liturgy and Communion for granted. Who would have thought a few months ago that we would be denied the opportunity to be physically present in Church, gathered as a community of faith to celebrate the Liturgy and to receive the sacraments.
This feast was first celebrated in 1246 when Pope Urban IV extended the feast to the Universal Church. During that time there developed in the Church the idea the people should not receive Holy Communion. The thought was the people are not holy enough, they were not worthy to receive the Eucharist. This led to the development of worshipping the Eucharist outside of the Liturgy. It was not uncommon for people to go literally years without receiving the Eucharist. Since people could not receive Holy Communion, they would adore the Eucharist. The lack of the faithful receiving Holy Communion lead to the Council of Trent in 1551 to publish what was called our Easter duty. This meant the faithful had to receive Holy Communion as least once a year during the Easter season.
St. Francis de Sales was way ahead of his time. In 1609 with the publication of the Devout Life, he was encouraged people to receive communion frequently. His advice was the longest one should go without receiving Holy Communion was one month. These ideas of Francis de Sales were very slow to take hold. The vast majority of the faithful still interpreted the teaching of the Council of Trent to mean you only go to Communion once a year. Three hundred years after St. Francis de Sales, St. Pius the X in 1910, lowered the age for First Holy Communion from fourteen to six years of age. At that time, he also recommended for all of the faithful frequent communion. It took up to the time of Vatican II for this to become the accepted norm among the faithful. The emphasis on the feast today is not so much to adore the Blessed Sacrament reserved in the tabernacle, but for the faithful to receive Jesus in Holy Communion. The preface on for this feast day tells us “As we eat his body that he gave for us, we grow in strength, as we drink his blood which he poured out for us, we are washed clean.”
On this feast of Corpus Christi let us reflect on these words from St. Francis de Sales:
“Two classes of people should communicate frequently: the perfect, because being well disposed they would be very much to blame if they did not approach the fountain of perfection, and the imperfect, so that they rightly strive for perfection; the strong lest they become weak, and weak that they may become strong; the sick that they maybe restored to health and the healthy lest they fall sick. That for your part, you are imperfect, weak, and sick and need to communicate frequently with him who is your perfection, strength, and physician. You receive the Blessed Sacrament often so as to learn how to receive it well, for we hardly do an action well which we do not practice often. Go often to Communion!
May God be Praised!
~Fr. John McGee, OSFS
~Fr. John Lyle, OSFS
This feast was first celebrated in 1246 when Pope Urban IV extended the feast to the Universal Church. During that time there developed in the Church the idea the people should not receive Holy Communion. The thought was the people are not holy enough, they were not worthy to receive the Eucharist. This led to the development of worshipping the Eucharist outside of the Liturgy. It was not uncommon for people to go literally years without receiving the Eucharist. Since people could not receive Holy Communion, they would adore the Eucharist. The lack of the faithful receiving Holy Communion lead to the Council of Trent in 1551 to publish what was called our Easter duty. This meant the faithful had to receive Holy Communion as least once a year during the Easter season.
St. Francis de Sales was way ahead of his time. In 1609 with the publication of the Devout Life, he was encouraged people to receive communion frequently. His advice was the longest one should go without receiving Holy Communion was one month. These ideas of Francis de Sales were very slow to take hold. The vast majority of the faithful still interpreted the teaching of the Council of Trent to mean you only go to Communion once a year. Three hundred years after St. Francis de Sales, St. Pius the X in 1910, lowered the age for First Holy Communion from fourteen to six years of age. At that time, he also recommended for all of the faithful frequent communion. It took up to the time of Vatican II for this to become the accepted norm among the faithful. The emphasis on the feast today is not so much to adore the Blessed Sacrament reserved in the tabernacle, but for the faithful to receive Jesus in Holy Communion. The preface on for this feast day tells us “As we eat his body that he gave for us, we grow in strength, as we drink his blood which he poured out for us, we are washed clean.”
On this feast of Corpus Christi let us reflect on these words from St. Francis de Sales:
“Two classes of people should communicate frequently: the perfect, because being well disposed they would be very much to blame if they did not approach the fountain of perfection, and the imperfect, so that they rightly strive for perfection; the strong lest they become weak, and weak that they may become strong; the sick that they maybe restored to health and the healthy lest they fall sick. That for your part, you are imperfect, weak, and sick and need to communicate frequently with him who is your perfection, strength, and physician. You receive the Blessed Sacrament often so as to learn how to receive it well, for we hardly do an action well which we do not practice often. Go often to Communion!
May God be Praised!
~Fr. John McGee, OSFS
~Fr. John Lyle, OSFS
Trinity Sunday
June 7, 2020
June 7, 2020
I do not know whether you have ever been there, but one of the most interesting, most mysterious places in the USA is the Coral Castle, located in Miami, FL (Please google the Coral Castle). The Coral Castle consists of 1,100 tons of coral rock that have been formed by one man into the castle. What makes this most mysterious is-how did he do it? He had no machinery, no crane, no backhoe, no forklift, and somehow this five-foot man, weighing only one hundred pounds was able to able to carve, move, and place these gigantic heavy pieces of stone all by himself. The Coral Castle is an engineering marvel in that all of the stones fit perfectly and precisely and stay in place without the use of mortar. It is a mystery how Ed Leedskalnin was able to do all of this by himself.
He worked on the Coral Castle from 1923 to 1951, twenty 28 years. Even to this day, almost seventy years later, people still do not understand how he accomplished all this by himself. Today when people visit the Coral Castle, they do not go to try to solve the mystery, they go to experience it. Visitors to the Castle stand in awe and wonder at the marvel.
Today we celebrate the most unique feast in the liturgical year. Today’s feast is unusual in that it celebrates not an event in salvation history (e.g. the birth of Jesus, the Resurrection, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit…); today we celebrate the central dogma of our faith, the mystery of the Most Holy Trinity. From the earliest days of Christianity scholars, theologians, philosophers, and even saints have tried to explain the mystery of the Trinity. However, the point of today’s celebration is not to try to explain the mystery, but to experience the mystery of the Trinity.
Our entire Christian life revolves around the Trinity. We all began our Christian life being baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. We begin and end all of our prayer in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. We experience our God as Trinity of Persons, we experience God the Father, the Creator who made us and all of created reality. We experience God the Son, Jesus who died and rose to offer us forgiveness and salvation. We experience God, the Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier, the one who inspires us and leads us to prayer. In the Christian life, inspired by the spirit we go through Jesus to encounter God, the Father.
So today on this feast of the Most Holy Trinity we all stand in amazement, in wonder, in awe at the great mystery of the Trinity. Today we do not try to solve the mystery, we celebrate the experience of the Triune God. Let close with that ancient prayer: “Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Trinity as is was in beginning is now will be forever. Amen.”
May God be Praised!
~Fr. John McGee, OSFS
~Fr. John Lyle, OSFS
He worked on the Coral Castle from 1923 to 1951, twenty 28 years. Even to this day, almost seventy years later, people still do not understand how he accomplished all this by himself. Today when people visit the Coral Castle, they do not go to try to solve the mystery, they go to experience it. Visitors to the Castle stand in awe and wonder at the marvel.
Today we celebrate the most unique feast in the liturgical year. Today’s feast is unusual in that it celebrates not an event in salvation history (e.g. the birth of Jesus, the Resurrection, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit…); today we celebrate the central dogma of our faith, the mystery of the Most Holy Trinity. From the earliest days of Christianity scholars, theologians, philosophers, and even saints have tried to explain the mystery of the Trinity. However, the point of today’s celebration is not to try to explain the mystery, but to experience the mystery of the Trinity.
Our entire Christian life revolves around the Trinity. We all began our Christian life being baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. We begin and end all of our prayer in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. We experience our God as Trinity of Persons, we experience God the Father, the Creator who made us and all of created reality. We experience God the Son, Jesus who died and rose to offer us forgiveness and salvation. We experience God, the Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier, the one who inspires us and leads us to prayer. In the Christian life, inspired by the spirit we go through Jesus to encounter God, the Father.
So today on this feast of the Most Holy Trinity we all stand in amazement, in wonder, in awe at the great mystery of the Trinity. Today we do not try to solve the mystery, we celebrate the experience of the Triune God. Let close with that ancient prayer: “Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Trinity as is was in beginning is now will be forever. Amen.”
May God be Praised!
~Fr. John McGee, OSFS
~Fr. John Lyle, OSFS
Feast of Pentecost
May 31, 2020
May 31, 2020
Today we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost which marks an end to the Lenten and Easter Times. During these past holy days, we have celebrated by recalling the passion and death of our Lord, his victorious resurrection, and his ascension into glory. Now on Pentecost we celebrate the great gift of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is with us, he is here, he lives in us, he sanctifies us, he strengthens us, he inspires us, and he consoles us.
That is the good news of Pentecost that God loves us and sent his spirit upon us. The Father has not merely given us a gift, he has given us himself, and we call him the Holy Spirit.
The challenge of Pentecost is- do we live by the message. How has it penetrated our hearts, do we not just talk about the message, do we live it? Am I really being motivated by the Holy Spirit or am I more inspired by worldly spirits? Many times, some of us are more attuned to the spirits of anger, or greed, or selfishness, or laziness, or self-centeredness, or bitterness, or negativity, or gossip, or complaining And there are many other spirits that try to motivate us that are not holy. We can end up seeking the Holy Spirt in the wrong way, in the wrong place, and it is easy to confuse the Holy Spirit with these other spirits.
The challenge of Pentecost is the call for a daily conversion and to pray daily for the Holy Spirit. The church was at prayer when the Holy Sprit came on that first Pentecost. Pentecost is not a one day event but an everyday event. The challenge of the feast is to live and share with one another the gifts of the Holy Spirit, love, joy, pace, patience, kindness, generosity, and faith.
So, let us pray daily for that strong wind, those tongues of first to burn in our hearts. Let us pray daily, Come Holy, Veni, Santcé Spiritus so that we may live and share the fruits of the Holy Spirit with one another.
May God be Praised!
~Fr. John McGee, OSFS
~Fr. John Lyle, OSFS
That is the good news of Pentecost that God loves us and sent his spirit upon us. The Father has not merely given us a gift, he has given us himself, and we call him the Holy Spirit.
The challenge of Pentecost is- do we live by the message. How has it penetrated our hearts, do we not just talk about the message, do we live it? Am I really being motivated by the Holy Spirit or am I more inspired by worldly spirits? Many times, some of us are more attuned to the spirits of anger, or greed, or selfishness, or laziness, or self-centeredness, or bitterness, or negativity, or gossip, or complaining And there are many other spirits that try to motivate us that are not holy. We can end up seeking the Holy Spirt in the wrong way, in the wrong place, and it is easy to confuse the Holy Spirit with these other spirits.
The challenge of Pentecost is the call for a daily conversion and to pray daily for the Holy Spirit. The church was at prayer when the Holy Sprit came on that first Pentecost. Pentecost is not a one day event but an everyday event. The challenge of the feast is to live and share with one another the gifts of the Holy Spirit, love, joy, pace, patience, kindness, generosity, and faith.
So, let us pray daily for that strong wind, those tongues of first to burn in our hearts. Let us pray daily, Come Holy, Veni, Santcé Spiritus so that we may live and share the fruits of the Holy Spirit with one another.
May God be Praised!
~Fr. John McGee, OSFS
~Fr. John Lyle, OSFS
Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord
May 24, 2020
May 24, 2020
When you watch a track meet in addition to the individual races there are always relay races that involve multiple runners. The one who is running has to pass the baton onto the next runner. The second runner cannot begin until the baton has been passed. Today’s Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord reminds us of the passing of the baton. Jesus has passed on his ministry to the disciples.
The gospel today takes place in Galilee. In St. Matthew’s gospel, Galilee is the place where Jesus begins and ends his public ministry, and it is here where the disciples begin their ministry. Jesus calls his disciples to a mountain, mountains are important in the ministry of Jesus, for example, The Sermon on the Mount, The Transfiguration, The Crucifixion and now he passes the ministry onto his disciples. The scripture scholars refer to this episode as the “Great Commission,” to make disciples of all the nations.
Jesus assures his disciples “I am with you always until the end of the world,” reminding us of the beginning of the gospel where Jesus is named Emmanuel-God with us.
The Ascension gives us different experience of Jesus presence in the church. This feast does not celebrate the end of Jesus’ presence in the world it celebrates a change in the way Jesus is present to us. Jesus is no longer physically present but is present spiritually. He is present through his church where he tells us “Where two or three are gathered together in my name I am there in the midst of them.”
The Ascension also represents a change in Jesus’ activity in the world, Jesus now acts through his disciples. The Ascension challenges all of us to continue the ministry of Jesus to make disciples of all the nations but more important to be the presence of Christ in the world.
Jesus passes the power of his ministry to his disciples. This is not power over someone or something but a power to. We now have power to make disciples, but more important to be the presence of the Risen Lord in the world today.
Am I ready to take hold of the baton and run with it?
May God be Praised!
~Fr. John McGee, OSFS
~Fr. John Lyle, OSFS
The gospel today takes place in Galilee. In St. Matthew’s gospel, Galilee is the place where Jesus begins and ends his public ministry, and it is here where the disciples begin their ministry. Jesus calls his disciples to a mountain, mountains are important in the ministry of Jesus, for example, The Sermon on the Mount, The Transfiguration, The Crucifixion and now he passes the ministry onto his disciples. The scripture scholars refer to this episode as the “Great Commission,” to make disciples of all the nations.
Jesus assures his disciples “I am with you always until the end of the world,” reminding us of the beginning of the gospel where Jesus is named Emmanuel-God with us.
The Ascension gives us different experience of Jesus presence in the church. This feast does not celebrate the end of Jesus’ presence in the world it celebrates a change in the way Jesus is present to us. Jesus is no longer physically present but is present spiritually. He is present through his church where he tells us “Where two or three are gathered together in my name I am there in the midst of them.”
The Ascension also represents a change in Jesus’ activity in the world, Jesus now acts through his disciples. The Ascension challenges all of us to continue the ministry of Jesus to make disciples of all the nations but more important to be the presence of Christ in the world.
Jesus passes the power of his ministry to his disciples. This is not power over someone or something but a power to. We now have power to make disciples, but more important to be the presence of the Risen Lord in the world today.
Am I ready to take hold of the baton and run with it?
May God be Praised!
~Fr. John McGee, OSFS
~Fr. John Lyle, OSFS
Sixth Sunday of Easter
May 17, 2020
May 17, 2020
What do you think of when you hear the word commandments? Probably many of us, maybe even most of us, have somewhat of a negative connotation of commandments. We think of commandments as rules that restrict, regulate, and restrain our individual freedom. Commandments can be viewed as laws that impede, inhibit, limit, and even force us to behave in a certain way.
The gospel this Sunday, points us to another way to look at commandments- as expressions of our love for God. In all the gospels, commandments are always viewed in the context of love. Commandments can never be seen as laws to be kept for their own sake. Jesus clearly tells us: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” Keeping Jesus’ commands is the way we express our love for him, and that love is revealed in action.
And what are the commands of Jesus? Earlier in the gospel, Jesus clearly tell us: “I give you a new command, that you love one another as I have loved you.” In the gospels, love is an action word, a verb, not an emotion.
At the Last Supper Jesus washes the feet of his disciples and tells them: “Do you know what I have just done for you? I have given you an example, as I have done so you must also do.” For Jesus, commandments are expressions of love and service. “Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me.”
Today’s gospel challenges each of us with these two questions:
1. How do I view the commands of Jesus?
2. How am I living the commands of Jesus?
May God Be Praised!
~Fr. John McGee, OSFS
~Fr. John Lyle, OSFS
The gospel this Sunday, points us to another way to look at commandments- as expressions of our love for God. In all the gospels, commandments are always viewed in the context of love. Commandments can never be seen as laws to be kept for their own sake. Jesus clearly tells us: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” Keeping Jesus’ commands is the way we express our love for him, and that love is revealed in action.
And what are the commands of Jesus? Earlier in the gospel, Jesus clearly tell us: “I give you a new command, that you love one another as I have loved you.” In the gospels, love is an action word, a verb, not an emotion.
At the Last Supper Jesus washes the feet of his disciples and tells them: “Do you know what I have just done for you? I have given you an example, as I have done so you must also do.” For Jesus, commandments are expressions of love and service. “Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me.”
Today’s gospel challenges each of us with these two questions:
1. How do I view the commands of Jesus?
2. How am I living the commands of Jesus?
May God Be Praised!
~Fr. John McGee, OSFS
~Fr. John Lyle, OSFS
Fifth Sunday of Easter
May 10, 2020
May 10, 2020
Have you ever been lost driving somewhere and even the GPS has you driving around in circles? You decide to stop and ask for directions. A kind individual stops and starts to give you simple directions: Go straight ahead; at the third light make a left; stay straight for 5 blocks, and then make you first right, go straight for two blocks, and your destination will be on your left. As you are hearing this, you become more and more frustrated, your anxiety rises, and you realize that you cannot follow those directions-you are more lost now than before you asked. All of a sudden, the individual states let me make it easy for you, just follow me in my car I will lead you there. All of a sudden you experience a sigh of relief. I am sure to arrive at my destination safe and secure.
In today’s gospel Jesus tells his disciples that “I am going to prepare a place for you. So that where I am you may also be.” The disciples suddenly feel lost-they need directions. Thomas states: “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way? “Jesus said to him, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
When the disciples, and we ourselves are lost, Jesus is the one who says follow me-I will take you there. Jesus is not just giving directions; he takes us by the hand and leads us personally every day. Jesus tells us: “I am the way, the truth and the light.”
In today’s gospel the disciples misunderstand Jesus—they think he is talking about a geographic location-a specific space. In reality Jesus is not talking about a place, but a relationship. Jesus wants to lead us into a relationship with himself which is ultimately a relationship with the Father. The root of all religious desire is union with God. Jesus tells us no one comes to the Father except through him.
In lasts weeks gospel, Jesus is the shepherd who calls his sheep by name and he leads them-he walks ahead of them and they follow him. Today in the gospel Jesus tells his disciples “I am the way, the truth and the life.” He reminds them that he will come back again and take them to himself so that where I am, they may also be.
The challenge of the gospel is to let Jesus leads us into a wonderful relationship with himself so that through Jesus we come to know the Father. So, when we felt lost, afraid, forsaken, scared, and anxious ---we simply need to turn to Jesus and allow him to lead and guide us on our journey of faith.
Happy Mother’s Day as we remember our mothers both living and deceased!
May God Be Praised!
~Fr. John McGee, OSFS
~Fr. John Lyle, OSFS
In today’s gospel Jesus tells his disciples that “I am going to prepare a place for you. So that where I am you may also be.” The disciples suddenly feel lost-they need directions. Thomas states: “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way? “Jesus said to him, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
When the disciples, and we ourselves are lost, Jesus is the one who says follow me-I will take you there. Jesus is not just giving directions; he takes us by the hand and leads us personally every day. Jesus tells us: “I am the way, the truth and the light.”
In today’s gospel the disciples misunderstand Jesus—they think he is talking about a geographic location-a specific space. In reality Jesus is not talking about a place, but a relationship. Jesus wants to lead us into a relationship with himself which is ultimately a relationship with the Father. The root of all religious desire is union with God. Jesus tells us no one comes to the Father except through him.
In lasts weeks gospel, Jesus is the shepherd who calls his sheep by name and he leads them-he walks ahead of them and they follow him. Today in the gospel Jesus tells his disciples “I am the way, the truth and the life.” He reminds them that he will come back again and take them to himself so that where I am, they may also be.
The challenge of the gospel is to let Jesus leads us into a wonderful relationship with himself so that through Jesus we come to know the Father. So, when we felt lost, afraid, forsaken, scared, and anxious ---we simply need to turn to Jesus and allow him to lead and guide us on our journey of faith.
Happy Mother’s Day as we remember our mothers both living and deceased!
May God Be Praised!
~Fr. John McGee, OSFS
~Fr. John Lyle, OSFS
Fourth Sunday of Easter
May 3, 2020
May 3, 2020
I saw this sign the other day and it struck me as very appropriate in relation to today’s gospel reading. Today the Fourth Sunday of Easter is traditionally called Good Shepherd Sunday. In today’s gospel Jesus says, “the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out…he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice.”
In this time of social distancing, quarantine, stay at home orders we can still be close to Jesus- he calls us by name, and we recognize and follow. We never have to practice social distancing with Good Shepherd. The Good News of the gospel today Jesus tells us “he walks ahead of us.” Through difficult times we have the consolation that Jesus walks ahead of us. Maybe each one of us during this upcoming week can ask ourselves this question: HOW CAN I BE LESS CONERNED ABOUT MYSELF AND SPEND TIME BEING CLOSE TO JESUS RIGHT NOW? May God be Praised! ~Fr. John McGee, OSFS ~Fr. John Lyle, OSFS |
Third Sunday of Easter
April 26, 2020
April 26, 2020
Doesn’t it seem strange that the disciples failed to recognize Jesus as they walked along the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus? How could it be that some of Jesus’ most intimate companions as they walked with him “there eyes were prevented from recognizing him.” Could it be because they were haunted by the image of the death of Jesus on the cross, the one in whom they had hoped and believed, they could see nothing else.
Aren’t we really able to easily identify with the two disciples on the road because their path to faith is so like our own. How often are we so overwhelmed with our own preoccupations, problems, difficulties, anxieties, worries, that we fail to recognize Jesus.
The two disciples on the road were first able to recognize Jesus as “he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures.” Then they further recognized him “while he was with them at table, he broke the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them.” The disciples recognized in Jesus in Word and Sacrament. “Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us.”
The story of Jesus and the disciples on the road to Emmaus has catechetical and liturgical overtones. It reminds us of the process of Christian Initiation, which begins with the explanation of scripture and comes to fulfillment in the admission of the newly baptized at the Eucharistic table.
One never tires of reading this gospel story, but we always have to keep in mind that Luke’s purpose in this gospel passage is instruction. The gospel is teaching us that we as a faith community gathered at the Liturgy, come to know Jesus in Word and Sacrament.
Right now, we as a faith community are unable to gather together for the Liturgy. Is not this a great time to come to know Jesus in the scriptures? While we are sheltering at home maybe we could be spending some time in opening the scriptures to know and recognize Jesus. Then, like the disciples, as Jesus speaks in the open scriptures, our hearts will be burning within us. Then, we will be the disciples on the road sharing and spreading the good news: “the Lord has truly been raised.”
May God be Praised!
~Fr. John McGee, OSFS
~Fr. John Lyle, OSFS
Aren’t we really able to easily identify with the two disciples on the road because their path to faith is so like our own. How often are we so overwhelmed with our own preoccupations, problems, difficulties, anxieties, worries, that we fail to recognize Jesus.
The two disciples on the road were first able to recognize Jesus as “he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures.” Then they further recognized him “while he was with them at table, he broke the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them.” The disciples recognized in Jesus in Word and Sacrament. “Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us.”
The story of Jesus and the disciples on the road to Emmaus has catechetical and liturgical overtones. It reminds us of the process of Christian Initiation, which begins with the explanation of scripture and comes to fulfillment in the admission of the newly baptized at the Eucharistic table.
One never tires of reading this gospel story, but we always have to keep in mind that Luke’s purpose in this gospel passage is instruction. The gospel is teaching us that we as a faith community gathered at the Liturgy, come to know Jesus in Word and Sacrament.
Right now, we as a faith community are unable to gather together for the Liturgy. Is not this a great time to come to know Jesus in the scriptures? While we are sheltering at home maybe we could be spending some time in opening the scriptures to know and recognize Jesus. Then, like the disciples, as Jesus speaks in the open scriptures, our hearts will be burning within us. Then, we will be the disciples on the road sharing and spreading the good news: “the Lord has truly been raised.”
May God be Praised!
~Fr. John McGee, OSFS
~Fr. John Lyle, OSFS
Second Sunday of Easter
April 19, 2020
April 19, 2020
“He was absent, and then he was present.
He was present, and then he heard.
He heard and then he doubted,
He doubted, and then he touched.
He touched and then he believed”
-St. Augustine
After all that had happened in the days leading up to today’s gospel, seeing Jesus arrested, tortured, scourged at the pillar, tried by Pilate, made to carry the cross, seeing Jesus humiliated, spit upon, nailed to the cross, pierced through the heart and laid in the tomb- who of us upon hearing “Jesus is alive!” would not have said the same thing as Thomas- “I don’t believe!” It appeared Thomas reacted in a very natural and normal fashion. Wouldn’t we all say the same thing?
After today’s gospel event Thomas, has been known forevermore as “Doubting Thomas! We learn a very important lesson from Thomas. Thomas makes the most profound Profession of Faith of anyone in all four gospels- when he proclaims: “My Lord and My God.” From Thomas we learn that doubts are part of faith. Doubt and faith go hand in hand. Faith has to involve doubt because it is not certain. If something is certain it is established as true, free from doubt. Faith is belief that is not based on proof; hence doubt is a normal part of faith.
We need to look upon our doubts as an invitation to grow and deepen our faith. The opposite of faith is not doubt- it is apathy, not even caring. Doubts are our friends in faith. Just like Thomas and the first Apostles, we are in a time right now, of doubt, confusion, and uncertainty. Like the disciples after that first Easter, in the midst of our confusion, uncertainty and doubt we turn in faith to Risen Lord. Our profession of faith that we proclaim each week gives us the strength to believe in our Risen Lord and echo the words of Thomas: “My Lord and My God!”
May we be transformed from DOUBTING THOMAS into SAINT THOMAS THE APOSTLE.
May God Be Praised!
~Fr. John McGee, OSFS
~Fr. John Lyle, OSFS
He was present, and then he heard.
He heard and then he doubted,
He doubted, and then he touched.
He touched and then he believed”
-St. Augustine
After all that had happened in the days leading up to today’s gospel, seeing Jesus arrested, tortured, scourged at the pillar, tried by Pilate, made to carry the cross, seeing Jesus humiliated, spit upon, nailed to the cross, pierced through the heart and laid in the tomb- who of us upon hearing “Jesus is alive!” would not have said the same thing as Thomas- “I don’t believe!” It appeared Thomas reacted in a very natural and normal fashion. Wouldn’t we all say the same thing?
After today’s gospel event Thomas, has been known forevermore as “Doubting Thomas! We learn a very important lesson from Thomas. Thomas makes the most profound Profession of Faith of anyone in all four gospels- when he proclaims: “My Lord and My God.” From Thomas we learn that doubts are part of faith. Doubt and faith go hand in hand. Faith has to involve doubt because it is not certain. If something is certain it is established as true, free from doubt. Faith is belief that is not based on proof; hence doubt is a normal part of faith.
We need to look upon our doubts as an invitation to grow and deepen our faith. The opposite of faith is not doubt- it is apathy, not even caring. Doubts are our friends in faith. Just like Thomas and the first Apostles, we are in a time right now, of doubt, confusion, and uncertainty. Like the disciples after that first Easter, in the midst of our confusion, uncertainty and doubt we turn in faith to Risen Lord. Our profession of faith that we proclaim each week gives us the strength to believe in our Risen Lord and echo the words of Thomas: “My Lord and My God!”
May we be transformed from DOUBTING THOMAS into SAINT THOMAS THE APOSTLE.
May God Be Praised!
~Fr. John McGee, OSFS
~Fr. John Lyle, OSFS
Easter 2020
Matthew 28:1-10, John 20:1-9, Luke 24:13-35
Matthew 28:1-10, John 20:1-9, Luke 24:13-35
If we examine the readings from the gospels concerning the resurrection appearances, we encounter some common themes: The disciples are confused, fearful, not understanding, they ask what has happened, where is he? These are just a few of the disciple’s expressions of what had taken place after Jesus had been crucified, the one who said he would rise from the dead.
The tomb is empty-where is he, we are looking for him? In all the appearances after the resurrection, Jesus greets his disciples and tells them” Do not be afraid!” “Peace be with you.” This is an overwhelming and awesome constant message that Jesus tells them “Do not be afraid!”- “Peace be with you.” We need to heed and listen to this Easter message at this time in our lives- the message of the Risen Lord.
For all of us, this Easter is the first time we have not come together as a community of faith to celebrate in the Eucharistic liturgy of the passion, death and resurrection of the Lord. In real sense we may feel like the disciples alone and afraid. Maybe at no other time in our lives has the Easter message been more relevant, necessary, meaningful than this Easter-in the time of the corona virus.
Right now, where disease, sickness, death, isolation, loneliness, sadness, even depression overwhelms us, we need to take these powerful words to our hearts. The disciples may have encountered some of these emotions and feelings. We, like them need hear Risen Lord say to us. “Do not be afraid!” – “Peace be with you”. We need to look for the Risen Lord. He will not be found in the empty tomb of the corona virus. We will find the Risen Lord in the strength of our generosity, our kindness, our charity, our self-giving, our support to our families, friends and neighbors, with all those who respond to the needs of others in the here and the now.
Think about this for a moment in the time of the corona virus--- isn’t this Easter message wonderful and necessary for us. Let us celebrate the peace of the Risen Lord in the difficult and trying days with his gifts of grace, hope and light.
Alleluia, “Do not be afraid!” – “Peace be with you.” Alleluia!
May God be Praised Alleluia!
~Fr. John McGee, OSFS
~Fr. John Lyle, OSFS
The tomb is empty-where is he, we are looking for him? In all the appearances after the resurrection, Jesus greets his disciples and tells them” Do not be afraid!” “Peace be with you.” This is an overwhelming and awesome constant message that Jesus tells them “Do not be afraid!”- “Peace be with you.” We need to heed and listen to this Easter message at this time in our lives- the message of the Risen Lord.
For all of us, this Easter is the first time we have not come together as a community of faith to celebrate in the Eucharistic liturgy of the passion, death and resurrection of the Lord. In real sense we may feel like the disciples alone and afraid. Maybe at no other time in our lives has the Easter message been more relevant, necessary, meaningful than this Easter-in the time of the corona virus.
Right now, where disease, sickness, death, isolation, loneliness, sadness, even depression overwhelms us, we need to take these powerful words to our hearts. The disciples may have encountered some of these emotions and feelings. We, like them need hear Risen Lord say to us. “Do not be afraid!” – “Peace be with you”. We need to look for the Risen Lord. He will not be found in the empty tomb of the corona virus. We will find the Risen Lord in the strength of our generosity, our kindness, our charity, our self-giving, our support to our families, friends and neighbors, with all those who respond to the needs of others in the here and the now.
Think about this for a moment in the time of the corona virus--- isn’t this Easter message wonderful and necessary for us. Let us celebrate the peace of the Risen Lord in the difficult and trying days with his gifts of grace, hope and light.
Alleluia, “Do not be afraid!” – “Peace be with you.” Alleluia!
May God be Praised Alleluia!
~Fr. John McGee, OSFS
~Fr. John Lyle, OSFS