Eastern Africa Dominican Friars

Thursday in the Sixth Week of Easter 

Saint for the day: St. Catharine of Bologna (1413-1463)

Acts 18:1-8

Psalm 98

John 16:16-20

If the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord is celebrated on this day click on this “link” for the proper Scripture Readings.

Now go back and read my note at the beginning of the reflection for Sunday, May 5^th to better understand why the Church moved this celebration to next Sunday.

The following is a reflection based on the Scripture Readings for the Wednesday in the Sixth Week of Easter.

“Jesus said to his disciples: ‘A little while and you will no longer see me, and again a little while later and you will see me.” (John16:16)

The first principle that we need to understand in any reflection on the mystery of God’s presence to our world in the person of Jesus is that He and God are one: “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.” (John 14:67) and that our earthly concept of time and space is outside of our regular reckoning. It was the early Church which tried to give some human understanding to this mystery and set times and seasons in order for us to make that leap of faith and better understand how God came into our world in the person of Jesus. It was the Church which put together the stories about Jesus’ time on earth – as best they could remember and, more importantly, in order for us to have hope in the “life everlasting.”

Therefore, any attempt on our part to insert our limited concepts of time and space is going to diminish this mystery. Remember the definition of the word “explain:” means to “flatten out.” How can we ever “flatten out” God?

I’m reminded of the story of a Confirmation Ceremony where the Bishop asked the young people being confirmed some questions one of which was, “Who is God?” All heads went down in silence and only one young boy raised his hand and mumbled something. The Bishop cupped his ear and said, “I can’t understand you.”   The boy repeated his soft answer getting the same reply from the Bishop and then blurted out, “Of course you can’t understand! It’s a mystery!”

So, here we are some 2,000 + years later and the only thing we can do is walk by faith. In the Holy Land, on the Mount of Olives the Ascension of the Lord is commemorated by a shrine which houses a rock that has a vague impression of foot on it – supposedly the place where Jesus took His last step into Heaven. Any time we try to make Jesus fit into our concepts we are explaining away the mystery. We’re flattening it out until there is almost nothing left. We need to let go and let God be God. And if you listen closely you’ll hear the voice coming from Heaven, “Why are standing here looking up into Heaven? This Jesus told you to get out on the road and proclaim a new commandment, ‘Love each other as I have loved you.” (a loosely adapted rendition of Acts 1:11 & John 13:34)

Even if we understand the system of the “counted days:” 40 of Lent; 40 of Easter; 10 more added to get the ‘perfect number: 50’ we still get to the main celebration of Pentecost: the coming of the Holy Spirit which is what our Christian Journey is all about! Amen!

Some wise person once said, “Why is it that every time I take two steps forward I seem to fall back three? But I usually get there anyway since I was usually heading in the wrong direction in the first place.” (Anonymous) Do I hear another Amen?

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Wednesday in the Sixth Week of Easter 

Saint for the day: St. Peter of Tarentaise (c. 1102-1174)

Scripture readings for today's liturgy:

Acts 17:15, 22-18:1

Psalm 148

John 16:12-15

In today’s Holy Gospel Jesus says, “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth.” (John 16:12)

In today’s first scripture reading from the Acts of the Apostles we can see that Paul is right out there – in the places where people gathered – and meets them “where they’re at.” And when I say “where they’re at” I’m not referring only to the physical place but, also, where they are at in their own understanding of what it means to “know God.”

We know from all the resurrection accounts of the appearances of Jesus that it was always “out there” and “on the way” which certainly tells us something about how we reflect and pass on our experiences of meeting Jesus. We can’t just sit comfortably in our churches and wait for people to come to be saved. It’s true that the Resurrection of Jesus happened inside the quiet, darkened tomb where he realized the re-creative power of God. But take careful notice and see that He didn’t just stay there but went out. And it’s His “going out” that allowed Him to be seen and experienced by both individuals and also crowds.

In this reading from the Acts of the Apostles you can see that Paul takes advantage of all available signs and symbols to build a bridge to deeper understanding: “…you have an altar to an unknown God … I proclaim to you the God who made the world and all that is in it, the Lord of Heaven and earth.”

Paul is acting just like Jesus who met people “where they were at” and then led them deeper into that relationship. It’s true that God can work any way He wants to bring people to a real understanding of His love and presence but most of the time He works in a “reflective way” to let people see the inner presence of the Resurrected Jesus in us which is the spark that ignites the light of faith in those whom we encounter. And this is the responsibility of all baptized Christians. Not just the clergy and religious. The growth of the Church only happens when you and I are out there – on the way planting the seeds of faith. It’s the challenge for all of us. Take it! Amen!

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Tuesday in the Sixth Week of Easter 

Saint for the day: St. Rose Veneering (1656-1728)

Scriptures readings for today's liturgy:

Acts 16:22-34

Psalm 138

John 16:5-11

“About midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God as the prisoners listened, there was suddenly such a severe earthquake that the foundations of the jail shook: all the doors flew open and the chains were pulled loose. (Acts 10:22ff)

The saying, “God writes straight with crooked lines” is the first thing that came into my mind upon reading the Holy Scriptures appointed for today’s liturgy. The second thought that I had was the fact that most of us would never think in terms that an earthquake could do any good. Having grown up in California – a place where earthquakes are commonplace – we only ever thought of them as destructive. The third thing that came to me was the fact that most of the early Christian community - which was predominantly Jewish - would be aware of the Elijah story when he goes into the cave at Mt. Horeb, distraught that he is the last prophet in Israel. He experiences four things: an earthquake, a fire, and a powerful storm … and then the gentle breeze of God’s Spirit – the comforter.

Sometimes earthquakes can be a kind of “wake-up call” to shake us loose from the chains that keep us bound as prisoners. The fact that the jailer turns healer is another sign that we cannot let our biases keep us from allowing the “breath of the Spirit” to both set us free and comfort us in the process.

As we move closer to the great Feast of Pentecost – when the Holy Spirit shakes the house where the disciples are gathered – much out of fear and discouragement – and re-creates them and sets a fire of faith alive in their hearts and gives them the courage to go out and proclaim the Resurrected Jesus as Lord.

As we the Church await the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, go back to yesterday’s reflection and pray that Holy Spirit prayer and try to see the hope that it gives all of us who are in need of comforting, courage and hope for a renewed world. Amen!

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Monday in the Sixth Week of Easter 

Saint for the day: Blessed. Gerard of Lunel (13th Century)

Scripture Readings for today's liturgy:

Acts 16:11-15

Psalm 149

John 15:26-16:4

In these last days of our Easter Cycle and as we move toward the Solemnity of Pentecost we hear of the Holy Spirit’s coming. Yesterday’s Gospel reminds us: “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything,,,” (John 14:25ff)

So we need to ask ourselves: “What is it that the Holy Spirit teaches us?”

In the first place it is the primary function of the Holy Spirit to create and bring about or renew that which has perhaps sunken to the depths of chaos. In the first words of the Book of Genesis we hear that it was the Holy Spirit who “hovered over the diversity of waters … and brought about the creation of the earth.” (Genesis chapter 1 and following)

Maybe we need to look closely at those attributes of the Holy Spirit: to create; to bring about; to renew. None of us need to look very far away to see that there are people and factions in our world that have turned these positive attributes around so that they can un-create (read kill) stop and prevent any efforts that help keep the Fire of Love from spreading.

The use of the Holy Spirit’s power to un-create can easily be seen in so many actions around our world. I’ll let your imagination work here so that you can better see what the Holy Spirit of God desires of those of us who try to follow Jesus.

Just looking at the Gospel’s portrayal of Jesus should be enough to convince us that He never used His power to un-create! In the Garden of Gethsemane He could have simply waved His hand and done away with the soldiers who were coming to arrest Him. But, even in that scene, … look what He does:   He extends His healing hand to heal the man who had his ear chopped off by Peter!

All throughout history there have been Holy Wars! What a travesty of linguistic manipulation: how can you have a HOLY WAR?

As we move towards the end of our Easter Season let us have as our guide the traditional “Prayer of the Holy Spirit.” Pray it slowly and let each word sink deep into your being:

“Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And you shall renew the face of the earth.” Amen!

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I’d like to hear from you to know that you’re getting these reflections. Use this link to go to my "home page" where you’ll find more stories and pictures along with a link to e-mail me: