Sixth Sunday of Easter

Reflection on Scripture

Several years ago, I was part of a men’s prayer group. We were discussing how God communicated with us. One of the members, a very devout Catholic from birth, admitted he had never experienced God speaking to him and he willingly accepted it as the norm.

What type of relationship do we have when the only communication is us speaking and the other listening. Yet, from the counsel of Trent in the sixteenth century to the present, this has been the norm of Catholic living.

In today’s Gospel tells us that we are one in Him as He is one in the Father. Jesus is not an acquaintance. Our evangelical brothers and sisters remind us that Jesus is our personal Lord and Savior. Jesus Himself tells us that He is the only means of salvation and only through Him can we know the Father and receive the Holy Spirit.

Our oneness with Jesus is at the heart of our Eucharistic celebration, because the sacrament of the Eucharist brings us together, with Jesus and each other, in unity and community.

Sometimes, I think that Catholics do not really understand becoming holy. We defer everything to the clergy and expect the clergy to tell us everything we need to know. But much of we believe today in experience of God, does not come from the clergy or Rome but is a grassroots development among the faithful as Jesus, through the Holy Spirit sanctifies us and molds us into His very image.

Our spiritual compass is turned off, and we feel safe allowing another to provide us answers and direction in all phases of our spirituality. If our forefathers in faith acted this way, Christianity would never have spread to all corners of the civilized world, the writings and lives of some great saints, would never be known.

If we seek salvation, then we must also seek a relationship with Jesus. Being in the presence of God will lead to our sanctification and our growth in holiness. The goal for all Christians should be to become Jesus to family, friends, and all we meet.

Today, we celebrate the secular holiday of Mother’s Day. And today, as every day, we honor the Blessed Mother. Mothers are the heart of our faith, living and dedicating themselves to their spouse and their children and raising their children in faith and instructing them on the journey of life and salvation. Mothers’ sacrifices that are made cannot be counted, the tears of joy and sorrow are always present, and mothers lay their very life on the line for their children. Today, we remember our mothers, we pray for them and we give God thanks for them. May our mothers’ faith in us be a model of God’s faith in us and implant the knowledge in our hearts that we are loved.

God bless you,

Deacon Phil