At times we all find life difficult. We become overburdened with problems and worries. We often use these as an excuse for not turning to Christ. In today’s Gospel Christ tells us to bring all our burdens to him and he will give us comfort, peace, and strength. Let us come to him with love and trust. [Pause]
INTRODUCTION AND CONFITEOR
Christ likened the Kingdom of God to a tree in the branches of which all the birds of the sky are able to find shelter. Therefore, in a Christian community there should be no strangers, no outsiders, no rejects. Everybody should feel welcome and at home. Christ accepts us, therefore we should accept one another. Let us pause to see if there is anybody we are rejecting. [Pause]
Christ told his followers that they should not be afraid to declare themselves for him before other people. Are we sometimes afraid to speak and to act in a Christian way? If so, why is this? Is it because we are unwilling to suffer for Christ or is it simply that we are afraid of what others will say? Let us think about this for a moment. [Pause]
INTRODUCTION AND CONFITEOR
In the Gospel we will read how Jesus looked at the people who had come to him, saw how harassed and miserable they were, and had compassion on them. ‘Sheep without a shepherd’ was how he described their plight.
Today we have the extraordinary scene of Jesus eating and drinking with sinners and outcasts.
We are gathered around the table of Christ, not because we think we are better or more deserving than others, but because we know we are sinners, sinners who need his healing and forgiveness. [Pause]
In today’s Gospel Christ says that it is not enough to listen to his words, we have to put them into practice. To put them into practice is to build the house of our lives on a rocklike foundation.
An early Christian writing says this: ‘On the Lord’s day, gather in community to break bread and give thanks. No one who has a quarrel with another person may join your gathering, not until they are reconciled. Your sacrifice must not make me unholy’ (The Didache).
Today we celebrate the greatest mystery of our faith. We would not know anything about it if God had not revealed it to us. The mystery is this: that God is Father, Son and Spirit.
This is the day when Jesus, true to his promise, sent his Spirit on the apostles. The coming of the Spirit resulted in changed people and saw the launching of the new community (the Church).
Today, the feast of Christ’s ascension, we celebrate the crowning of his Easter victory over sin and death. It is a joyous day, a day to look upwards at where Christ, our Brother, sits in glory a the right hand of the Father.
INTRODUCTION AND CONFITEOR
Today is the Sunday between the Ascension and Pentecost. We are gathered here to do what Christ asked his apostles to do, namely, to wait in prayer for the coming of the Holy Spirit. We can be certain that Mary is with us, as she was with the apostles in the upper room.
Through the voice of the Church Christ says to us what he said to his apostles: ‘If you love me, keep my commandments’. We couldn’t possibly call over selves his disciples if we didn’t listen to his words and make an effort to live by them. [Pause]
Few of us know what it’s like to be homeless. Without a home where we belong and are loved, life loses most, if not all, of its meaning.
Jesus assures us that ultimately all of us have a home to go to, namely, the Father’s house. He even says that he has gone ahead of us to prepare a place for us in that house. What a tremendous reason for hope. [Pause]
This Sunday is traditionally known as Good Shepherd Sunday. We will hear once more the words of that great psalm: ‘The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want’.
Christ is our Good Shepherd. Let us pause to reflect ‘on his unfailing love for us. [Pause]
On Easter Sunday evening two disciples of Jesus were returning to
their native village. They were filled with sadness because the man on whom they had pinned their hopes had been executed. Then the risen Jesus joined them, opened their eyes, and turned their sadness into joy.