May 24 - Ascension of the Lord : Call to be witnesses

 First Reading  Acts of the Apostles 1:12-14 After Jesus’ ascension to heaven, the apostles return to Jerusalem and gather in prayer with Mary, the mother of Jesus.
 
 Responsorial Psalm   Psalm 27:1,4,7-8 The Lord is our salvation.
 
 Second Reading    1 Peter 4:13-16 If you suffer for Christ, you will be blessed.
 
 Gospel ReadingJohn 17:1-11a
 
Today, the feast of Christ’s ascension, we celebrate the crowning of his Easter victory over sin and death. The ascension is not really about Jesus going away but about Jesus becoming the Lord of all creation. It is a joyous day, a day to look upwards at where Christ, our Brother, sits in glory at the right hand of the Father. Our destiny is to share in the glory of Christ. We often forget this and pursue goals that are not really worthy of our calling. Today’s feast also reminds us to become witnesses of the Lord. “You are my witnesses” (Acts 1:8) said Jesus as he ascended. That was aid to every follower of his, from the ones who saw his ascension down to us who have only heard about him, yet have believed. In fact, witness to Christ in the world for any believer has to begin with oneself. 

May 17 - Sixth Sunday of Easter: An invitation to love

 
First Reading Acts of the Apostles 8:5-8,14-17 The people of Samaria accept the Gospel of Jesus proclaimed to them by Philip.
 
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 66:1-7,16,20 Sing praise to God, all the earth.
 
 
Second Reading 1 Peter 3:15-18 Be ready to give explanation for your hope in Christ.
 
 
Gospel ReadingJohn 14:15-21
 
 
In today's Gospel Jesus says: "If you love me you will obey my commandments". There are three ways we can look upon the commandments of Jesus: (1) As a restriction to our freedom, something we hate to do, (2) as a guide to our growth, health and well being, something we should do, (3) As an invitation to love, something we want to do. Jesus presents his commandments as opportunities to express our love for him. Thus today's gospel invites us to check our motives. Why do we obey Jesus' commandments? Do we obey them out of fear of punishment? Do we do it more out of hope for reward? or do we do it more out of love for Jesus? Love seeks only to be of service. This is the challenge today's gospel sets before each one of us.

May 10 - Fifth Sunday in Easter : Jesus is the Way

 
First Reading Acts of the Apostles 6:1-7The early Christian community chooses seven people to serve at table so that the Twelve can devote themselves to prayer and the ministry of the word.
 
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 33:1-2,4-5,18-19The Lord is merciful toward those who trust in him.
 
Second Reading 1 Peter 2:4-9Those who have faith are chosen in Christ to be a holy priesthood.
 
Gospel ReadingJohn 14:1–12
 
Last Sunday we celebrated Christ the Good Shepherd. Today, the Fifth Sunday of Easter, we celebrate Christ, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. The Gospel Reading of today from St. John, is taken from the Farewell Discourse at the Last Supper, and addresses concerns of the disciples that would arise because of the departure (i.e. death) of Jesus soon to occur. Jesus said to Thomas: "I am the way and the truth and life". Jesus does not merely teach us the way but He is the way (No one comes to the Father, except through me- Jn 14,6). Jesus does not merely declare what is true but He is the truth (...we have seen his glory...full of grace and truth- Jn 1,14). Jesus does not merely reveal the life to come but instead he is the life (I came that they may have life and have it more abundantly- Jn 10:10). Therefore Jesus is the way which we must follow. he is the truth which we must believe and he is the life which we must live. So what do we make of this saying of Jesus? What do they mean to us?
*'I am the Way' – Jesus is a road. A road is a journey. And we go to God the Father through Jesus and we call Jesus the Way, because he is the visible manifestation in human form of all that his Father is.
*'I am the Truth' – the Truth that meets us on the road. We Christians have not got the Truth. The Truth has got us. Jesus is God's gift of his true self to us. As God revealed His true self to Jesus, we look up to Jesus to reveal God to us.*'I am the Life' – this journey of Truth gives us life. When we believe in Jesus, we find life. More, He becomes our life.In short, what living the Christian life is really all about is living with Jesus in faith. It is to make the Truth and the Life - the Father Himself - really ours by following Jesus who is the Way.

May 3 - Fourth Sunday in Easter : I am the Gate

First Reading  Acts of the Apostles 2:14a,36-41
Peter and the other apostles baptize 3,000 people.
 
Responsorial Psalm  Psalm 23:1-6
The Lord is my shepherd.
 
Second Reading  1 Peter 2:20b-25
We have been healed by the wounds of Christ
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Gospel Reading
John 10:1-10
 
Today is the 4th Sunday of Easter and it is commonly known as “Good Shepherd Sunday,” a day in which the Church recalls the relationship between God and His people as described in the image of Shepherd and Sheep. Today we hear Jesus saying “I am the gate for the sheep”. Shepherds would become the gate to the sheep fold. They would lie in front of the opening to the fold so that nothing could enter without them knowing. Human gates provided entrance to the fold and protection from threats outside. What Jesus is trying to tell us is this: that his relationship and dedication to us is as close as the shepherd’s to his sheep. Like the shepherd Jesus is always with us and knows each one of us in a deeply personal way. But the problem is whether we are able to recognize his voice from the many voices we hear every day?