“The Moment Your Greeting Sounded in My Ears…. the baby stirred in my womb for joy.” - So says Elizabeth to her cousin Mary in the opening of Luke’s (1:39-56) account of the Visitation. If we focus at all carefully on these words and spend a moment with them, I think we see something very universal yet profoundly simple in what it means to be human: whenever we experience something very important and significant in our lives, be it joyful or painful, we need to share this experience with those we love and are close to us. We don’t want to keep it to ourselves.

"Between Despair and Trust" - The conversation in today’s Gospel reading suggests that the disciples are being tempted by a false sense of security. They say, “Now you are talking plainly and not in any figure of speech. Now we realize that you know everything.” In other words, there is no need to ask questions. The disciples believe that Jesus came from God. They think that it will all be smooth sailing from here on.

“You Cannot Bear It Now” - To place today’s Gospel passage from John 16 in some context, the Last Supper is almost at its end and Jesus has been telling the disciples many difficult things and their hearts are deeply troubled. He has also just told them that there are many more things he wants to tell them but that they cannot bear to hear them now. The disciples have also just bemoaned the fact that they cannot understand him.

Philip was noted for his playful humor and shrewd wit. He believed that cheerfulness was a Christian virtue and wrote that, “A joyful heart is more easily made perfect than a downcast one.” About 1544, he met and became fast friends with Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits. They were both passionate about reforming the Church and one of their shared interests was ministry to prostitutes in Rome.

“Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason, I told you that He will take from what is mine and declare it to you.” –John 16:15 - Today’s reading from John’s gospel is so reminiscent of the thirteenth century Franciscan theologian, Duns Scotus. He stated that God looked out over the entire world and asked: “How can I show all these people how deeply I love them? I know. I will become one of them!” So, we have the birth and life of Jesus.

“It Is Much Better for You That I Go.” - These words of Jesus to His apostles in today’s gospel (Jn 16:5-11) are spoken in the context of the Last Supper. They must have sensed that things were about to change dramatically, and these words from their Teacher must have been deeply disturbing and confusing.

"The Quality of Our Witness" - Our witnessing to Christ is so pale, so low-keyed – to put it mildly! In saying this, the idea is not that we should go looking for ways to make ourselves really obnoxious, to bring on the desired persecution that would make us more like the kind of witnesses Jesus speaks of in today’s Gospel reading.

“I Stand at the Door and Knock” - It may well be said that all of Christ’s teachings and everything he did as well as all the teachings of the prophets, the Psalms and all of Scripture, finally, may be summed up in this passage from John 15 where the Lord gives his final “commandment.” “Love one another as I have loved you.”

"Ode to Joy" - I'm eating spiritual humble pie today. I am inclined to be a bit suspicious of testimonials of answered prayer that come in the packaging of 'flipping through the pages of the Bible, using a finger as the Finger of God to land on just the right verse for the circumstance.'

“Remain in me, as I remain in you, says the Lord; whoever remains in me will bear much fruit.” –John 15 - In our first reading today, we eavesdrop on a community discussion of the necessity of circumcision in order for non-Jew men to become Christians.

“My Peace Is My Gift to You.” - “I do not give it to you as the world gives peace.” - What I think Jesus is talking about is clearer when viewed through the lens of the Resurrection.

"Bridges, Not Walls" - In our society, it’s not very likely that anyone will go so far as to worship a missionary or preacher. The time of the Acts of the Apostles was quite different. After the cure of the crippled man in today’s reading from Acts, the local people thought that Paul and Barnabas were gods “come down to us in human form” (Acts 14: 11).

“Do Not Let Your Hearts Be Troubled” - Yet Jesus tells them not to let their hearts to be troubled. I find this to be one of the Lord’s most compelling statements. He seems to be saying that whenever we are troubled, whenever we are upset or disturbed, it is we who have somehow allowed that to happen.

“God’s time is not our time” - The very phrase “God’s time,” is an oxymoron because God by definition is outside of time. God is quite literally in eternity, eternal, beyond any concept of time; However, since God created time, now from our perspective, we speak of God as working in time as well.

“I am the light of the world, says the Lord; Whoever follows me will have the light of life.” –Jn. 8. Recently at the Easter Vigil, we witnessed the lighting of the Paschal Candle.  Then one by one we gave the light to each other.  That sacred gesture represents our sharing of the light of Jesus in an interpersonal relationship.

“… And the Sheep Follow Him Because They Recognize His Voice.” - In Jesus’ time it was common for shepherds to share a common corral for their flocks of sheep. Each morning each would lead his flock out to pasture, calling out to them. Only his sheep would recognize his particular voice and follow him out of the corral.

"Celebrating Life" - Most of us have heard the phrase “a celebration of life.” It is certainly an apt description of what being a follower of Jesus is all about. Both Scripture readings today end on this note.

“Who are you, Lord?” - The conversion of St. Paul, as today’s reading from Acts is referred to, marks a pivotal point in the Church’s history. Several things leap out at once.

"Real Presence" - Our readings from the Lectionary today are perfectly paired as a theological tutorial on the sacramental understanding of Real Presence.  How appropriate to find them in this season of Eastertide, where we continue to marvel at the Christ-resurrected presence in our midst.

“I will not reject anyone who comes to me.”— (John 6:37) - If we ever have any doubt that God loves us unconditionally, the two Scripture readings today should prove us wrong. Saul blazes a trail through Jerusalem and its environs in an effort to imprison anyone who preaches Jesus Christ. Later in the Acts of the Apostles, we read of Saul’s conversion.