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Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, Cycle B

31 May 2015

SUNDAY SUMMARY Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40 Moses reminds the nation that God uniquely rescued them for a purpose. Psalm 33:4-5, 6, 9, 18-19, 20, 22 To be chosen by God means to be the recipient of every kindness under heaven. Romans 8:14-17 Children of God are heirs to the glory that belongs to Christ. Matthew 28:16-20 The Real Presence of Jesus is good for a lifetime, and for all time.

Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40 Psalm 33:4-5, 6, 9, 18-19, 20, 22 Romans 8:14-17 Matthew 28:16-20 trinity sunday

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Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, Cycle B

03 Jun 2012

SUNDAY SUMMARY Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40 Moses describes the singular event by which Israel becomes the possession of God. Psalm 33:4-5, 6, 9, 18-19, 20, 22 The kindness of God is singled out as a presence that fills the world of God’s invention. Romans 8:14-17 The Spirit of God testifies that we are chosen as children of God and heirs with Christ. Matthew 28:16-20 The final command of Jesus is that his disciples become disciple-makers.

Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40 Psalm 33:4-5, 6, 9, 18-19, 20, 22 Romans 8:14-17 Matthew 28:16-20 trinity sunday

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Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, Cycle A

05 Jun 2011

SUNDAY SUMMARY Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11 The disciples seek certainties, but divine mysteries are not to be scheduled or controlled. Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9 God rules over all to the sound of praise and gladness. Ephesians 1:17-23 Jesus sits at God’s right hand with every power and dominion at his feet. Matthew 28:16-20 Jesus may ascend, but he isn’t apart from his church, until the end of the age. For a link to the SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER, CYCLE A, please click here.

Matthew 28:16-20 Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11 Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9 Ephesians 1:17-23 Ascension Sunday

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Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, Cycle B

07 Jun 2009

SUNDAY SUMMARY Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40 God makes a unique bargain with the children of Abraham that will last forever. Psalm 33:4-5, 6, 9, 18-19, 20, 22 God brings everything into being and even delivers us from death. Romans 8:14-17 The children of God are heirs with Christ of a glory that has no end. Matthew 28:16-20 Jesus promises to remain with us until the end of the age.

Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40 Psalm 33:4-5, 6, 9, 18-19, 20, 22 Romans 8:14-17 Matthew 28:16-20 trinity sunday

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Ready for liftoff

Funeral, Sacrament-based, Holy Day, Holiday, Special Occasion - Sample homilies to be adapted for your use

Occasion: Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord Readings: Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11; Ephesians 1:17-23; Matthew 28:16-20 ONE OF MY FAVORITE STAINED-GLASS WINDOWS, certainly one of the more memorable, is in the church where I served as a deacon intern a quarter century ago. The window depicts the apostles standing around a large rock that has two very clear footprints improbably imbedded in its surface. Their heads are all turned upward in that unusual tilt peculiar to stained-glass art, and if you follow their gaze up the harlequin medley of color that composes the window, you come to a pair of feet dangling from the top of the frame. Even though you can't see anything above the knees, there's no question to whom the feet belong: The stylized wounds are unmistakable. It is the Lord being "lifted up" into heaven while the apostles look on. With this amazing liftoff, Jesus joined a select fraternity of biblical ascenders. The first was Enoch of that long list of "begats" in the fifth chapter of Genesis. Enoch was the great-great-great-great-grandson of Adam and Eve. His son Methuselah lived to be an astonishing 969 years old and was the oldest man who ever lived. Imagine the birthday cake. Enoch himself was no spring chicken, but his time here on earth may have been cut a little short when, at the tender age of 365, it says in Genesis 5:24, he "walked with God, and he was no longer here, for God took him." The only other character in the Bible who departed without the benefit of a funeral was Elijah, who "went up to heaven" in 2 Kings 2:11. His conveyance to the hereafter was a whirlwind, à la Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, accompanied by a flaming chariot with a flaming horse, a paint scheme that inspired a generation of hot-rodders. Apart from the biblical accounts there is one more flight into the heavenly realm: At the end of her life, the Blessed Mother was assumed body and soul into heaven. But Catholics, remember, are not strict Bible literalists. Since Pope Pius XII's landmark encyclical of 1943, Divino Afflante Spiritu, we are obliged to delve deeper into the biblical account of Christ's Ascension to discover its fuller sense and meaning, the story beyond the account. But Catholics, remember, are not strict Bible literalists. Since Pope Pius XII's landmark encyclical of 1943, Divino Afflante Spiritu, we are obliged to delve deeper into the biblical account of Christ's Ascension to discover its fuller sense and meaning, the story beyond the account. The Ascension marks the rising of Christ above everything. "He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together," Paul writes in Colossians 1:17. Sacred scripture and the creed proclaim that he has taken his seat at the right hand of God "far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion." From this position he assures us, through the apostle Paul, that "neither death, nor life . . . nor powers . . . nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39). "May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened," Paul writes in the second reading, "that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call." He calls us to life on high with him. That means we are invited to share the "riches of glory" and the "surpassing greatness of his power." But it's all "for us who believe." The empty tomb and encounter with the risen Christ places God's stamp of truth on the message of the gospel. In Christ, our lives are eternal and our sins are forgiven. This is the life on high we share with Jesus, far above the limitations of this passing world. Though we are sinners who draw near to death, our faith in the Lord's gospel lifts us above the doubts and fears that can hold us down. Like the apostles in the stained-glass story of the Ascension, we stand transfixed, staring up as Christ is taken from our sight. "Why are you standing there looking at the sky?" the angel asks. This is not about the dangling feet disappearing into the clouds. This is about who we are and the task we are called upon to undertake. We are the witnesses of this revelation sent to welcome all people into this new life. We have friends and family who fear death, with whom we need to share our hope in eternal life. There are sinners in my life and yours who need our forgiveness. The power is passed to us. Now go and make disciples.

Authors Father Paul Boudreau

holy day/feast Ascension Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11 Ephesians 1:17-23 Matthew 28:16-20
We will never be alone

Funeral, Sacrament-based, Holy Day, Holiday, Special Occasion - Sample homilies to be adapted for your use

Occasion: Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord Readings: Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11; Ephesians 1:17-23; Matthew 28:16-20 IN THE STORY The Fugitive by the famous Indian author Rabindranath Tagore, a father returns from his wife's funeral. His boy of 7 stands at the window with eyes wide open and a golden amulet hanging from his neck. The boy is full of thoughts too difficult for his age. His father takes him in his arms and the boy asks, "Where is Mother?" The father answers, "In heaven," pointing to the sky. The boy raises his eyes to the sky and gazes long in silence. His bewildered mind searches into the night, asking the question, "Where is heaven?" No answer comes, and the stars seem like burning tears in that ignorant darkness. Apparently the disciples of Jesus were asking the same question, and in the 14th chapter of John's gospel, Jesus speaks to that very point. He says, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going" (14:3-4). Immediately, Thomas and Philip protest. "How can we know the way?" Thomas asks. "Lord, show us the Father and we shall be satisfied," Philip demands. Jesus says, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father?' Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?" (14:5, 8-10). What is it that Jesus had talked about that would help them understand? Where is this place called heaven? What is it like? The disciples would come to realize that what Jesus talked about in this context was God. He said that wanting God was the "one thing needful." He said that knowing God was like a treasure hidden in a field, or a pearl of great price that was so valuable you would sell everything you had in order to obtain it. He said the people who are really happy, the people who are really blessed, are those who are "poor in spirit" because they know they need God in order to give life meaning. Later, in the John 17, he tells them all they need to know about the subject: "This is eternal life: to know God." Speculating about what and where is the heaven into which Jesus ascended can be a problem for each one of us. Who hasn't wondered what it is like? Where is it? And it is inevitable, I suppose, that we think of heaven as a geographical location. "When my soul is called up yonder, I'll be there." But where? "When the saints go marching in." Marching? What will they be marching into? Speculating about what and where is the heaven into which Jesus ascended can be a problem for each one of us. Who hasn't wondered what it is like? Where is it? And it is inevitable, I suppose, that we think of heaven as a geographical location. "When my soul is called up yonder, I'll be there." But where? "When the saints go marching in." Marching? What will they be marching into? There is a story about a group of American tourists, looking out toward the sea from the Italian Riviera. "It looks like heaven!" one of the tourists exclaimed. A local Italian woman standing nearby said, "These American tourists, they've been everywhere." Matthew's gospel ends at a point where the disciples have followed Jesus everywhere. After his Resurrection ". . . the eleven disciples went to Galilee to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him they worshiped him . . . Jesus came and said to them '. . . make disciples of all nations . . . teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you' " (28:16, 17, 19, 20). Moreover, he assured the disciples that in their lifelong efforts to carry out his commands, they would never be alone. "Remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age," he said to them (28:20). Whether God has scheduled the end time for tomorrow, a million years from now, or even a billion years hence is not our problem. Our Resurrection faith tells us that God's plan for creation's total fulfillment will ultimately prevail. Ours is not to wonder "where or when." Our problem is: How do we respond now to the Good News from Christ that each one of us is an integral part of God's plan for his coming Kingdom? How do we respond now to the Good News of eternal life with God? How do we respond now, to the awesome, wondrous revelation, through Jesus Christ, of God's tremendous love for us? In other words, how do we respond now to today's gospel in which Jesus assures us that we will never be alone? "Remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age," Jesus has promised. Blessed are we who believe that the promises made by our Lord and Savior will be fulfilled! Blessed are we who believe we will never be alone.

Authors James F. Colaianni Sr.

holy day/feast Ascension Ephesians 1:17-23 Matthew 28:16-20 Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11
Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, Cycle A

01 Jun 2014

SUNDAY SUMMARY Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11 Disciples of the Risen One wonder if this is the hour when Kingdom comes. Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9 If we really believe that God reigns, we'll clap our hands and sing! Ephesians 1:17-23 Christ is above every authority, power, and name in this age and the one to come. Matthew 28:16-20 All worship but some doubt when Jesus returns to Galilee after his death. For a link to the SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER, CYCLE A, please click here.

Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11 Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9 Ephesians 1:17-23 Matthew 28:16-20 Ascension Sunday

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Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, Cycle A

28 May 2017

SUNDAY SUMMARY Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11 The disciples seek certainties, but divine mysteries are not to be scheduled or controlled. Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9 God rules over all to the sound of praise and gladness. Ephesians 1:17-23 Jesus sits at God’s right hand with every power and dominion at his feet. Matthew 28:16-20 Jesus may ascend, but he isn’t apart from his church, until the end of the age. For a link to the SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER, CYCLE A, please click here. For sample homilies for the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, click here.

Matthew 28:16-20 Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11 Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9 Ephesians 1:17-23 Ascension Sunday

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Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, Cycle B

27 May 2018

SUNDAY SUMMARY Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40 Nothing has happened on Earth before to equal the works of God for Israel. Psalm 33:4-5, 6, 9, 18-19, 20, 22 Those whom God chooses are blessed by divine kindness and deliverance. Romans 8:14-17 The Spirit testifies that we are God’s children in Christ. Matthew 28:16-20 Jesus delivers the great commission to his followers.

Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40 Psalm 33:4-5, 6, 9, 18-19, 20, 22 Romans 8:14-17 Matthew 28:16-20 trinity sunday

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Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, Cycle A

24 May 2020

SUNDAY SUMMARY Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11 The disciples seek certainties, but divine mysteries are not to be scheduled or controlled. Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9 God rules over all to the sound of praise and gladness. Ephesians 1:17-23 Jesus sits at God’s right hand with every power and dominion at his feet. Matthew 28:16-20 Jesus may ascend, but he isn’t apart from his church, until the end of the age. For links to the SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER, CYCLE A, please click here.

Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11 Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9 Ephesians 1:17-23 Matthew 28:16-20 Ascension Sunday

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