Feast of Pentacost: B

"THEY WERE ALL FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT"

First  Reading: Acts 2: 1-11
Second Reading: 1 Cor. 12:3b-7,12-13
Gospel Reading: Jn 20:19-28

   * First Reading is from the Acts of the Apostles. It describes the first Pentecost experience of the disciples during which Holy Spirit came down upon them in a mighty way. The disciples who were timid and frightened after the death of Jesus became filled with Holy Spirit and were transformed into courageous and charismatic witnesses of the Risen Lord. They were able to speak to people of all languages and cultures who were at Jerusalem on the first Pentecost. They boldly communicated the good news of salvation to the people.

   * Second Reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Corinthians. Paul instructs the people of Corinth that Holy Spirit is active in people. We are all baptised into one body and were all given to drink of the one Spirit. It is Holy Spirit who inspires various gifts , ministries and works in the Chruch.

"Receive the Holy Spirit"
Today we celebrate Pentecost, coming of the Holy Spirit on the Apostels. Gospel reading is from St. John which speaks about breath and life. The risen Lord appeared to his disciples in the upper room where they were locked inside. After greeting them , he breathed on them and said "Receive the Holy Spirit". According to biblical understandig, wind and spirit signified the breath of God. At Pentecost , by words breath and spirit signifies a new creation and a new beginning. Hence Pentecost is the birthday of the Chruch.
Before the day of Pentecost, the disciples were huddled together behind closed doors, paralysed by fear and confusion and hesitancy. They could only wait and pray.
But with the coming of the Holy Spirit , His fire was kindled in their hearts and His wind drove them out into the streets to proclaim the good news. That was the beginning of the Church's mission to make disciples of all nations. What those first discipless began is yet to be finished . That is why we need a new coming of the Holy Spirit.

The Feast of Ascension :B

Today we celebrate the glorious Ascension of Christ. It is a day of great joy and gladness

First Reading: Acts. 1:1-11
Second Reading: Eph. 1: 17-23
Gospel Reading: Mk. 16:15-20

* First Reading is from the Acts of the Apostles. It gives us a description of the event of Ascension of Jesus into Heaven. Before the Ascension, Jesus reminded his followers of their responsibility. He promised them that he would send the Holy Spirit and they are to witness to him all throghout the world; with the power of the Holy Spirit . After this , when all of them were looking on, Jesus was lifted up to heaven .As they were still gazing on, they were reminded that as has has gone up to heaven, he will come again.

   * Second Reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Ephesians. Paul describes the meaning of Ascension of Jesus. That God has raised Jesus above all earthly power , and made him, not only head of the Church but the Lord of all creation. Paul then prays for the Ephesians and asks God to make them understand the heavenly riches we inherit through Jesus Christ.

"He was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right had of God"

In the Gospel today, we have Jesus and the disciples gathered together before the Ascension. Jesus commissions his apostles to preach the Kingdom of God. He promised them that he would be with them till the end. After that he ascended into heaven.
For the disciples , ascension of Jesus marks the begining of a new chapter . From now on, they are without the physical presence of Jesus. For three years, Jesus led them from the front, taught them by example, trained hem to be fishers of men, gave them a thirst for the things to come. This separation though painful , is for good. Jesus knew that it was time fo him to entrust the helm in the hands of his disciples . Jesus knew that, after many trials and errors, betrayals and denials they have reached the maturity. Jesus told tem that it was for their good that he goes. "It is for your benefit that I leave you, for after I leave, I will send you the Holy Spirit, who will guide and teach you " Jn.16:6. Jesus' Ascension is most important for us too, because it confirsm His claim to be God's own Son. And it completes the cycle of incarnation , redemption and glorification. Hence by His Ascension, he gives us the hope that one day we too will follow him to heaven.

Sixth Sunday of Easter:B

"LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU"

First Reading: Acts. 10:25-26,34-35, 44-48
Second Reading: 1 Jn . 4:7-10
Gospel Readng: Jn 15: 9-17

   * First Reading is from the Acts of the Apostles. This passage describes the events of the first non Jew, a Romman Centurian Cornelius and his household received baptism in the name of Jesus Christ and became the first gentile converts to become Christians.While St. Peter was preaching to the assembly those gathered , the Holy Spirit desecended on them and they began to praise God in various languages. The baptism according to Peter ,cannot be refused to those who have received the Holy Spirit.
This shows that God is not selective in his love. His salvation is offered to all.

   *Second Reading is from the first letter of St. John. Apostle John exhorts us to love one another for we are children of God whose very essence is love. God proved this when out of the infinite love He sent His only son to give us eternal life and make an expiation for sins of the whole human race. This passage contains a very important message made about God, namely that He is LOVE.

"As the Father has loved Me, So have I Loved YOU"

Today's Gospel reading from St. John too speaks of Father's love for Jesus which is the basis of his love for his disciple. First of all, Jesus asks his disciples "Love one another as I have loved you"
Jesus communicates to us that he loves us with the love of His Father. The love of the Father, makes Jesus his "Beloved Son" and allows him to give up his life for the sake of humanity. In this way Jesus teaches us the values of love and how to love.
Secondly the love of Jesus is a fruitful love because the love does the most remarkable act of laying down his own life. Jesus' death and resurrection gives us a new identity as these liberate us from the slavery of sin and death and makes us worthy of the Kingdom of heaven.
The essence of Christian living is given in today's liturgy that is following Jesus and translating is commandment of love into our own lives. He calls us his friends. But to be a friend of Jesus would mean that we are ready to sacrifice ourselves the way Jesus himself did.

Fifth Sunday of Easter :B

"I AM THE VINE , YOU ARE THE BRANCHES"

First Reading: Acts 9:26-31
Second Reading : 1 Jn 3:18-24
Gospel Reading: Jn 15:1-8

   * First Reading is from the Acts of the Apostles. It gives an account of how Paul is among the Christians whom he had persecuted. Paul was a known persecutor of the Church at Jerusalem and he was feared by Christians. After his conversion he tried to join the Christian community and try to preach the word but he was rejected by them. But Barnabas , a man of standing in the church in Jerusalem was convinced that Saul has truely accepted Christ. He therefore introduced him to the Apostles telling them about Saul's on the road to Damascus and how he boldly preached the Risen Lord.

   * Second readng is from the first letter of St. John . The beloved disciple John urges Christians to believe firmly in Jesus Christ the Son of God . Their love of neighbour should be a practical demonstration of their faith in Jesus. He exhorts them that if we wish to live as God wants, we must keep his commandments, especially the commandment to love one another.

Today's Gospel speaks of the vine and branches in the context of fruitfulness of being a disciple of Jesus. This in the background of Jesus' last days in this world. Jesus compares his relationsip with disciples to that of a Vine and its branches. Unless the branches are united with the Vine, the cannot produce fruits. The branches receive nourishment from the Vine. If the branches are cut off from the Vine, they dry up. So also the disciples have to united with Jesus to be fruitful. Without his help we cannot produce the fruits for that we have to keep his commandments especially the commandment of Love.
This Gospel passage also gives us the message of tremendous intimacy between Jesus and disciples. Our relationship wit te Lord is deeper than mere professing that Jesus is our saviour and Lord. He lives in us and we live in him. The poof that we are living in him and he is living in us is that he has given us a share in his Spirit , wh is the bond of union between us and Jesus.
Jesus wants us that we are branches of the Vine and that we should live in a community of love. We need to love and care for one another.