Category: Uncategorized

• Acts 2:1-11
• Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34
• 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13
• John 20:19-23

Today is the birthday of the whole universal Church.  It is also our birthday every Pentecost Sunday.  It is the birth of the Church, and we are the body of Christ, the Church.  Happy birthday to everyone.  Our human relationships start within the mystery of Christ and continue to reveal amazing experiences even to this day because of the unfolding of the Holy Spirit.  Pentecost is not an event we wait for, where we anticipate participating in and expecting more revelations of the power of the Spirit to blow us away, but rather every moment is Pentecost!  Every day we feel the abiding presence of God in our midst through God’s continued movements or actions of self-revelation. 

Looking into the beginning of this Pentecost celebration, we go back to the Jewish major feasts which they remember to celebrate. The first is the Feast of the Unleavened Bread, or the Passover, which commemorates the sparing of their first-born male child from the angel of death.  Second, the Feast of the Weeks, or the first cuttings of the grain harvest, which they gather as a people to celebrate God’s fidelity in giving their land to them and its fertility.  This feast is the equivalent celebration of the Pentecost.  Third, the Feast of Tents, to celebrate the harvesting of grapes and olives.  

The word “Pentecost” is derived from the Greek word, which means “fifty days,” after Jesus’ resurrection.  From the first reading taken from the Acts of the Apostles, the disciples of Jesus gathered together to celebrate the fidelity of God to manifest to them a new creation and a great blessing, which is the coming of the Holy Spirit descending upon those who believe. It was an amazing and memorable event to everyone who came from distant regions, “And they were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.” (v.4) With the coming of the Spirit, there was this interior fire, “yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God.” (v.11) 

The second reading taken from the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians narrates to us, “As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ.” (v12) It gives a clear message that there is one Lord, one Spirit which manifests Oneness, though many works but the same God, who inspires everyone to do because of the same baptism we received from the same Spirit, we are one with Christ and one with each other.  The Spirit continues to hover and dwell within us sharing the same mission in the Church. 

In today’s gospel from St. John, he narrates the story about Jesus’ appearance to his disciples at the upper room hiding in fear.  It is a post resurrection appearance when Jesus greets them with “Peace be with you.”  Then He entrusted to them the very mission by breathing on them saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”  Let us pause and think about Jesus’ important gesture of offering the same breath or the Spirit. 

First, let us recall stories from the Book of Genesis, where the world was in chaos because of the disobedience and pride of our ancestors.   In order to manifest God’s fidelity to His people, God breathed the same Spirit that brought about order from the chaos.  From the very beginning, the Holy Spirit has been part of our way of living, and new existence.  

Second, we hear John’s account of Jesus breathing on them saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit,” which means sending the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles.  The Holy Spirit is the Advocate, the Spirit of truth.  The Holy Spirit is a witness to Jesus, representing the continued abiding presence of Jesus on earth after returning to the Father.   However, the mission to testify rests not with the Spirit alone, but for us to testify through our love and good works.  We are truly blessed if we allow the Holy Spirit to change us by listening to Jesus saying, “And you also testify.” 

Third, we celebrate that as we open to the Spirit’s work of giving Christ’s presence new dimensions, new visibility, and new gestures of revelation within us, we must accept the very mission we must accomplish.  We pray with constancy to be more open to the Holy Spirit’s recreating power in order to bring new life and to extend God’s peace within us amidst this troubled world. 

For the Jewish believers, Pentecost is a harvest memorial feast; whereas, for us Christians, today is a celebration of God’s sending the Hoy Spirit to bring about plentiful harvests of followers for the Lord here on earth.  There must be no fear and laziness but more serious commitment to our baptismal promises.  We must sustain our relationships with God, and together we work as One.  

Today, let us implore the Holy Spirit to awaken our drowsing hearts and remove the blindness from our eyes, so that we may see and embrace Jesus, our Lord, with the manifold gifts of the Spirit to proclaim Him boldly to the world.  God’s spirit made us one body in order to have life together. 

Come Holy Spirit!  Veni Sancte Spiritus! 

Fr. Arlon, osa

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El dictado del corazón

Domingo de Pentecostés, Año B

• Hechos 2:1-11
• Salmo 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34
• 1 Corintios 12:3b-7, 12-13
• Juan 20:19-23

Hoy es el cumpleaños de toda la Iglesia universal y nuestro cumpleaños cada domingo de Pentecostés. El nacimiento de la Iglesia, somos el cuerpo de Cristo, la iglesia. Feliz cumpleaños a todos. Nuestras relaciones humanas comienzan dentro del misterio de Cristo, nuestra cabeza, y continúan revelando experiencias asombrosas incluso hasta el día de hoy gracias al Espíritu Santo. Pentecostés no es un evento que esperamos, en el que anticipamos participar y esperar más revelaciones del poder del Espíritu que nos sorprendan, ¡más bien, cada momento es Pentecostés! Todos los días sentimos la presencia permanente de Dios entre nosotros a través de los continuos movimientos o acciones de autorrevelaciones de Dios. 

Mirando el comienzo de esta celebración de Pentecostés, nos remontamos a las fiestas principales judías que recuerdan celebrar, la primera es la Fiesta de los Panes sin Levadura o la Pascua que conmemora la salvación de su primogénito varón del ángel de muerte. En segundo lugar, la Fiesta de las Semanas o los primeros cortes de la cosecha de cereales que reúnen como pueblo para celebrar la fidelidad de Dios al entregarles su tierra y su fertilidad. En tercer lugar, la Fiesta de las Tiendas celebra la cosecha de uvas y aceitunas. 

La palabra “Pentecostés” se deriva de la palabra griega que significa “cincuenta días” después de la resurrección de Jesús. Desde la primera lectura tomada de los Hechos de los Apóstoles, los discípulos de Jesús se reunieron para celebrar la fidelidad de Dios para manifestarles una nueva creación y una gran bendición que es la venida del Espíritu Santo que desciende sobre los que creen. Fue un evento sorprendente y memorable para todos los que vinieron de regiones lejanas: “Y fueron llenos del Espíritu Santo, y comenzaron a hablar en diferentes lenguas, según el Espíritu les permitía proclamar”. (v.4) Con la venida del Espíritu hubo este fuego interior, “pero los oímos hablar en nuestras propias lenguas de las maravillas de Dios”. (v.11) 

La segunda lectura tomada de la primera carta de San Pablo a los Corintios nos narra: “Como el cuerpo, aunque tiene muchos miembros, es uno, y todos los miembros del cuerpo, aunque muchos, son un solo cuerpo, así también Cristo. ” (v12) Da un mensaje claro de que hay un Señor, un Espíritu que manifiesta Unidad, aunque hay muchas obras, pero el mismo Dios que inspira a todos, debido al mismo bautismo que recibimos del mismo Espíritu, somos uno con Cristo. El Espíritu continúa flotando y habitando dentro de nosotros compartiendo la misma misión en la Iglesia. 

El evangelio de hoy de San Juan narra la historia de la aparición de Jesús a sus discípulos en el aposento, escondidos por miedo. Es una aparición posterior a la resurrección cuando Jesús los saluda con “La paz sea con ustedes”. Luego les confió la misión misma soplando sobre ellos diciendo: “Reciban el Espíritu Santo”. Hagamos una pausa y pensemos en el importante gesto de Jesús de ofrecer el mismo soplo o el Espíritu. 

Primero, recordemos historias del Libro del Génesis, el mundo estaba sumido en el caos debido a la desobediencia y el orgullo de nuestros antepasados. Para manifestar la fidelidad de Dios a su pueblo, Dios sopló el mismo Espíritu que puso orden en el caos. Desde el principio, el Espíritu Santo ha sido parte de nuestra forma de vivir y de nuestra nueva existencia. 

En segundo lugar, escuchamos el relato de Juan acerca de Jesús soplando sobre ellos diciendo: “Recibieron el Espíritu Santo”, lo que significa enviar el Espíritu Santo sobre los Apóstoles. El Espíritu Santo es el Abogado, el Espíritu de verdad. El Espíritu Santo es un testigo de Jesús y representa la presencia permanente y continua de Jesús en la tierra después de regresar al Padre. Sin embargo, la misión de testificar no depende únicamente del Espíritu, sino de que testifiquemos a través de nuestro amor y buenas obras. Somos verdaderamente bendecidos si permitimos que el Espíritu Santo nos cambie al escuchar a Jesús decir: “Y ustedes también testifican”. 

En tercer lugar, celebramos que a medida que nos abrimos a la obra del Espíritu, de darle a la presencia de Cristo nuevas dimensiones, nueva visibilidad y nuevos gestos de revelación dentro de nosotros, debemos aceptar la misión que debemos cumplir. Oramos con constancia para estar más abiertos al poder recreador del Espíritu Santo para traer nueva vida y extender la paz de Dios dentro de nosotros en medio de este mundo turbulento. 

Para los creyentes judíos, Pentecostés es una fiesta conmemorativa de la cosecha, mientras que, para nosotros los cristianos, hoy es una celebración del envío de Dios del Espíritu Santo para producir abundantes cosechas de seguidores delSeñor aquí en la tierra. No debe haber miedo ni pereza, sino un compromiso más serio con nuestras promesas bautismales. Debemos sostener nuestra relación con Dios y juntos seremos más abundantes en El. 

Hoy imploremos al Espíritu Santo que despierte nuestros corazones adormecidos y quite la ceguera de nuestros ojos, para que podamos ver y abrazar a Jesús, nuestro Señor con los múltiples dones del Espíritu para proclamarlo con valentía al mundo. el espíritu de Dios nos hizo un solo cuerpo para tener vida unidos. 

¡Ven, espíritu santo! ¡Veni Sancte Spiritus!

P. Arlón, osa

• Acts 2:1-11
• John 14:23-31

Today is the birthday of the whole universal Church.  It is also our birthday every Pentecost Sunday.  It is the birth of the Church, and we are the body of Christ, the Church.  Happy birthday to everyone.  Our human relationships start within the mystery of Christ and continue to reveal amazing experiences even to this day rřrřertttțeerřtț of the unfolding of the Holy Spirit.  Pentecost is not an event we wait for, where we anticipate particularly cipating in and expecting more revelations of the power of the Spirit to blow us away, but rather every moment is Pentecost!  Every day we feel the abiding presence of God in our midst through God’s continued movements or actions of self-revelation. 

Looking into the beginning of this Pentecost celebration, we go back to the Jewish major feasts which they remember to celebrate. The first is the Feast of the Unleavened Bread, or the Passover, which commemorates the sparing of their first-born male child from the angel of death.  Second, the Feast of the Weeks, or the first cuttings of the grain harvest, which they gather as a people to celebrate God’s fidelity in giving their land to them and its fertility.  Third, the Feast of Tents to celebrate harvestings of grapes and olives.  For the Jewish believers, Pentecost is a harvest memorial feast; whereas, for us Christians, today is a celebration of God’s sending the Hoy Spirit to bring about plentiful harvests of followers for the Lord here on earth.  There must be no fear and laziness but more serious commitment to our baptismal promises.  We must sustain our relationships with God and together we work as One.  

The word “Pentecost” is derived from the Greek word which means “fifty days,” after Jesus’ resurrection.  From the first reading taken from the Acts of the Apostles, the disciples of Jesus gathered together to celebrate the fidelity of God to manifest to them a new creation and a great blessing, which is the coming of the Holy Spirit descending upon those who believe. It was an amazing and memorable event to everyone who came from distant regions, “And they were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.” (v.4) With the coming of the Spirit there was this interior fire, “yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God.” (v.11) 

The gospel today has this message from Jesus saying, “But the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father hath given Me.”  It means that just as He has been loved by the Father, He loves us in the same way.  This is significant for His disciples and us that we are much loved by Jesus. Though Jesus’ corporeal departure on earth can be unbelievably difficult and emotionally debilitating, Jesus constantly communicates with us to give joyful hope that grows from within. From this small group of followers, it became an amazing community because of Jesus’ assurance of love which supports to build trust and to help for Jesus to be known by all the corners of the world.  Jesus’ circle of friends becomes a new community of loving and valued persons in His heart. 

I am sure St. Paul is smiling and happy to know that because of Jesus’ love and the love St. Paul had for the Lord, remembering his conversion story is an eye opener for those who are struggling to fully give themselves to God. Without St. Paul’s love and dedication, Christianity would not have spread very far. We too experience persecution within our families and hostile environments; however, we stay to share our good news stories of our individual conversion and experience with the Risen Jesus.  We cling to Jesus’ love also, capable of sharing our success stories of faith, sharing our gift of healing, and being transformed into more loving people, following Jesus faithfully, to continue His mission; however, we are not alone, and we must allow the Spirit as the one whom He sent to continue our task to save others.  The work remains to be growing and expanding.  We work harder and diligently with His abiding presence, the Holy Spirit. 

We want to continue loving our faith, the Church, and our community.  We cannot live meaningfully apart from our Lord, Jesus Christ, for we are now the Body of Christ and it is through us to make known the glorious splendor of God’s kingdom, both in heaven and on earth. 

Let us not be troubled and live in fear.  The peace we receive is empowering.  With the peace of Christ, we are healed, and it takes away our stress and anxiety and emboldens us to go out and preach the gospel.  

We can start small and bring peace to our corner of the world. We can pray for peace.  I pray for peace. I pray for God’s grace to help me find God in all things and to be a peacemaker in every way I can. 

It is a post resurrection appearance when Jesus greets them with “Peace be with you.”  Then He entrusted to them the very mission by breathing on them saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”  Let us pause and think about Jesus’ important gesture of offering the same breath, or the Spirit.

First, let us recall stories from the Book of Genesis. The world was in chaos because of the disobedience and pride of our ancestors.   In order to manifest God’s fidelity to His people, God breathed the same Spirit that brought about order from the chaos.  From the very beginning, the Holy Spirit has been part of our way of living, and new existence.  

Second, we hear John’s account of Jesus breathing on them saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit,” which means sending the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles.  The Holy Spirit is the Advocate, the Spirit of truth.  The Holy Spirit is a witness to Jesus, representing the continued abiding presence of Jesus on earth after returning to the Father.   However, the mission to testify rests not with the Spirit alone, but for us to testify through our love and good works.  We are truly blessed, if we allow the Holy Spirit to change us by listening to Jesus saying, “And you also testify.” 

Third, we celebrate that as we open to the Spirit’s work of giving Christ’s presence new dimensions, new visibility, and new gestures of revelation within us, we must accept the very mission we must accomplish.  We pray with constancy to be more open to the Holy Spirit’s recreating power in order to bring new life and to extend God’s peace within us amidst this troubled world. 

Three themes run through these readings:  peace, praise and perseverance.  Jesus promises peace, but not as the world gives peace.  In the story in Acts we see very clearly that “worldly” peace didn’t materialize for the disciples.  They faced stoning and persecution and despite of it, they continued praising God. They persevere and rejoice in the evidence of God working in their midst despite the danger and chaos around them. So, in times of stress, tension and turmoil, remember the great inheritance Christ left us through these powerful words, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.” 

Today, let us implore the Holy Spirit to awaken our drowsing hearts and remove the blindness from our eyes, so that we may see and embrace Jesus, our Lord, with the manifold gifts of the Spirit to proclaim Him boldly to the world.  God’s spirit made us one body in order to have life together. 

Come Holy Spirit!  Veni Sancte Spiritus! 

Fr. Arlon, osa

• Acts 1:1-11
• Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9
• Ephesians 1:17-23
• Mark 16:15-20

Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension. This is a flexible feast depending on the decision of the bishop, who is in charge of the ecclesiastical jurisdiction.   The synoptic gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke have an account narrating that after the resurrection of Jesus and different appearances, Jesus was taken up into heavens.  John’s gospel mentioned about the post-resurrection of Jesus in Galilee while St. Paul writes about the tradition, the things he heard about Jesus’ meeting his disciples after the resurrection.  If you read the Acts of the Apostles, there you find the writings that in exactly 40 days of Jesus being with his disciples after He has risen, then the ascension happened.  We cannot make any claim of chronological proof because Jesus’ glorified body is not constrained by the usual limit of time and space.  Thus, we cannot complain why this feast is celebrated either Thursday or the nearest Sunday. 

The ascension of the Lord is not only understood as going up into heavens, but it is about assuming the authority He has won in His death and resurrection. Remember when Jesus says, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me . . .” (Matt 28:18).  

The first reading taken from the Acts of the Apostles narrates that the two men dressed in white garments cried out, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky?  This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.” (v.11) This recounts the Ascension of Jesus, a momentous event marking the return of Jesus to the Father in order to claim His authority and kingship over all things.  

In the second reading taken from the letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians, Paul says, “May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call. . . .”  It reveals that there is a different kind of seeing, leading to a deeper kind of knowing.  The human heart has “eyes” that see the glory that is ours which is the destiny and hope.  Do we claim the hope that is ours?  

The gospel today from St. Mark reminds us “to go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.”  It means that the ascension emphasizes the disciples’ role in continuing Jesus’ work on earth empowered by the Holy Spirit so that they would be strengthened and inspired as they proclaim the gospel.  Until now the Spirit of wisdom and revelation has been manifested to the whole Church. 

What are lessons that have been revealed to us on this feast of the Ascension?  Apparently, it reveals crucial aspects of our faith and the Christian mission. 

First, lesson on the ascension of Jesus is to fully understand that the Lord returns to the Father claiming His authority and kingship over the whole universe.  He is the Lord of all.  The ascension of Jesus inspires and motivates us to live as His disciples, recognizing His lordship in our lives and being driven by the purpose of sharing His message of repentance, forgiveness, and salvation to the ends of the earth. 

Second, we believe that He will return in glory, thus we cannot just afford to be “standing there looking at the sky” and stand flat footed but there is an urgency to act for we have a mission to do.  We are called to take His place in this world to share the Goodnews to all nations to make a real difference in bringing others to the Lord.  We are His disciples called to work, to love and to serve others. This lesson challenges us to actively participate in the mission of spreading the Gospel. 

Third, the ascension also emphasizes the disciples’ role in continuing Jesus’ work on earth, empowered by the Holy Spirit.   We learn to rely on the guidance of the Holy Spirit to grow in faith and dependence on God.   

The Ascension of Jesus is not about the departure of Jesus from the world but He leads us into a new beginning of the true Church where Jesus, our God and Savior, is present in a new period and God whispers most profoundly in the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit in the minds and hearts of us who believe. 

God bless you.

Fr. Arlon, osa

 ———————————-

El Dictado del Corazón

Domingo – La Ascensión   del Señor

• Hechos 1:1-11
• Sal 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9
• Ef 1:17-23
• Marcos 16:15-20

Hoy celebramos la Fiesta de la Ascensión de Jesus al Cielo. Se trata de una fiesta flexible dependiendo de la decisión del obispo que tiene a su cargo la jurisdicción eclesiástica. En los evangelios sinópticos, Mateo, Marcos y Lucas cuentan que después de la resurrección de Jesús y de diferentes apariciones, Jesús fue llevado al cielo. El evangelio de Juan menciona la post-resurrección de Jesús en Galilea, mientras que San Pablo escribe sobre la tradición, las cosas que escuchó sobre el encuentro de Jesús con sus discípulos después de la resurrección. Si vas y lees los Hechos de los Apóstoles, allí encontrarás escrito que Jesús estuvo con sus discípulos después de haber resucitado y exactamente 40 días después de la resurrección fue la ascensión. No podemos hacer ninguna afirmación de prueba cronológica porque el cuerpo glorificado de Jesús no está limitado por el límite habitual de tiempo y espacio. Por tanto, no podemos quejarnos de que esta fiesta se celebre el jueves o el domingo más cercano.

La ascensión del Señor no se entiende sólo como subir a los cielos, sino que se trata de asumir la autoridad que Él ha ganado en Su muerte y resurrección. Recuerdan cuando Jesús dice: “A mí me ha sido dado todo poder en el cielo y en la tierra. . .” (Mateo 28:18).

La primera lectura tomada de los Hechos de los Apóstoles narra que los dos hombres vestidos con vestiduras blancas gritaron: “Varones galileos, ¿por qué están ahí parados mirando al cielo? Este Jesús que les ha sido llevado al cielo, volverá de la misma manera como lo han visto subir al cielo”. (v.11) Esto relata la Ascensión de Jesús, un evento trascendental que marca el regreso de Jesús al Padre para reclamar Su autoridad y reinado sobre todas las cosas.

En la segunda lectura tomada de la carta de San Pablo a los Efesios, Pablo dice: “Que los ojos de su corazón sean iluminados, para que sepán cuál es la esperanza que corresponde a su llamada. . . .” Revela que existe una forma diferente de ver, que conduce a una forma de conocimiento más profunda. El corazón humano tiene “ojos” que ven la gloria que es nuestra, que es destino y esperanza. ¿Reclamamos la esperanza que es nuestra?

El evangelio de hoy de San Marcos nos recuerda “ir por todo el mundo y proclamar el evangelio a toda criatura”. Significa que la ascensión enfatiza el papel de los discípulos en continuar la obra de Jesús en la tierra con el poder del Espíritu Santo para que sean fortalecidos e inspirados al proclamar el evangelio. Hasta ahora el Espíritu de sabiduría y de revelación se ha manifestado a toda la Iglesia.

¿Cuáles son las lecciones que nos han sido reveladas en esta fiesta de la Ascensión? Revela aspectos cruciales de nuestra fe y de la misión cristiana.

Primero, la lección sobre la ascensión de Jesús es comprender plenamente que el Señor regresa al Padre reclamando Su autoridad y reinado sobre todo el universo. Él es el Señor de todos. La ascensión de Jesús nos inspira y motiva a vivir como Sus discípulos, reconociendo Su señorío en nuestras vidas y siendo impulsados por el propósito de compartir Su mensaje de arrepentimiento, perdón y salvación hasta los confines de la tierra.

En segundo lugar, creemos que Él regresará en gloria, por lo que no podemos simplemente darnos el lujo de estar “parados mirando al cielo” y quedarnos desprevenidos, sino que es urgente actuar porque tenemos una misión que cumplir. Estamos llamados a ocupar Su lugar en este mundo para compartir las Buenas Nuevas con todas las naciones para marcar una diferencia real al acercar a otros al Señor. Somos sus discípulos llamados a trabajar, amar y servir a los demás. Esta lección nos desafía a participar activamente en la misión de difundir el Evangelio.

En tercer lugar, la ascensión también enfatiza el papel de los discípulos en la continuación de la obra de Jesús en la tierra, fortalecidos por el Espíritu Santo. Aprendemos a confiar en la guía del Espíritu Santo para crecer en fe y dependencia de Dios.

La Ascensión de Jesús no se trata de la salida de Jesús del mundo, sino que Él nos lleva a un nuevo comienzo de la verdadera Iglesia donde Jesús, nuestro Dios y Salvador, está presente en un nuevo período y Dios susurra más profundamente en la presencia permanente del Espíritu Santo en la mente y el corazón de los que creemos.

Dios los bendiga.

P. Arlón, osa

• 1 Peter 4:7-11
• John 15:26-27; 16:1-4

Today is the Sunday after the Ascension of the Lord.  We missed last Thursday’s designated Feast of the Lord’s Ascension according to the Ordo of the Extraordinary Form.  However, today the Feast of the Ascension is being celebrated in our diocese according to the directive of the local Ecclesiastical Authority, Archbishop George Leo Thomas, DD of the Archdiocese of Las Vegas, by which Reno is part of the suffragan diocese. 

What are lessons that have been revealed to us on this feast of the Ascension?  Apparently, it reveals crucial aspects of our faith and the Christian mission.

First, the lesson on the ascension of Jesus is to fully understand that the Lord returns to the Father claiming His authority and kingship over the whole universe.  He is the Lord of all.  The ascension of Jesus inspires and motivates us to live as His disciples, recognizing His lordship in our lives and being driven by the purpose of sharing His message of repentance, forgiveness, and salvation to the ends of the earth.

Second, we believe that He will return in glory, thus we cannot just afford to be “standing there looking at the sky” and standing flat footed. There is an urgency to act for we have a mission to do.  We are called to take His place in this world, to share the Goodnews to all nations and to make a real difference in bringing others to the Lord.  We are His disciples called to work, to love and to serve others. This lesson challenges us to actively participate in the mission of spreading the Gospel.

Third, the ascension also emphasizes the disciples’ role in continuing Jesus’ work on earth, empowered by the Holy Spirit.   We learn to rely on the guidance of the Holy Spirit to grow in faith and dependence on God.  

The Ascension of Jesus is not about the departure of Jesus from the world, but He led us into a new beginning of the true Church where Jesus, our God and Savior, is present in a new period, and God whispers most profoundly in the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit in the minds and hearts of us who believe. 

From today’s epistle taken from the first letter of Peter, this is a short section which St. Peter wrote a practical instruction, “…. that in all things God may be honored/glorified through Jesus Christ.”  This means that God is attentively shepherding all His creation in every instance of time, both in heaven and on earth, magnifying the greatness of His love for all. In giving this instruction, I believe that St. Peter emphasizes that in our life, we must work together to achieve the highest end of all things. Thus, we offer everything for the glory of God through Jesus Christ, so we ought to be self-controlled and sober minded, love one another earnestly, show hospitality without grumbling and use what God has given us to humbly serve one another.   God is not after us to be big, popular, and famous; rather He wants us to be humble with joyful acts of obedience to our duties and responsibilities. 

In the gospel today from St. John, Jesus tells the disciples He is going to the Father and promises to send the Holy Spirit to be with them forever.  In John 16:26-27, Jesus says, “When the advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth who comes from the Father, He will testify on my behalf.”  The term “paracletos” means an advocate in a legal context and in Latin, it means advocatus.  The advocate or paraclete has the role of speaking in favor of Jesus and His cause.  The Paraclete helps the disciples remember all the things Jesus taught them so that their witnessing would be strengthened and also for them to be comforted.  

Despite promises of the sending of the Holy Spirit, Jesus found them in fear and not confidently waiting for Him to come and breathe on them and give them the gift of the Holy Spirit.  They aren’t behaving and acting like a chosen group of men who have been promised the Holy Spirit.  Every time the disciples heard Jesus mention His leaving to go to the Father, they closed their ears, or had experienced selective hearing, because they did not hear the details of who was coming to be present in His physical absence.  

At present, we continue to keep the disciple’s habit alive whenever we are focused so intently on the painful aspects of our current life conditions that we forget we’ve been promised the Spirit, and we don’t factor in its power and presence in our lives. Jesus challenges the disciples and us not to allow sorrow to fill our hearts with our wistful thinking and despair. Jesus offers an alternative to rely on the Holy Spirit’s presence in the adversities of life. We have been promised that the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, the presence of the Risen Jesus in his physical absence, is with us, and that the Spirit has freed us from the law of sin and of death, that it searches the depths of our hearts, prays in us when we cannot find the words, pours the love of God into our hearts and gives us hope, according to St. Paul on his writings to the Romans 8. That means that, when confronted with negatives, sacrifices, bad news, and troubling situations, we don’t have to assume that the Spirit is not with us because we have the promise that the Spirit now lives in us, and we now live in the Spirit. 

In our life, we must keep listening to Jesus because JESUS says, “But these things I have told you, that, when the hour shall come, you may remember that I have told you.” This verse simply says that in Christ Jesus, through His life, death, suffering and resurrection, we are witnesses in faith that everything that happened should lead us to an understanding that the scripture has been fulfilled through Him.  Let us await the great feast of the Pentecost.  

God bless you. 

Fr. Arlon, osa

• Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48
• Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4
• 1 John 4:7-10
• John 15:9-17

Today is the 6th Sunday of Easter. We have heard how the early Christians significantly flourish as a community. The community has changed tremendously as God reveals himself in human history and in the world. Thus, these unfolding events consistently favor us truly in our relationship with God and others.

This first reading from the Acts of the Apostles narrates concerning St. Peter and Cornelius. Through these two staunch disciples of the Lord, it manifests the Holy Spirit’s power to accept Gentiles alongside Jewish believers. We do understand that God lacks partiality or favoritism. Furthermore, Peter’s message is to emphasize how Jesus’ followers are now witnesses called to testify. These verses summarize the highlights as witnessed by all in the household of Cornelius. First, the message declares that “in every nation” God does not play favorites. Second, God is the “Lord of all.” It means Jesus’ lordship over earthly and supernatural forces, even death, Satan and all forces that defy God. Third, this message is written by St. John that “Jesus is mysteriously powerful” as indicated by the coming of the Holy Spirit which is strongly pronounced by St. Peter’s message.

The second reading from the first letter of St. John reminds us of our main focus on the divine attribute that embodies all others, that is the love of God. There are no such relationships that work if we don’t recognize the presence of God, who is Love. It says, “Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.” Therefore, this has been revealed to us that love for one another manifests in full when God is acknowledged and present in all our human relationships.

Today’s readings include the most important teaching of Jesus about His love and friendship for us. For me, it is simply a repetition in the 2nd reading and the gospel on how to follow Him: “Love one another as I love you.” How can the teaching of Christ be concretized as we go through life?

First, in the opening sentence of the gospel, Jesus says, “As the Father loves me, so I also love you.” This statement of Jesus is our model of faith and love. There is that divine origin because the love is from the Father. Jesus becomes a true witness by the gift of the incarnation and by offering Himself on the Cross as His greatest expression of love for us.

Second, Jesus says, “This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.” Here we are exhorted to abide by this commandment simply to manifest that as we believe and live in the love of God, we must practice that love in action in the world, especially by loving one another. We love because God first loved us. Those who love God must love their brothers and sisters; however, this love must go beyond the boundary of our family, as it extends to every human being.

Third, Jesus says, “You are my friends if you do what I command you.” This gives us a clear message: Jesus is our friend, and He loves us. It’s amazing to realize that Jesus selected us to be his friends. Our friendship with Jesus is another relationship in our lives with the same movements we have with family members, spouses, and friends. We talk and we listen. Prayer is conversation with our friend, Jesus, talking as we might with our friends and family members. It’s an invitation to remain in the awareness that as we go through our daily lives, we are loved deeply by Jesus in everything we do.

Fourth, Jesus says, “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose and appointed you to go and bear fruit.” We have been chosen to share our lives with Jesus as he shares his with us. It’s a connection of joy. The good news, Jesus says, is joy for both of us. “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.” But more than that, Jesus says that because he chose us, we are sent “to go and bear great fruit that will remain.” Our role as Christians is to live out the teachings of Jesus.

Let us remember that the fundamental teaching of Jesus is Love. In the scripture, it is almost a repetitive invitation to fall into love and to live in love in the midst of our lives and existence. It is through Christ that we, the people, often learn to love by being loved. The love of Christ has empowered us to be loving persons. Being loved is God’s greatest gift.

God bless you.

Fr. Arlon, osa

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Dictado del Corazón
Sexto Domingo de Pascua, Año B

• Hechos 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48
• Salmo 98:1, 2-3, 3-4
• 1 Juan 4:7-10
• Juan 15:9-17

Hoy es el sexto domingo de Pascua. Hemos escuchado cómo los primeros cristianos florecieron significativamente como comunidad. La comunidad ha cambiado enormemente a medida que Dios se revela en la historia humana y en el mundo. Por lo tanto, estos acontecimientos que se desarrollan consistentemente nos favorecen verdaderamente en nuestra relación con Dios y los demás.

Esta primera lectura de los Hechos de los Apóstoles narra acerca de San Pedro y Cornelio. A través de estos dos discípulos incondicionales del Señor, se manifiesta el poder del Espíritu Santo para aceptar a los gentiles junto con los creyentes judíos. Entendemos que Dios carece de parcialidad, o que Dios no tiene favoritismo. Además, el mensaje de Pedro pretende enfatizar cómo los seguidores de Jesús ahora son testigos llamados a testificar. Estos versículos resumen los aspectos más destacados según lo atestiguó la casa de Cornelio. Primero, el mensaje declara que “en cada nación” Dios no tiene favoritos. Segundo, que Dios es el “Señor de todo”. Significa el señorío de Jesús sobre las fuerzas terrenales y sobrenaturales, ni siquiera la muerte, Satanás y todas las fuerzas que desafían a Dios. En tercer lugar, este mensaje está escrito por San Juan en el sentido de que “Jesús es misteriosamente poderoso”, como lo indica la venida del Espíritu Santo, que se pronuncia con fuerza en el mensaje de San Pedro.

La segunda lectura de la primera carta de San Juan nos recuerda nuestro enfoque principal en el atributo divino que encarna a todos los demás, es decir, el amor de Dios. No existen relaciones que funcionen si no reconocemos la presencia de Dios, que es Amor. Dice: “Quien no tiene amor no conoce a Dios, porque Dios es amor”. Por lo tanto, se nos ha revelado que el amor mutuo se manifiesta plenamente cuando Dios es reconocido y presente en todas nuestras relaciones humanas.

Las lecturas de hoy incluyen la enseñanza más importante de Jesús sobre su amor y amistad por nosotros. Para mí es simplemente una repetición en la segunda lectura y en el evangelio sobre cómo seguirlo: “Amaos unos a otros como yo os amo”. ¿Cómo se puede concretar la enseñanza de Cristo a lo largo de la vida?

Primero, en la frase inicial del evangelio, Jesús dice: “Como el Padre me ama, así también yo los amo”. Esta declaración de Jesús es nuestro modelo de fe y amor. Existe ese origen divino porque el amor es del Padre. Jesús se convierte en verdadero testigo por el don de la encarnación y al ofrecerse en la Cruz como su mayor expresión de amor por nosotros.

En segundo lugar, Jesús dice: “Este es mi mandamiento: ámense unos a otros como yo los amo”. Aquí se nos exhorta a cumplir este mandamiento simplemente para manifestar que mientras creemos y vivimos en el amor de Dios, debemos practicar ese amor en acción en el mundo, especialmente amándonos unos a otros. Amamos porque Dios nos amó primero. Quienes aman a Dios deben amar a sus hermanos y hermanas. Sin embargo, este amor debe ir más allá de los límites de nuestra familia, se extiende a todo ser humano.
En tercer lugar, Jesús dice: “Ustedes son mis amigos si hacen lo que les mando. Esto nos da un mensaje claro: Jesús es nuestro amigo y nos ama. Es sorprendente darnos cuenta de que Jesús nos seleccionó para ser sus amigos. Nuestra amistad con Jesús es otra relación en nuestras vidas con los mismos movimientos que tenemos con familiares, cónyuges y amigos. Hablamos y escuchamos. La oración es una conversación con nuestro amigo Jesús, hablando como lo haríamos con nuestros amigos y familiares. Es una invitación a permanecer conscientes de que a medida que avanzamos en nuestra vida diaria, Jesús nos ama profundamente en todo lo que hacemos.

Cuarto, Jesús dice: “No fueron ustedes quienes me eligieron, sino yo quien los elegí y los designé para que vayan y den fruto”. Hemos sido elegidos para compartir nuestras vidas con Jesús como él comparte la suya con nosotros. Es una conexión de alegría. La buena nueva, dice Jesús, es un gozo para ambos. “Les he dicho esto para que mi alegría esté en ustedes y su alegría sea completa”. Pero más que eso, Jesús dice que debido a que nos eligió, somos enviados “a ir y dar grandes frutos que perdurarán”. Nuestro papel como cristianos es vivir las enseñanzas de Jesús.

Recordemos que la enseñanza fundamental de Jesús es el Amor. En las Escrituras, es casi una invitación repetitiva a enamorarse y vivir en amor en medio de la vida y la existencia. Es a través de Cristo que nosotros, el pueblo, muchas veces aprendemos a amar siendo amados. El amor de Cristo nos ha empoderado para ser personas amorosas. Ser amado es el regalo más grande de Dios.

Dios los bendiga.

P. Arlón, osa

• James 1:22-27
• John 16:23-30

Today is the 5th Sunday after Easter. I am happy that we did the “May Crowning” last week, and let us continue to seek Mother Mary’s maternal protection by praying the rosary regularly. When I can’t find the time to pray, I always turn on my CD inside my car in order to pray and meditate each mystery as I recite the rosary. Let us offer a rosary, a bouquet of roses to the Blessed Mother Mary.

The epistle today, taken from the Book of James, is a persuasive message that intends to clarify the true meaning of being a Christian and provides important instructions that we should adhere to. The passage begins with the following sentence: “Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” (v.22) This verse signifies that we become the doers of the word and not only the passive hearers. To make his message even more convincing, James employs an allegory and compares the passive hearers with the individuals in front of a mirror “For he beheld himself and went his way and presently forgot what manner of man he was.” (v.24) St. James‘ writing seems to attempt to illustrate how unreasonable such behavior is, and how pointless it is for one to learn something important and then never use it in practice. St. James encourages us to follow his instructions saying, “not becoming a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” The danger is that we listen to the word of God and agree mentally with it, and we say, “This is true, that is right, I believe this and yet we stop acting on it. We cheat because we deprive ourselves of something important and valuable to practice in our life, and oftentimes depend on lies and listening to the words of others that are not true as if it were true. We don’t read the Bible to become familiar with it. We really don’t know what the Bible says about saving our souls, blessing others with perseverance to achieve the crown of life for eternity. We seldom meditate on the content of the scriptures so that the words are written on our heart. We know some biblical verses but it’s in our head and when we fall into trials, as we do, the scripture doesn’t help because it is not part of us. We need to depend on His word and act on it.

The gospel from St. John is a flashback to what had been spoken by Jesus to His disciples in the upper room. There are several important points to reflect on:

First, Jesus says, “If you ask the Father anything in My name, He will give it to you.” This is an invitation to consider prayer requests to God in the name of Jesus. We know that in the scripture, the disciples were taught to pray in His name. (Jn 14:13-14) We pray in the name of Jesus in order to acknowledge that our access to God in prayer comes only through Jesus. As sinners, we are separated from God, and through Jesus our friendship with God has been restored. By grace and the HOLY SPIRIT we are united to Him, for we become children of God whom we are able to call, “Abba, Father,” to experience intimacy and life-giving communion with Him. (Rom 8:15)

Second, Jesus says, “I will ask the Father for you, for the Father Himself loveth you, because you have loveth Me and have believed that I came out from God.” These words of Jesus are remarkable that the Father loves the disciples simply because they love and believe in Jesus. How do we understand this? Just think of your child’s friends whom you know are good companions and reliable and loving friends to your own child. You reciprocate that goodness of your child’s friends and consider them as part of your family. I believe the loving God felt the same way about the disciples who were truly devoted to Jesus and loved and believed Him. This is exactly the whole idea that God truly loves us when we faithfully love and believe in His Son, Jesus Christ. It is a clear consideration of Christian love for, and faith in, Jesus.

Third, His disciples say to Jesus, “Behold, now Thou speakest plainly, and speakest no proverb. Now we know that Thou knowest all things, and Thou needest not that any man should ask Thee, by this we believe that Thou camest forth from God.” (v.30) This is an indication that the disciples have had their eyes opened a bit more in regard to their knowledge about their master. Jesus has spoken to them clearly without any figures of speech, but in words they easily understand. Jesus not only addressed their questions but answered them because He knows the depth of their hearts. After believing Jesus who came from God, they realized their mission to fulfill.

Therefore, this gospel is a perfect reminder that despite the blessing of Easter, we endure so many challenges and trials. Though the resurrection of Jesus confirmed His victorious lordship, we need to believe that we are not abandoned by Jesus, because He is our Savior. Let us proclaim the many promises of the Lord by keeping His words and living them out, which is the hope of our own resurrection and the source of our courage in this world.

God bless you.

Fr. Arlon, osa

• Acts 9:26-31
• Psalm 22:26-27, 28, 30, 31-3
• 1 John 3:18-24
• John 15:1-8

We are in the 5th Sunday of Easter.  We have good sunny weather to enjoy and to have a good time with outdoor activities.  Some of us are busy preparing the garden to plant ornamentals and vegetables.  Some plant fruit trees in their backyard.  In this way, we connect to the earth as we reflect the value of being connected to God, others and to our surroundings.  Jesus says, “Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.”  The highlight and the importance of our connection and lifeline to Christ is crucial.  If we’re disconnected, we wither and die like a dead branch, and that means we are nothing.   The very source of our life in order to bear much fruit is to remain with the main branch, our strength, and to give glory to Him.   

In today’s reading, Saul was persecuting the first century Christians without being afraid.  He continued to torture and kill those who followed Jesus.  The disciples of Jesus were afraid of him.  However, by God’s grace of conversion, Jesus appeared to him and that was the beginning of converting to be a staunch follower of Jesus. The name Saul was changed to Paul, and with his courageous assistant, Barnabas, these two new converts shared their faithfulness to proclaim the gospel of the Lord, Jesus Christ.  They did their best to work hard for evangelization.  Paul, through his actions, had proven that His faith in Jesus was real.  Paul was an instrument in spreading the word as he went off from Jerusalem to tell of the consolations of the Holy Spirit and the power of the Resurrection.   The believers of Christ were growing in numbers, and their faith became strong.  

The second reading, from the first letter of St. John, manifests that believing in Jesus and loving one another are not represented as two separate commandments, but rather as one command.  It requires obedience to the fullness of both Christ-believing and people-loving being what it means to abide in Jesus, to have a vital connection to the source of all eternal and true life and joy through the Spirit.  The only problem is that we would rather love our way, rather than God’s way.  

Today’s gospel is taken from the evangelist John narrating the story of the vine and the vine grower.  “I am the vine; you are the branches.”  There are many images that we need to consider. 

First, Jesus says, “My Father is the vine grower.”   In this gospel, the Father is depicted as the vine grower in this story.  He is the main architect in making the vineyard more productive in order to achieve the expected harvest.  The vine grower spends abundant time and careful checking of everything in the vineyard for a successful end-result.  He will do whatever is needed by His constant and nurturing love.  In the same way, the Father spends great time and care in watching over each of us.   

Second, Jesus says, “I am the vine, you are the branches.  Whoever remains in Me and I in him will bear much fruit.”   St. John, the evangelist, portrays Jesus as the New Israel who bears much fruit pleasing to the Father by declaring that He is the “true vine.”  Jesus’ words have to remain in us, and since we are connected to Him, we are to ask for whatever we desire, and it will be done.   It is obvious that the growth of a fruit or a flower depends on being attached to the vine which provides sustenance for their growth.  Jesus is the Vine, and we are the branches, and if we are apart from the Vine, we can do nothing.  We grow, we mature, we bear fruit which is the result of living His words and His ways.  If we are apart from the Vine, we become barren and wither as a result of doing our own will, rather than allowing Jesus and His words to influence us. 

Third, Jesus says, “You are the branches….You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in Me as I remain in you.”  The words “branches, prune and remain” are images of conditioned attachment of our hearts and spirits with Jesus, the true Vine.   Being the branch is the validating connection with the main vine.  However, our natural reaction is that we do not like the thought or experience of being pruned.  The idea of “pruning” is suggesting deepening our friendship and love; therefore, there is a need to remain constantly in Jesus.  As branches of the true vine, which is Jesus, is part of the love which Jesus offers in order to experience the holiness of our soul and grow in Christian virtues. Then, we are assured of a fruitful life.  

Let us pause and ask ourselves, how are the fruits of our labor connected to our relationship with Christ?  Are we resisting some pruning that God is trying to do with us?   We need to offer ourselves as obedient children of God to pray for each other so that we may be branches bearing fruit of goodness and glorifying God with our actions, particularly as we work towards healing our hurting world, community and family.  Jesus is the Vine and we are the branches! 

God bless you. 

Fr. Arlon, osa

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El Dictado del Corazón

Quinto Domingo de Pascua, Año B

• Hechos 9:26-31
• Salmo 22:26-27, 28, 30, 31-3
• 1 Juan 3:18-24
• Juan 15:1-8

Estamos en el Quinto Domingo de Pascua. Estamos teniendo un buen día soleado para disfrutar y pasar un buen rato con actividades al aire libre. Algunos de nosotros estamos ocupados preparando el jardín para plantar flores para decorar nuestro jardín, hortalizas o árboles frutales. De esta manera, nos conectamos con la tierra mientras reflexionamos sobre el valor de estar conectados con Dios, los demás y nuestro entorno. Jesús dice: “permanece en mí y yo en él, ése da fruto abundante, porque sin mí nada pueden hacer”. Lo más destacado y la importancia de nuestra conexión y salvación con Cristo es crucial. Si estamos desconectados, nos marchitamos y morimos como una rama muerta, y eso significa que no somos nada. La fuente misma de nuestra vida para poder dar mucho fruto es permanecer en el pámpano principal, nuestra fuerza, y dar gloria a Dios.

En la lectura de hoy, Saulo perseguía sin miedo a los cristianos del primer siglo. Continuó torturando y matando a los que seguían a Jesús. Los discípulos de Jesús le tenían miedo. Sin embargo, por la gracia de Dios. Jesús se le apareció y ese fue el comienzo de su conversión para ser un seguidor de Jesús. El nombre de Saulo fue cambiado a Pablo, y con su valiente asistente Bernabé, estos dos nuevos conversos compartieron su fidelidad para proclamar el evangelio de Jesucristo. Hicieron todo lo posible para trabajar duro por la evangelización. Pablo, a través de sus acciones, había demostrado que su fe en Jesús era real. Pablo fue un instrumento para difundir la palabra cuando salió de Jerusalén para hablar de los consuelos del Espíritu Santo y del poder de la Resurrección. Los creyentes en Cristo crecían en número y su fe se fortaleció.

La segunda lectura, de la primera carta de San Juan, manifiesta que creer en Jesús y amarse unos a otros no se presentan como dos mandamientos separados, sino como un solo mandamiento. Requiere obediencia a la plenitud del ser que cree en Cristo y ama a las personas, lo que significa permanecer en Jesús y tener una conexión vital con la fuente de toda vida y gozo eterno y verdadero a través del Espíritu. El único problema es que preferimos amar a nuestra manera que a la manera de Dios.

El evangelio de hoy está tomado del evangelista Juan narrando la historia de la vid y el viñador. “Yo soy la vid; ustedes son las ramas”. Hay muchas imágenes que debemos considerar.

Primero, Jesús dice: “Mi Padre es el viñador”. En este evangelio, el Padre es representado como el viñador de esta historia. Es el principal artífice de hacer más productivo el viñedo para conseguir la cosecha esperada. El viticultor dedica mucho tiempo y controla cuidadosamente todo lo que hay en el viñedo para obtener un resultado exitoso. Él hará todo lo que sea necesario gracias a Su amor constante y nutritivo. De la misma manera, el Padre dedica mucho tiempo y cuidado a velar por cada uno de nosotros.

En segundo lugar, Jesús dice: “Yo soy la vid, ustedes son los pámpanos. El que permanece en Mí y Yo en él, dará mucho fruto”. San Juan, el evangelista, retrata a Jesús como el Nuevo Israel que da mucho fruto agradable al Padre al declarar que Él es la “vid verdadera”. Las palabras de Jesús deben permanecer en nosotros y, dado que estamos conectados con Él, debemos pedir todo lo que deseemos y será hecho. Es obvio que el crecimiento de un fruto o de una flor depende de estar adheridos a la vid que les proporciona sustento para su crecimiento. Jesús es la Vid, y nosotros somos los pámpanos, y si estamos separados de la Vid, nada podemos hacer. Crecemos, maduramos y damos frutos que son el resultado de vivir Sus palabras y Sus caminos. Si estamos separados de la Vid, nos volvemos estériles y nos marchitamos como resultado de hacer nuestra propia voluntad, en lugar de permitir que Jesús y Sus palabras nos influyan.

En tercer lugar, Jesús dice: “Ustes son las ramas… Ya están podados por la palabra que he hablado. Permaneced en Mí como Yo permanezco en vosotros”. Las palabras “sarman, podan y permanecen” son imágenes del apego condicionado de nuestros corazones y espíritus a Jesús, la Vid verdadera. Ser el pámpano es la conexión validadora con la vid principal. Sin embargo, nuestra reacción natural es que no nos gusta la idea o la experiencia de ser podados. La idea de “poda” sugiere profundizar nuestra amistad y amor; por lo tanto, es necesario permanecer constantemente en Jesús. Como sarmientos de la vid verdadera, que es Jesús, es parte del amor que Jesús ofrece para experimentar la santidad de nuestra alma y crecer en las virtudes cristianas. Entonces, tendremos asegurada una vida fructífera.

Hagamos una pausa y preguntémonos: ¿cómo se conectan los frutos de nuestro trabajo con nuestra relación con Cristo? ¿Estamos resistiendo alguna poda que Dios está tratando de hacer con nosotros? Necesitamos ofrecernos como hijos obedientes de Dios para orar unos por otros para que seamos sarmientos que den frutos de bondad y glorifiquen a Dios con nuestras acciones, partid especialmente mientras trabajamos para sanar nuestro mundo, comunidad y familia heridos. ¡Jesús es la Vid y nosotros somos los pámpanos!

Hermanos y hermanas, hay tres cosas que necesito recordarles:

Primero, es verano, quisiera recordarles a todos que debemos respetar al Señor, cada vez que vengan a la Iglesia para la celebración de la misa, por favor, vístanse apropiadamente, sin pantalones cortos, sin ropa indecente. No estamos aquí para el espectáculo sino para adorar a Dios. Por favor respeta la casa de Dios.

En segundo lugar, durante la comunión, extienda los brazos simplemente para expresar su deseo de recibir el cuerpo de Cristo en lugar de que el sacerdote se acerque a usted. Es el Señor quien ofrece Su cuerpo sagrado, pero debemos mostrar nuestra disposición a aceptarlo extendiendo con reverencia nuestros brazos con las manos abiertas o recibiéndolo por la lengua en lugar de ser pasivos.

En tercer lugar, durante la consagración nunca abandones tu asiento hasta que termine la solemne consagración para ir al baño. Asegúrate de arrodillarte y la consagración es la parte más solemne de la misa.

Traten de tener estos importantes puntos siempre en cuenta.

Dios lo bendiga.

P. Arlón, osa

• James 1:17-21
• John 16:5-14

Today is the 4th Sunday after Easter.  I congratulate the awardees, Mike Gallagher and Hector and Stacy Bucchianeri for their continuous support of the Holy Spirit Mission through their various volunteer works.  Next week, the Prior Provincial of the Christ the King Institute, Canon Matthew, will be celebrating mass on my behalf due to my commitment to attend the Knights of Columbus Nevada State Convention in Las Vegas on May 3-5, 2024.  My presence is needed because I am still the Knights’ State Chaplain.   

Today we heard the epistle taken from the Letter of James.  The Letter of St. James is not popular with our protestant brethren because St. James says, “Faith without action is dead,” (James 2:18) which obviously means, real faith cannot exist apart from works.  I think the purpose of this epistle is to make us understand that the intent of St. James is to teach us how to live our faith.  It challenges us to take the next step in our life of genuine discipleship and teaches us how to persevere following the example of the Lord.  St. James acknowledges that the Father is the “Father of Lights,” and all perfect gifts, the sending of His begotten Son Jesus and His words and ministry, all make us favored children of God.  The Word became flesh and was born among us, and the word of God which fills our scriptures, also comes from above. It all comes from above, through the Holy Spirit and not from us. The light that came from heaven and descends on earth is the good gift coming from above.   St. James further says, “Let every man be swift to hear but slow to speak and slow to anger.  For the anger of a man worketh not the justice of God.”  We need to accept God’s word to change us when we welcome it with great humility or meekness.  We must be willing to be changed by this Word, to be led by this Word and to live not by our will but by the divine Will of God. We are ready to be doers of the word in order to make ourselves an extension of Christ to others. That is what we are called to do.  Let us control our anger by what we usually hear in the proclamation of the epistle and the gospel.  When we welcome with meekness, God is implanting the power of His word in our hearts. 

In the gospel today, Jesus says, “I go to Him that sent Me: and none of you asked Me: Where are you going?”  The chosen apostles of Jesus could not understand His impending passion and death with these words Jesus had spoken the night of the last supper.  Jesus was giving them clear assurance that leaving them is to open for them a new and life-giving way through the promise of the Paraclete which means the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, and which demonstrates God’s presence so that they would be strengthened and be bold in speaking about the Risen Lord. 

God continues to accompany His beloved people of Israel and us since the beginning of His creation.  The fundamental realities that sustain the disciples’ goodness and right judgement is their full trust, faith, and belief of Christ’s promise that He would continue working with them powerfully through the Paraclete.  Their own vulnerability and fragility have been overcome by the presence of the third person of the Trinity. 

There are moments in our lives that we stumble and fall with broken and sad hearts for various reasons, dark and difficult times, and in all our times of painful loss.  Our sadness too can be related to some experience of loss just like the sadness the disciples felt knowing that their master would experience passion and death.  The disciples were experiencing a necessary loss, a loss that was in the service of a greater blessing, a sadness of losing someone who has been significant to them, and yet Jesus showed them that His leaving had a value.  He was teaching them in a new and different way of rising and sharing with us the Paraclete.  The Spirit assures us of the Lord’s loving presence at such moments, so that even in our sadness we can experience something of that joy which is the fruit of the Spirit.   

In and through the Spirit, the Lord would come to believers of every generation in every part of the world, and to us here present, rejoicing in His eternal presence.  Only then, if we work with dedication and commitment, we can do wondrous things by, through, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, whom the risen Lord sends to us, for us also to share and to proclaim! 

God bless you. 

Fr. Arlon, osa

• Acts 4:8-12
• Psalm 118:1, 8-9, 21-23, 26, 28, 29
• 1 John 3:1-2
• John 10:11-18

Today is the 4th Sunday of Easter, Year B. I presume that we are enjoying reading and reflecting on the previous three Sundays post-resurrection stories. Jesus has been present in our lives and continues to lead us closer to Him.

The reading today from the Acts of the Apostle speaks about Peter and John who cured a cripple in the name of Jesus. Peter had told the followers of Jesus to be bold to speak out to the Jewish leaders in defense of their good actions for healing a cripple. It was not through their good deeds that the crippled man was healed, but by the power of Jesus Christ the Nazorean. Jesus has been the foundation, strength and stability for the whole community despite being rejected by the Jews. St. Peter says, “Jesus is the stone rejected by the builders but becomes the cornerstone,” and the conclusion of Peter’s word is powerful to proclaim that, “There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved.”

The second reading from the first letter of St. John reminds us that “the love of the Father has bestowed upon us….now we are children of God. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” Our own motivation shall be like Him – be like him in motivation, in attitude, and in action. It is nice that we reflect on the goodness of the loving God and imitate Him.

In the gospel reading, we hear Jesus speak of Himself as the “Good Shepherd” that lays down His life for the sheep. He stays faithful throughout all dangers and will gather all into one flock. Jesus as the Good Shepherd is one of the most familiar ways of portraying our Lord. This particular gospel is read every 4th Sunday of Easter. So, let us decipher some of the most important points in this gospel pericope:

First, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (v.11) I am grateful to Jesus for offering Himself to be our Shepherd. It is true that we desire for someone to lead us, to protect us, to guide us, and to care for us always. We are a blessed flock of sheep who can rely on Him. The world, our community, our family and friends search for someone to rely on. In this period of deception, we must listen to Jesus, who carefully distinguishes false shepherds or hirelings. Many would be coming to deceive us, but the significant character of our Good Shepherd is His commitment and readiness to lay down His life for us, for Jesus has preceded us on this perilous road.

Second, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father.” (vv. 14,15) In this verse, we agree that His complete knowledge about His sheep refers to us, His flock. He likes us to be together under His care and guidance, as the fact is that He knows each one of us. It is also for our own safety that He tends to spend a lot of time with us for our benefit. In like manner, He spent time with His Father in prayer. In addition, He knows us better than we know ourselves.

Third, the last point of Jesus expresses this, “I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So, there will be one flock, one shepherd.” (v.16) Personally, I believe the sacred intention of our Lord is to gather all people in the world as “one flock and one shepherd.” To rightly interpret these words of Jesus, we need to find the rationale for this scriptural text which refers us to the fact that Jesus of history preached to the fold of God’s chosen people, Israel. While Jesus’ earthly ministry served the Jewish people almost exclusively, His great commission to the Apostles before His ascension was to send them all into the world to preach, baptize, and thus unite His believers in one-fold. (Mt. 28:19) Here the “other sheep” refers to Gentiles willing to obey and follow the Lord Jesus Christ. Then, these righteous Gentiles heard the gospel from the lips of His disciples, sought conversion, and they became followers of Jesus. I believe that we are considered Gentiles, which means outside the fold of the chosen people of Israel. Thus, it is not proper for other denominations and religions claiming to justify their existence as being the “other sheep.” Such interpretation is wrong! Our understanding of the “other sheep” as the Gentiles who would come to believe in Christ is the natural understanding of the passage.

This Easter season allows us to find Jesus in our ordinary lives, where we encounter Him in unexpected moments, ways, or places. I wonder if we are grounded in faith to share our own thoughts about Jesus and in what role He has in our life.

Jesus gives us the example that everyone is welcome to join His flock. Jesus finds no difference in serving, working, and loving those people the Father gives Him. Who is Jesus for you and where can you find Him?

God bless you.

Fr. Arlon, osa

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El Dictado del Corazón
Cuarto Domingo de Pascua, Año B

• Hechos 4:8-12
• Salmo 118:1, 8-9, 21-23, 26, 28, 29
• 1 Juan 3:1-2
• Juan 10:11-18

Hoy es el Cuarto Domingo de Pascua, Año B. Hemos disfrutado reflexionando sobre las lecturas de los tres domingos anteriores sobre las historias posteriores a la resurrección. Jesús ha estado presente en nuestras vidas y continúa guiándonos a Él.

La lectura de hoy de los Hechos de los Apóstoles habla de Pedro y Juan que curaron a un cojo en el nombre de Jesús. Pedro había dicho a los seguidores de Jesús que se atrevieran a hablar ante los líderes judíos en defensa de sus buenas obras para curar a un lisiado. No fue por sus buenas obras que el cojo sanó sino por el poder que tiene el nombre de Jesucristo el Nazareno. Jesús ha sido el fundamento, la fuerza y la estabilidad de toda la comunidad a pesar del rechazo de los judíos. San Pedro dice: “Jesús es la piedra desechada por los constructores, se convierte en la piedra angular. Y la conclusión de la palabra de Pedro es poderosa para proclamar que “no hay salvación por otro, ni hay otro nombre bajo el cielo dado al género humano en el que podamos ser salvados”.

La segunda lectura de la primera carta de San Juan nos recuerda que “el amor del Padre nos ha concedido… ahora somos hijos de Dios. Y todo aquel que tiene esta esperanza puesta en Él, se purifica, así como Él es puro”. Nuestra motivación será como Él: seremos como Él en motivación, en actitud y en acción. Es bueno reflexionar sobre la bondad del Dios amoroso y que lo imitemos.

En la lectura del evangelio, escuchamos a Jesús hablar de sí mismo como el “Buen Pastor” que da su vida por las ovejas. Él permanece fiel a través de todos los peligros y reunirá a todos en un solo rebaño. Jesús como el Buen Pastor, que es una de las formas más familiares de representar a nuestro Señor. Este evangelio en particular se lee cada cuarto domingo de Pascua. Entonces, descifremos algunos de los puntos más importantes de del evangelio:

Primero, Jesús dice: “Yo soy el buen pastor. El buen pastor da su vida por sus ovejas”. (v.11) Doy gracias a Jesús por ofrecerse para ser nuestro Pastor. De hecho, deseamos que alguien nos guíe, nos proteja, nos guíe y nos cuide siempre. Somos un rebaño bendito de ovejas que podemos confiar en Él. El mundo, nuestra comunidad, nuestra familia y nuestros amigos buscan a alguien en quien confiar. En este período de engaño, debemos escuchar a Jesús, quien distingue cuidadosamente a los falsos pastores o asalariados. Muchos vendrían a engañarnos, pero el carácter significativo de nuestro Buen Pastor es su compromiso y disposición por dar su vida por nosotros, porque Jesús nos ha precedido en este camino peligroso.

Segundo, Jesús dice: “Yo soy el buen pastor. Conozco a los míos y los míos me conocen a mí, así como el Padre me conoce y yo conozco al Padre. (vv. 14,15) En este versículo, estamos de acuerdo en que Su conocimiento completo acerca de Sus ovejas se refiere a nosotros, Su rebaño. Le gusta que estemos juntos bajo su cuidado y guía, pues lo cierto es que Él nos conoce a cada uno de nosotros. También es por nuestra seguridad que Él tiende a pasar mucho tiempo con nosotros para nuestro beneficio. De la misma manera, pasó tiempo con Su Padre en oración. Además, Él nos conoce mejor que nosotros mismos.

En tercer lugar, el último punto que Jesús expresa: “Tengo otras ovejas que no son de este redil. A ellos también debo traer, y escucharán mi voz. Entonces habrá un solo rebaño, un solo pastor”. (v.16) Personalmente, creo que la sagrada intención de nuestro Señor es reunir a todas las personas del mundo como “un solo rebaño y pastor”. Para interpretar correctamente estas palabras de Jesús, necesitamos encontrar el fundamento de este texto bíblico que nos remite al hecho de que el Jesús de la historia predicó al redil del pueblo elegido de Dios, Israel. Si bien el ministerio terrenal de Jesús sirvió casi exclusivamente al pueblo judío, su gran comisión a los Apóstoles antes de Su ascensión fue enviarlos a todos al mundo para predicar, bautizar y así unir a Sus creyentes en un solo redil. (Mt. 28:19) Aquí las “otras ovejas” se refieren a los gentiles dispuestos a obedecer y seguir a Jesucristo. Entonces, estos justos gentiles escucharon el evangelio de labios de sus discípulos, buscaron la conversión y se convirtieron en seguidores de Jesús. Creo que somos considerados gentiles, lo que significa fuera del redil del pueblo elegido de Israel. Por lo tanto, no es apropiado que otras denominaciones o sectas afirmen justificar su existencia como las “otras ovejas”. ¡Semejante interpretación es errónea! Nuestra comprensión de las “otras ovejas” se refiere a los gentiles que llegarían a creer en Cristo, es la comprensión lógica de este pasaje.

Este tiempo pascual nos permite encontrar a Jesús en nuestra vida ordinaria, donde lo encontramos en momentos, formas o lugares inesperados. Me pregunto si estamos cimentados en la fe para compartir nuestros pensamientos sobre Jesús y qué papel tiene en nuestras vidas.

Jesús nos da el ejemplo de que todos son bienvenidos a unirse a su rebaño. Jesús no encuentra diferencia en servir, trabajar y amar a aquellas personas que el Padre le da. ¿Quién es Jesús para ti y dónde puedes encontrarlo?

Dios los bendiga.

P. Arlón, osa

• 1 Peter 2:11-19
• John 16:16-22

Today, we are in the 3rd Sunday after Easter. Let us continue to be empowered by the risen Lord to glorify our loving God through good works and continuous rejoicing Easter people.

The epistle, from the first letter of Peter, reminds us of our personal calling to holiness, which is essential to be genuine witnesses of Christ participating in our mission. We too are reminded to take advantage of the abundant blessings and the necessity of obedience. Obedience is necessary to do good in order to persevere in our Christian life. Through our obedience, we are protected from anything that destroys our body and spirit. We must always recognize the Lord, who guides and illuminates us with His eternal light to show the path to moral uprightness, in both our personal and public lives, all for the good and glory of God. It is imperative that, as believers, we live lives that express inherent goodness of God’s children; therefore, we must live consistently faithful and willing to renew ourselves by the challenge of the Sacrament of Confession. To keep our conduct excellent is to live in complete obedience to Jesus’ teachings and words and to emulate His purity, kindness, mercy, and love.

In the gospel today Jesus uttered a puzzling statement when he said, “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.” I would like to reflect on these words of Jesus so that we have a better understanding of His words.

First, Jesus repeats a portion of His thought maybe to put weight on something. His disciples struggle to comprehend what He was talking about. They wanted to ask Him what He meant, but Jesus doesn’t precisely answer their question. However, “a little while and you will not see Me,” refers to His impending death. These words were uttered by Jesus before His crucifixion. His words. “You will not see Me,” brought intense sorrow to the disciples for it provides details of what they will experience in the time ahead.

Second, Jesus is planning to surprise them, and He said, “Big things are coming for you in the days ahead.” What does this mean? It is true that the Jewish religious leaders are planning to eliminate Jesus who will be put to death because the power of darkness manifests through the betrayal of Judas. These religious leaders, Pharisees and Scribes walk and exist and ordered a state of enmity which exists against God through the rule of Satan.

Third, Jesus says, “Trust Me, when they come, you will be delighted beyond measure! But the world will rejoice.” This must be taken to mean that those who came against Christ would rejoice which has been the outcome thinking that they defeated Him. The wickedness permeates the world under Satan, and that evil prevails gaining control is another lie of Satan. However, Jesus Christ the Messiah. is the Light of the world, and He has the over-all and permanent control of everything that even darkness and sin won’t succeed. The Risen Christ‘s presence in our midst expresses in a new and profound way for us to rejoice forever.

St. Paul gives us encouraging words, “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Col 1:27) It is for us believers that we keep Christ’s promise and to remember what the resurrection of Jesus means to us. Without God, we have no purpose and God has never lost control. Rather, He is in complete control.

Our greatest desire and concern should not be to live to please the world, but to be pleasing before God and see how God sees. This is our goal and our mission.

God bless you.

Fr. Arlon, osa