Pentecostés, la Virgen, y decir Sí al Espíritu Santo

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Domingo de Pentecostés, Año B: 27 Mayo 2012
Hch 2, 1-11; Sal 103; Gal 5, 16-25; Jn 15, 26-27; 16, 12-15

Oímos en el libro de Génesis, capítulo 11, de la torre de Babel—de cómo, muy temprano en la historia humana, en un valle en Mesopotamia, se intentó edificar una gran torre—una torre cuya cúspide llegara al cielo para que sus edificadores pusieran hacerse un nombre. (Gn 11:4) Fue un proyecto de orgullo y ambición humana, con la intención de edificarse sin Dios—y produjo tensión, confusión, y división; y los que intentaron colaborar fueron separados, hablando distintas idiomas, morando muy alejados.

Hoy, en la fiesta de Pentecostés, celebramos la revocación de Babel.

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Pentecost, the Virgin Mary, and saying Yes to the Holy Spirit

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Pentecost Sunday, Year B: May 27, 2012
Mass during the Day: Acts 2:1-11; Ps 104; Gal 5:16-25; John 15:26-27, 16:12-15

We read in the 11th chapter of the Book of Genesis about the Tower of Babel—about how, in the mists of early human history, there was an attempt, in a valley in Mesopotamia, to build a large tower—a tower with its top in the sky, so that its builders could make a name for themselves. (Gen 11:4) It was a project of human pride and ambition, trying to build themselves up apart from God—and it resulted in tension, confusion, and division—those who had tried to work together then separated, speaking different languages, living in different places.

On this day, the Feast of Pentecost, we celebrate the reversal of Babel.

Ascension of the Lord: Christ kicks it up a notch

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Ascension of the Lord, Year B: May 20, 2012
Acts 1:1-11; Ps 47; Eph 4:1-13; Mark 16:15-20

On that first Good Friday, our Lord Jesus suffered, died upon the cross, and was buried. On the third day, that first Easter Sunday, he rose from the dead, his body transformed, the firstfruits of the Resurrection. For the next 40 days, he appeared often to his disciples, teaching them about the Kingdom of God. And then, as we heard in our first reading and our Gospel reading, he ascended into heaven.

Today we celebrate our Lord’s Ascension; and so, we might say, we celebrate his retirement. His work has been accomplished; his earthly life is done; and so it’s time to go back home and sit down and relax. It’s time to retire.

No! Christ’s Ascension was not retirement!

Día de la Madre y Primera Comunión: Caminando juntos al Reino Celestial

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VI Domingo de Pascua, Año B: 13 Mayo 2012
Hch 10, 25-26.34-35.44-48; Sal 97; 1 Jn 4, 7-10; Jn 15, 9-17

Hoy oímos que nuestro Señor Jesús nos habla de una familia—de la familia suya, la familia de la Santísima Trinidad. Nos habla de su relación con Dios Padre—una relación que ha existido desde la eternidad, entre Dios Padre y Dios Hijo. Y ¿por qué nos habla de ella? Porque le importa mucho a él, y es necesario saber de ella si queremos saber quién es Jesús y cómo es; pero también porque quiere atraernos hasta entrar en esa relación, hasta compartir en su propia vida divina.

Mother’s Day and your spiritual jewelry

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6th Sunday of Easter, Year B: May 13, 2012
Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48; Ps 98; 1 John 4:7-10; John 15:9-17

As I hear these words of our Lord Jesus on this Mother’s Day weekend, I am struck by how closely they parallel the structure and pattern of love within our human families. For he says: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you… as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love… [so] if you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love.”

Christ is speaking out of his relationship with God the Father: a relationship that has existed from all eternity between these two Divine Persons of the Blessed Trinity. He is telling us about his Father and about their relationship; and he is inviting us to be drawn into that relationship, to share in his own divine life.

El Ministerio de San Esteban y el fruto de escuchar con compasión

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V Domingo de Pascua, Año B: 6 Mayo 2012
Hch 9, 26-31; Sal 21; 1 Jn 3, 18-24; Jn 15, 1-8

La lectura que oímos del Evangelio hoy es una que usé muchas veces mientras que enseñaba la RICA en este año—a los que se preparaban para el bautismo o para hacerse católicos. Porque, después de llegar a conocer a Cristo, y responderlo en la fe, y recibir el bautismo y la confirmación: entonces, ¿qué?

La respuesta es: vivir la vida cristiana; vivir cada día en Cristo. Y Cristo nos lo muestra en el imagen en la lectura: “Yo soy la vid, ustedes los sarmientos; el que permanece en mí y yo en él, ése da fruto abundante.”

Stephen Ministry and the fruit of compassionate listening

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5th Sunday of Easter, Year B: May 6, 2012
Acts 9:26-31; Ps 22; 1 John 3:18-24; John 15:1-8

This passage that we hear in our Gospel reading today is one that I spoke of many times in RCIA this year—to those preparing for baptism or to become Catholic. For after they, or we, come to know Christ and we respond to him in faith and receive baptism and confirmation: then what?

And Christ himself tells us through this great imagery. “I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit.” This is a picture of what our life in him is to be all about, day by day, month after month.