Sunday of the Most Holy Trinity: May 30, 2010

1st reading, from the Book of Proverbs, 8: 22-31

A collection of moral and religious teachings, the Book of Proverbs was written by Solomon, son of David and King of Israel. On this reading Solomon tells us about Wisdom: God's most favorite and first creation.

Wisdom -says Solomon-, was there before everything else. It has helped "kings to govern and rules to make good laws." Wisdom was with God, "beside him like an architect," from the beginning. Those who listen to wisdom listen to the truth, because wisdom never misleads and never lies.

Wisdom honors God, is just, and gives life to those who find her. She is "better than jewels" and "nothing can compare to(her)."

Those who listen to wisdom will gain knowledge and the meaning of fearing the Lord; they will not get into trouble because they have accepted God's advice.

May we be able to open our minds, our hearts, and our souls, just so wisdom can completely take us under her wing.

**T**H**E*****M**O**S**T*****H**O**L**Y*****T**R**I**N**I**T**Y**

2nd reading, from the Letter to Paul to the Romans, 5: 1-5
-Right with God-

God has revealed to us what we need to do in order to be right with Him. "It has nothing to do with law..." In order to be right with God, people has to have faith in Jesus Christ. God tells us that Jesus Christ is the only one who can set us free.

God's promise of salvation is made available, not to those who follow the Law, but to those who believe. So, in becoming right with God, our hearts get filled with hope, the hope that says to us that salvation is a reachable goal. And not even our tribulations will dishearten us, because tribulations can only make us stronger, and the stronger we are, the more hope we can gather in our hearts.

May we experience the need to be right with God, so our hearts get to feel the satisfaction of being at peace, faithfully, through our Lord Jesus Christ.

**T**H**E*****M**O**S**T*****H**O**L**Y*****T**R**I**N**I**T**Y**

The Gospel according to John, 16: 12-15
-The Work of the Holy Spirit-
"But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth."

As Jesus prepares the disciples for his departure from this life, his words are delivered plainly but with strong indication of how much he cares for them. He tells them that he is only disclosing what he believes they can bear, and that complete truth will be revealed to them through his Messenger.

In present times we understand, we are able to decipher the mystery of Jesus' words. However, at the time when Jesus first delivered his message, the disciples were confused and were disappointed at the news of losing Jesus once again. The perspective of learning "the truth" though, is an exciting chance that they welcome with open arms.

Learning about Jesus' truth, about his Messenger, and about the Father's message, is a fulfilling opportunity valued by the disciples, maybe as much as we value it today.

May we be able to come full circle and may we get to experience Christ's truth, on a 52" LCD screen, and in full 3-D.

8th Sunday of Easter: The Solemnity of Pentecost, May 23, 2010

1st Reading from the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, 2: 1-11
-The Coming of the Holy Spirit-

It is on a regular basis that our Nation's President work day requires that he stand up on a podium to deliver a speech. When he does it, the speech is delivered in the Nation's official language: English. And although almost every one of our Nation's citizens is able to understand English, it is very rarely that all citizens get to "hear" the same message. As a matter of fact, if almost all citizens were to ascertain and to describe the message in the same way, the occasion would be considered as a miracle.

On Pentecost day a miracle did happen. Through the Holy Spirit's intercession the believers spoke in different languages and yet everyone listening to them was able to understand the message and to interpret it equally. The message talked about God's great things.

The words used by the believers were different and yet the message heard by the people was the same? Politicians would give up their richness for a phenomenon like such. Mothers and fathers would die if their teenagers were to comprehend their words without confusion. Relationships between spouses, neighbors, and governments would significantly improve, if the blessing of understanding was to be bestowed upon them.

The Holy Spirit's goal was to spread unity amongst God's people. Through his grace people could talk and discern each others' words, and still not feel disoriented. How wonderful would this world be if we could figure out each others' messages, like people did on Pentecost day.

*****H**A**P**P**Y*****P**E**N**T**E**C**O**S**T*****D**A**Y*****

2nd Reading from the 1 Letter to the Corinthians, 12: 3b-7, 12-13
-Gifts From the Holy Spirit- & - One Body With Many Parts-
"...no one can confess 'Jesus is Lord,' without being guided by the Holy Spirit."

The Holy Spirit, in his great wisdom, gave to men different gifts. He did not do this to make some men superiors and others inferior. To some he gave knowledge, to some he gave understanding, and to others he gave the power of healing. The Holy Spirit did this just so, in order to be complete, men were in need of one each other.

Let us stop for a minute, take a step back, and look at those around us. Though we are all different externally, eye color, hair, and body type, internally we are the same. Our external appearance is nothing but a smoke screen that masks how similar we are to one another.

And we have to be internally alike because we are all creatures of God. He has given us an interesting world in the form of different skin colors, hair types, languages, and costumes, and the purpose of the differences is, again, to make sure that in becoming united we enhance the world we live in.

Despite our physical differences, we remain one in Christ. Each one of us is a different part of Jesus' one Body. Like the Father, the Son, and he Holy Spirit are three in one body, we too are many in one Jesus.

*****H**A**P**P**Y*****P**E**N**T**E**C**O**S**T*****D**A**Y*****

The Gospel according to John, 20: 19-23
-Jesus Appears to His Disciples-
"If you forgive people's sins, they are forgiven..."

Today's Gospel brings us to the time immediately after Jesus' crucifixion, when the Apostles were hiding from the authorities, fearing for their lives.

Most certainly during those days there was an absence of peace. Political turmoil had the city in full alert, and people's patience for one another was nothing a transient mirage.

On this particular night, Jesus appeared to the disciples offering them peace. Once again, the ever caring Jesus places his concern and love for the disciples above his own personal needs. Without peace there is no chance for unity, and without unity a fragmented society cannot be rescued.

As always Jesus gives us an example that deserves following. Despite of all the terrible things have been done to him, Jesus did not change his opinion of men. Jesus returns from the dead with so much peace in his heart, that he is able to share it with the disciples.

If politicians today ran the world in a similar way, so many lives would have been spared; if husbands and wives mirrored Jesus' example, divorce rate would not be as high as it is.

In order to find peace one must be ready to forgive. Forgiveness is the key that opens the door to a united world, to a united marriage, to a united church.

May we be able to imitate Jesus' ability to forgive others, so we can start the walk that leads us to a peaceful world.

7mo Domingo de Pascua: La Ascención del Señor

1a Lectura del Libro de los Hechos de los Apóstoles, 1: 1 - 11
-Jesús es Elevadoal Cielo-
"... en unos pocos días ustedes serán bautizados con el Espíritu Santo."

El relato de los acontecimientos este día, lleno con palabras de acción, establece la importante labor que yace por delante de los apóstoles. Ellos, los apostoles, ya no están a la espera de la venida del Salvador, porque saben que la profecía de Dios ha tenido lugar delante de sus ojos, y el Mesías no sólo ha estado allí con ellos, sino que también ha anunciado su salida definitiva de este reino terrenal.

Así que ahí están, los doce, a punto de presenciar un acontecimiento milagroso. Nuestro Señor, después de haberles dicho palabras sabias, es elevado y rodeado de una nube que lo remueve de la vista de los discípulos.

Los discípulos se quedan en la ciudad, porque Jesús les ha pedido que permanezcan allí hasta que reciban la visita de un "invitado especial".

Ojala que como ellos, podames nosotros ser capaces de esperar por todo el tiempo que Jesús requiera de nosotros, y que nuestros corazones y nuestras almas se llenen de la luz y el poder del Espíritu Santo.

*****W*E*L*C*O*M*E***H*O*L*Y***S*P*I*R*I*T*****

2nda Lectura, de la Carta de Pablo a los Efesios, 2:17-23
-La Oración de Pablo-
"La Iglesia es el cuerpo de Cristo, el complemento de éste que completa todas las cosas en todas partes."

Cuando pienso en mi vida como estudiante, recuerdo que antes de la universidad, estudiar me parecía como una tarea fragmentada. Yo no podía entender el uso de Álgebra o Química en mi futuro, ya que la carrera que era mi interés se encontraba en las ciencias de Relaciones Humanas. Yo quería ser psicóloga, y temas no relacionados directamente con el desempeño de Psicología me hacían sentir como si estuviera usando mi tiempo erróneamente.

No fue hasta que llegué a la Universidad, que todo empezó a tener sentido. Cuando me tocó analizar la relación entre el equilibrio químico del cuerpo y la habilidad del cerebro para trabajar saludablemente, fue que finalmente dí las gracias a los esfuerzos de mis maestros por hacerme entender no sólo la química, sino también laFísica y las Matemáticas.

Me parece que los discípulos se sintieron de esta manera también, como si estuvieran participando de una educación fragmentada, pues antes de la llegada del Espíritu Santo ellos no tenían plena comprensión de los mensajes de Jesús. Ellos lo siguieron porque tenían fe, porque creía en él ciegamente, y porque confiaban en él y lo amaban tanto como sus propias vidas.

Al igual que los estudiantes universitarios, los discípulos "entendieron" una vez que la sabiduría del Espíritu Santo llegó a ellos.

Ojalá que nosotros podamos amar a Dios tanto como los discípulos, pues hemos recibido la sabiduría del Espíritu Santo y ahora podemos comprender las promesas de Jesús.


*****W*E*L*C*O*M*E***H*O*L*Y***S*P*I*R*I*T*****

El Evangelio según Lucas, 24: 46-53
-Jesús se Aparece a sus Ddiscípulos- &-Jesús es Llevado al Cielo-
"Y yo mismo voy a enviar sobre vosotros lo que mi Padre ha prometido."

El Evangelio nos transporta a los momentos finales de Jesús con sus discípulos. Es esta la 2ª vez que se enfrentan a una separación.

Los sentimientos de Jesús y sus preocupaciones, siguen siendo las mismas. En el momento de su crucifixión Jesús no se preocupa de su propia muerte, sino en cambio se preocupa con lo que pueda sucederle a sus seguidores. Una vez más, en este último día, la carga primordial en el corazán de Jesús es tranquilizar a los discípulos, quienes están a punto de recibir el don más preciado de sus vidas.

Jesús da importancia a su propio momento de gloria: el momento mas grandioso que está a punto de acontecer ante los ojos de los discípulos, que es cuando Jesú se reunirá con elPadre. En cada momento de su vida, Jesús ha sido consistente en mantenerlos a ellos-y a nosotros también-, en la parte superior de su lista de asuntos importantes.

Nuestro bienestar es "la preocupación primordial" de Jesús. Qjalá que seamos capaces de recibir las gracias que Jesús nos ofrece, y que podamos ser capaces de imitarlo, colocando las necesidades de los demás por delante de las nuestras.

7th Sunday of Easter: The Ascension of the Lord

1st Reading, from the Book of Acts of the Apostles, 1: 1-11
-Jesus is Taken Up to Heaven-
"...in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

The events of this day, filled with words of action, set up in motion the important work that lays ahead for the apostles. No longer are they in wait for the coming of the Savior, for they know that God's prophecy has taken place in front of their very eyes, and the Messiah not only has been there with them, but has also announced his permanent departure from this earthly realm.

So there they are, the twelve, about to witness a miraculous event. Our Lord, after having said wise words to them, is elevated and surrounded with a cloud that takes him from the disciples' sight.

The disciples remain in the city, for Jesus has asked them to remain there until they receive the visit of the "special visitor", and the disciples oblige.

Like them, may we are able to wait for as long as Jesus requires of us, and may our hearts and souls be filled with the light and the power of the Holy Spirit.

*****W*E*L*C*O*M*E***H*O*L*Y***S*P*I*R*I*T*****

2nd reading, from the Letter of Paul to the Ephesians, 2:17-23
-Paul's Prayer-
"The Church is Christ's body, the completion of him who himself completes all things everywhere."

When I think of my life as a student, I remember how before College, studying seemed to me as a fragmented task. I could not understand the use for Algebra or Chemistry, since my carreer interest was more into the Human Relations Sciences. I wanted to become a Psychologist, and subjects not direcly related to that world made me feel as if I was using my time erroneously. It wasn't until I arrived to the University when studying seemed to have reached full circle. Analizing the relationship between chemical balance and a healthy working brain finaly made me thank my teacher's efforts to make me understand not only Chemistry, but also Physics, and even Math.

Somehow I think that the disciples felt a bit like me and fragmented education, because prior to the arrival of the Holy Spirit they did not had full understanding of Jesus' messages. They followed him because they have faith, because they believed in him blindly, and trusted him and loved him as much as their own lives. Like college students, the disciples "got it" once the Holy Spirit's wisdom filled them up, just like it continues to do to all of those who follow and believe in Jesus' promises.

*****W*E*L*C*O*M*E***H*O*L*Y***S*P*I*R*I*T*****

The Gospel according to Luke, 24: 46-53
-Jesus Appears to His Disciples- ; -Jesus is Taken Up to Heaven-
"And I myself will send upon you what my Father has promised."

The Gospel transports us to Jesus' final moments with is disciples. For the 2nd time they are all facing separation. Jesus' feelings, his concerns, remain the same. At the time of his crucisfiction Jesus is not bothered with his own demise but instead he is preocupied with what can happen to his followers. Once again, on this last day, Jesus is all about reassuring the disciples that they are about to receive the most precious gift. Jesus downplays his own glorious moment, the one when he is about to be reunited with the Father, on behalf of the greatness that is about to befall on the disciples.

On every moment of his life, Jesus has been consistent on keeping them -and us too-, on the top of his list. Our wellbeing is Jesus' concern.

May we be able to receive the graces that Jesus offers to us, and may we be able to imitate him, placing others' needs ahead of ours.

6th Sunday of Easter, May 9, 2010 .

1st Reading, from the Book of Acts of the Apostles, 15:1-2, 22-29
-The Meeting in Jerusalem; The Letter to the Gentile Believers-
"And God who knows the thoughts of everyone, showed his approval of the Gentiles by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he had to us."
Peter, addressing the apostles and the elders.

Paul and Barnabas go on with their Jesus-given mission of preaching God's Good News. They discover that confusion exists in people's minds, regarding of what is required from the Gentiles, upon their conversion to Christianity. And they find out that the newly arrived Gentiles are not welcomed by those who have been there first. After meeting with the apostles and the elders, a letter is written just so the Gentiles will have an understanding of what is expected from them.

What happened then continues to happen today: people invading other people's territories. Confusion amongst new and old. The ones who are there first feel a certain entitlement or a form of seniority. They do not necessarily accept the newcomers, or their ways, much less their presence. This is how the Jewish people felt towards the Gentiles, whom for a long time, were not part of God's club. Then all of a sudden, and -according to the Jews- without merit, God changed the rules on everyone. Why would God do that to the Jews? First teaching them that they are the "chosen ones" and then changing the rules 180 degrees, turning the Gentiles from orphans into favorites.

Though it is not too hard to see the facts from the Jewish perspective, it is not too difficult to understand why God opened his arms towards the Gentiles. The Gentiles welcomed the Good News of the Kingdom of God without hesitation; they were ready to turn their lives around and follow God's commandments, no questions asked. The Gentiles opened, not only their minds, but also their hearts. Willingly! Lovingly! The Gentiles believed that the Kingdom of God had room for everyone.

May our hearts be as open and as welcoming towards newcomers, as the Gentiles hearts were towards God's invitation to be a part of his spiritual family.

*J**E**S**U**S*****T**H**E*****G**O**O**D*****S**H**E**P**H**E**R**D*

2nd Reading, from the Book of Revelations, 21: 10-14, 22-225
-The New Jerusalem-
"The city has no need for the sun or the moon to shine on it, because the glory of God shines on it, and the Lamb is its lamp."

I've traveled throughout different parts of the world and visited several continents; my eyes have been blessed with the sights of beautiful monuments, cities, and ports. In today's era of CGI, we go to a movie theater and fabulous no-longer existing cities appear in front of our very eyes. Just in the past decade we've been able to see Persia, Alexander the Great's routes, Mount Olympus, and Tolkien's Minas Tirith or the White City, the city of Edoras, and the Pelennor Fields; all of them beautiful places.

And despite all the beauty that CGI allows us to see, nothing can compare with John's vision of the New Jerusalem!

On his vision John describes gold paved streets, doors made of pearls, and walls adorned with the most precious gems: jasper, sapphire, emeralds, and so on. To think that all this beauty is only the ribbon around the "real present", is unimaginable! Because the real present is God's glory shining upon us, brighter than the sun and the moon light together! A day without night, and a city with doors that are forever opened because nothing impure can get in! No mortar or other stones are needed here to build a temple, for the Lord Almighty takes the place of such temple!

The Good News of God's Kingdom in Heaven have been offered not only to the Jews but also to the Gentiles, so that together we can all hope to be able to live in the company of the Lamb!

May we be able to live every day of our lives in such a way, that our names can be included in the Book of the Living, and when our time comes, we too can be a part of God's New Jerusalem.

*****I**AM**THE**WAY**THE**TRUTH**AND**THE **LIFE*****

The Gospel according to John, 14:23-29
-I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one goes to the Father except by me."
Jesus addressing the apostles.

Children listen to Mom and Dad with total and complete certainty that, whatever they say, is the truth. As far as their parent's words, there is no room for doubt in a young child's heart.

Regarding Jesus' words, the apostles were like young children: they listened to Jesus and believed in his words. So, why then, were they more concerned about seeing and meeting the Father? Simple human nature. Having been blessed with a mind and free will, the apostles like any other human, realized the complexity of a believe that includes three separate personas merged into one. But aside from being thinkers, the apostles were also believers, followers of Jesus, with a real conviction burning inside their hearts. So while their brains might have suggested "this explanation is not enough", their hearts and souls were filled with the Holy Spirit, so they were able to believe in Jesus because their faith told them to do so.

May our hearts and minds be like the disciples' hearts and minds, so we too can recognize the Father in every act of mercy that we do for others.

5th Sunday of Easter: May 2nd, 2010

1st Reading, from the Book of the Apostles, 14: 21-27
-The Return to Antioch, in Syria-
"We must pass through many troubles to enter the Kingdom of God"

Paul and Barnabas were two of our very first missionaries, traveling from town to town, spreading the Good News of the Kingdom of God. As today's missionaries travel to dangerous places, risking their lives (e.g. the nuns in the Amazon Forest), Paul and Barnabas put their safety in God's hands. Returning to Lystra, where Paul was almost stoned to death, the disciples demonstrated their commitment to their mission and the incredibly strong faith that they had for God.

Working for the glory of our Lord is not always done from within the safety of monastery's walls. Then, just like now, being a servant of God is not always a low key job. In a world where spiritual disagreements are a normal as eating supper, we must recognize the dedication and the great love that the disciples (from the past and of today), had for the Lord.

May we exhibit the same dedication with which the first disciples served God, and may our commitment to Him grow with every passing day.

****J**E**S**U**S*****T**H**E*****G**O**O**D*****S**H**E**P**H**E**R**D*****

2nd Reading, from the Book of Revelations, 21:1-5a
-The New Heaven and the New Earth-
"Behold I make all things new"

Throughout all my years as a Government Social Worker, every so often I heard this statement "don't try to fix what is not broken." At first I was baffled... What was the meaning of this? It took me a while but then I caught up with the idea, leave things alone... the water will eventually find its level and everything will be OK.

Today's 2nd reading debunks the theory of leaving things in status quo. God himself announces that new is coming, and that new is not necessarily bad.

Humans are expected to dislike change. We avoid it by nature. Once we manage to establish a pattern, we tend to become comfortable and like things just the way they are. We like the feeling within our skins, and we much rather leave the universe alone.

And yet... On John's vision, our Eternal Father makes us crave for the new establishment. He promises that "He will wipe away all tears..." and "there will be no more ... grief or crying or pain." And with a promise like such, who would want to keep the old? I for a change, feel very interested in experiencing this new world order.

May our ears hear God's calling and may hearts feel the joy of experiencing a world that is changed by God's promise of a new world order.

***J**E**S**U**S*****T**H**E*****G**O**O**D*****S**H**E**P**H**E**R**D*****

The Gospel according to John, 13: 31-33a, 34-35
-The New Commandment-
"If you have love for one another, then everyone will know that you are my disciples."

Love is a very strong emotion. From the beginning of our lives we feel it for our parents or for those who care for us. With the passing of time we feel love for our siblings, and then for our friends. At a certain age teachers become a member of our love club; then boyfriends and girlfriends; then our children and extended families. As we grow up we experienece love, or at least special affection, for many others, like the neighbor who picks up our mail when we are away on vacation, or the hairdresser who goes the extra mile on that one saturday before the special party. And who can ignore the love that we experience for our pets? Love, is everywhere.

Love was not an emotion hard to understand. That is, until after Jesus came and changed the rules of the game. Jesus came with these new set of ideas, which included loving our enemies as if they were our best friends. This innovative idea took Jesus' current world by surprise. It was an alteration of how folks have been taught to love one another. Jesus not only loved Mary and the apostles, but he expressed out loud his love for the men who hurt him, for the one who betrayed him, and for everyone else without regard. His was a truly new way of love!

May we find the courage to imitate Jesus' rules of love!