Gospel Reflections for May 24 2015
Shortly after His resurrection Jesus miraculously arrives inside a locked room where about 50 or 70 of His followers were hiding. They were deeply afraid of those who had crucified Jesus, and they thought they would be next!
In deep despair they hid themselves in a dark place. Well, that is exactly where Jesus likes to show up …that locked place in our heart where we are in fear. He wants to change that fear into courage. They certainly felt the depth of His love that day.
He unexpectedly shows them His wounds as well. They clearly see that it was His sacrifice that made their salvation and freedom possible. Jesus promises the Holy Spirit will soon come and always be that presence of His love and courage no matter where they are.
On this Memorial Day weekend we remember all our service members who gave their lives in defense of our country. We have a free nation today because of their sacrifice. I am glad that all service personnel today are still held in such high esteem, especially those who have died. Freedom is their gift to us. The cemeteries of our fallen are the “wounds” that our nation shows the world of their sacrifice for our freedom. Everyone understands what they did for us.
Freedom and salvation are similar ideas. We are now free and saved from sin because of the sacrifice of Jesus. We have a way out of any “locked room” of fear or sinful lifestyle that enslaves us by following the way of Our Lord. His way of living is our freedom and salvation. Follow Him!
The First reading describes the arrival of the promised Holy Spirit upon His followers in that same room. Amazingly, they burst out of that locked room and head straight for the crowd they feared only moments before! We have the Church today because of their openness to the power of the Holy Spirit.
They spoke fearlessly and eloquently about the love of Our Lord …and everyone understood. The crowd is amazed that people from different cultures and languages all understand perfectly what these former fishermen were saying.
We are not amazed at all. We know that everyone understands the language and power of love. Ask for the Holy Spirit to be with you!
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Image: Public domain work
Soldiers of 34th Military Police Company, Special Troops Battalion, 34t.
Beautifully expressed Father Dave!!! Jesus shows us his wounds today and we know through His suffering we are redeemed and we have the Holy Spirit forever to live in love and share His love with others!!! Amazing, precious, beautiful faith of love!!!! loving prayers on this Memorial Day to all those dedicated men who fought and died for us so that we might have our precious freedoms to love and live our beautiful faith!!!We must pray that Islamic terrorism be defeated and those precious Christians may once again live in love!!!
Love, Franca and Dick
Prayer for the Christians in Iraq and Syria is very much needed!
When all God’s people can truly understand the language and power of love, we can be transformed; our
intention to the Holy Spirit!
Thank you for the powerful message!
Blessings,
Bob and Rose Mary
You are welcome!
Father Dave, What a powerful message for Pentecost.. Today my son Matthew along with over 40 other teens
received the precious Gift of The Holy Spirit in the rite of confirmation and your words strengthens us all to be aware of and identify when the Holy Spirit is guiding us to something good and do it, just like the many good people that we remember this weekend.
What a perfect weekend to receive Confirmation! I am happy for your son, and your whole family.
Fr Dave
I like the similarity of Jesus wounds for us and the lives that the soldiers sacrificed for our freedom!! Singing “America the Beautiful” at mass today is a tribute to the soldiers wounds for our country.
Like you indicated,Jesus love for us frees us from the slavery of sin!!
Thank you for another insightful commentary.
Have a peaceful Memorial Day!!
Thank you!
I loved your visual for Memorial Day!
It is amazing what the Holy Spirit can do for us if only we are open and receptive to Him.
Speaking of the Holy Spirit, Jesus said that the only sin that will not be forgiven is
the sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
What exactly does that mean?
The only sin that cannot be forgiven is the sin for which we do not believe in forgiveness. God wants to forgive ALL sins but He cannot forgive if we do not accept it.
Fr. Dave, I couldn’t help but think that just as Jesus showed his followers his wounds in that dark room, he will soon be showing today’s followers those same wounds and that same love in a dark theatre when our movie “Trial of the Shroud” opens. Let’s pray it has the same effect on today’s audiences. Thanks for all your help towards making it a reality!
Let our prayers continue for this great project!