All 4 volumes are available in paperback & eBook format!
Amazon – Google Play – iTunes – Barnes and Noble – and more!
Members of God’s Family
Sixth Sunday of Easter (Year A)
“I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because I live and you will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you.” John 14:18–20
The feeling of being an orphan—of longing for belonging—reflects a deeper spiritual reality Jesus addressed with His disciples in today’s Gospel. Those with close families are truly blessed, as a supportive family fosters personal growth and a sense of identity. When one is orphaned, the absence of these natural bonds can leave a lasting sense of loss. Yet even the strongest earthly family relationships point to a greater truth: our ultimate belonging is found in God’s family.
Jesus understood the sense of loss His disciples would feel after His Passion, Resurrection, and Ascension. When He said, “In a little while the world will no longer see me…” He was preparing them for His physical departure through the Ascension. But He reassures them: “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you…you will see me, because I live and you will live.”
Initially, the disciples struggled to grasp the meaning of these words. Only after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit did they begin to understand. The same promise Jesus made to them applies to us today. Though we were not among those who witnessed His earthly presence, we too have a longing for His nearness—a longing to belong, to be loved, and to find our place within a family. This longing is fulfilled supernaturally through the gift of faith and our incorporation into God’s divine family, the Church.
Faith is the key to this relationship. It is more than intellectual belief; it is the acceptance of a personal revelation from God and a choice to live according to that revelation. Jesus promises that those who love Him and obey His commandments will experience His presence and that of the Father. This experience begins through faith, which is a gift by which God communicates Himself to us, revealing His love and will. It is both certain and mysterious, a knowledge that leads us to divine hope and sustains us in the pursuit of God’s will.
Faith also unites us with one another. Through faith, we are no longer orphans but brothers and sisters in Christ. Our natural longing to belong finds its ultimate fulfillment in God’s glorious family, which begins on earth and is perfected in Heaven.
Reflect today on the desire in your heart to belong, to be loved, and to be part of a family. Recognize that this longing finds its ultimate fulfillment in the family of God. Though we await the fullness of this communion in Heaven, we can experience it even now. Commit yourself to respond to Jesus’ invitation by embracing your place in His family through prayer, the sacraments, and daily acts of love. Recognize that He is in the Father, we are in Him, and He is in us. Embrace this reality, allowing the gift of faith to draw you more deeply into the divine family to which we are called.
My revealing Lord, deep within my soul I long for You and desire to be one with You and Your Father through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Please reveal Yourself to me so that I can know You, live according to Your commandments, and flourish in Your grace. May my membership in Your family of faith, through the Church, begin now and become perfected in Heaven. Jesus, I trust in You.
Divinely Appointed Love
Sixth Sunday of Easter (Year B)
“It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another.” John 15:16–17
If someone exhorted you to start a business that would flourish and produce incredible wealth, you might be encouraged. If that same person guaranteed you that the endeavor you were to begin would become highly successful, you would be even more encouraged and hopeful. If it were God Who appeared to you and gave you the same exhortation, you would begin your work with great anticipation and excitement.
In today’s Gospel, God gives us a similar exhortation—not to start a business to provide earthly wealth—but to “go and bear fruit that will remain.” God, in the Person of Jesus, goes even further by saying that if you embrace the endeavor to which He appoints you, “whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.” Note that Jesus begins by saying, “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain…” Therefore, the fruit God commands us to produce is the mission to which He appoints us. Jesus then clarifies: “This I command you: love one another.”
To those who are worldly, bearing the good fruit of “love” for one another might not be as immediately exciting as obtaining earthly riches. To those who remain in God’s love and keep His commandments, bearing the good fruit of love for others is the only thing that excites them. When love is properly understood, it is seen as the deepest desire of every human soul and the only thing that satisfies.
In the original Greek text, Jesus uses the verb agapaō, derived from the noun agapē, to describe the form of love He commands. Agapaō is a selfless, sacrificial, and unconditional love. It is not based on feelings, emotions, or mutual benefit but on a deliberate choice to will the good of the other. The word is often used in the New Testament to describe God’s love for us and the kind of love we are called to have for one another. Agapaō emphasizes action rather than emotion—a love manifested through deeds, not merely words or feelings.
Only this form of divinely appointed love produces the good fruit of which Jesus speaks. Worldly loves—such as riches, fleeting emotions, or selfish attachments—ultimately fail to nourish the soul. Only by giving of ourselves, as God gave all to us, do we find the fulfillment we desire. Furthermore, because it is Jesus who appointed us to this form of love and commands us to bear this form of good fruit, when we sincerely pray for this gift and are open to it, the Father will grant it to us in superabundance.
Saint Paul beautifully describes this form of love to which we are called in his first letter to the Corinthians: “Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:4–8).
Reflect today on how well you are responding to Jesus’ call to bear good fruit through selfless love. He has appointed you to this task, and His appointment comes with every grace you need to fulfill it. True love must be unconditional, transcending emotions and personal preferences. Heed Jesus’ commandment to love, and be assured that the Father will grant this gift to you, especially when it is difficult. Nothing else in this world compares to the riches of divine love, received and given to others.
My loving Father, Your love alone is pure and perfect. It is self-giving and unconditional. Please bestow Your love upon me. Help me to accept Your gift of divine love and to become an instrument of that love to others. In Jesus’ holy name, I pray. Jesus, I trust in You.
Love of God Through Obedience
Sixth Sunday of Easter (Year C)
Jesus said to his disciples: “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me.” John 14:23–24
Do you want God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to dwell within your soul? Think about it: the Creator and Sustainer of all that exists desires to live within you. What an indescribable blessing! The intimacy and personal attentiveness the Most Holy Trinity offers each soul is beyond comprehension.
When God dwells within us, His very life becomes intertwined with ours. We cannot add to God’s greatness, but we can magnify His glory. Through His indwelling, God transforms us and conforms us to His divine mission. By partaking in that mission, we glorify God in the most remarkable way possible. Nothing is greater than participating in this divine indwelling, yet we often reject this gift by turning away from the means of obtaining it.
What is the means to this gift? Love of God through obedience. “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.” We often misunderstand obedience as burdensome or restrictive. We can see it as an imposition, forcing us to conform to something contrary to our will. In truth, obedience to God is the opposite of a burden—it is the path to freedom. Surrendering our disordered will liberates us from what enslaves us and restores us to the fullness of life.
When it comes to loving God, obedience is essential. It is not something to fear or resent but to embrace with joy. In every circumstance, God knows best what lifts us up, restores us, and gives us a share in His divine life. Following His perfect will allows Him to be glorified in and through us, which in turn brings us into His glory. Love of God is inseparable from obedience to His will, and we are called to embrace that love with all our strength.
Obedience is closely tied to humility because humility allows us to acknowledge that God’s wisdom surpasses our own. It enables us to surrender our misdirected desires and accept His will as superior. Pride, a false image of ourselves, clouds our thinking and draws us away from God’s plan. Disordered appetites and inordinate desires, products of our fallen nature, further misdirect us. Only God’s grace can free us from these burdens, align us with the truth, and lead us to the high calling of His indwelling presence.
Reflect today on the supernatural invitation to open your soul to God’s indwelling presence. Choose to say “Yes” to this calling by embracing the means to that end. Love God by joyfully obeying His word, especially in overcoming pride and disordered desires. Humble yourself, confessing that His will alone is the path to the freedom and joy your soul longs for. Open your heart to God’s divine promise and allow His indwelling presence to transform your life through the love that is obedience to His perfect will.
Most loving God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—You desire to come to me and live within me, transforming me through loving obedience to Your perfect will. I choose Your will over my own today and pray for the wisdom and humility I need to remain always faithful to You. Jesus, I trust in You.
Giving Bold Witness
Monday of the Sixth Week of Easter
Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.” John 15:26–27
The Last Supper Discourse spans Chapters 13–17 in John’s Gospel, making it Jesus’ longest continuous teaching in the Gospels. While Chapter 13 begins with Jesus washing the disciples’ feet and teaching humility, it also introduces the promise of the Holy Spirit, the Advocate. Today’s Gospel begins a deeper teaching on the role of the Holy Spirit, a theme we will explore further as we approach the Solemnity of Pentecost in less than two weeks.
The role of the Holy Spirit in this passage is twofold. First, the Holy Spirit is identified as the Spirit of Truth Who will testify to the disciples on Jesus’ behalf. To testify is to bear witness to the truth. A witness in a court of law testifies under oath to safeguard the truthfulness of his or her statement. Even more so, the Holy Spirit’s testimony, spoken deep within the conscience of every soul aligned with God’s will, brings with it moral certitude. When the Holy Spirit speaks, we know what He says is true. This is how we arrive at the certitude of faith in Jesus as our Savior and in the truthfulness of all He taught.
Second, Jesus says, “You also testify.” The Holy Spirit not only testifies to Jesus but also equips the disciples to give testimony about Him to the world. This testimony, as Jesus explains, will not be without cost: “They will expel you from the synagogues; in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God” (John 16:2). Jesus warns His disciples of this coming hostility so they “may not fall away.” The Holy Spirit will enable them to testify courageously, even in the face of persecution. This assurance was essential for the early Church and remains vital for believers today as we navigate a world often resistant to the Gospel.
The testimony we must give as Christians is rooted in proclaiming the Truth: Jesus is the one and only way to the Father. He alone offers the forgiveness of sins and the gift of salvation. Without turning to Him, we cannot be saved.
In addition to this central message, we must testify to the supporting truths of our faith through both word and action. Faithful attendance at Mass is essential. Confession restores us to grace. Daily prayer draws us closer to God. Mortal sin destroys our union with Him, and Hell is a sobering reality. But the hope of Heaven shines brightly for all who embrace God’s mercy and live in His grace. Penance helps us overcome habitual sin. We are called to love our neighbor, pray for those who persecute us, forgive every offense, and show boundless mercy, even to the most unlovable. Ultimately, we are called to lay down our lives for others in imitation of Christ.
Only the Holy Spirit can equip us with understanding and courage to give this testimony wholeheartedly. Without the Spirit, we are incapable of being faithful witnesses to God’s truth and love. Just as Jesus prepared His disciples for their mission, He now calls us to prepare ourselves through prayer and reliance on the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
To be a witness is to be a martyr in the broadest sense—with a willingness to live a life of sacrificial love, imitating Christ’s offering on the Cross. This is the greatest testimony we can give to a world in need of salvation.
Reflect today on the ways the Holy Spirit might be calling you to give witness to Christ. Are there moments when fear or complacency holds you back from testifying to the truth? Pray for the courage and grace to live boldly as His witness. To be used by God is the greatest honor we can receive. Embrace that honor by allowing the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, to dwell in you and bear witness through you that Jesus is the Savior of the world and the sole path to eternal life.
Most Holy Spirit, Spirit of Truth, please come to me and make Your dwelling within me so that I will know the Truth and be set free. In that freedom, please use me to testify on Jesus’ behalf that He is the Savior of the World and that only through Him can we receive eternal life. May I be a witness to these and every truth You wish to speak through me. Jesus, I trust in You.
Finding Hope in Grief
Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter
Jesus said to his disciples: “Now I am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts. But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” John 16:5–7
Each of us experiences grief. The death of a loved one, the loss of a job, and a serious illness are a few of many immediate causes of grief. Jesus addresses the grief the disciples were experiencing as they listened to Him explain that He was going to the One Who sent Him, to the Father: “But because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts.”
It’s easy to relate to the disciples’ grief. Imagine that you find out that your best friend is moving to another state. You would have a deep sense of loss upon hearing the news. This is what the disciples were experiencing. The closeness they shared with Jesus was profoundly consoling to them. In Him, they learned so much and began to understand the purity and power of divine love, likely for the first time. The news of His departure filled them with grief.
Emotions are neither good nor bad; they are natural reactions to perceived goods or evils. The disciples’ initial perception of Jesus’ earthly departure was as an undesirable loss, so they felt grief. Jesus, fully understanding human nature, addressed their grief with great empathy. Simply identifying what they were feeling would have been a comfort to them. But Jesus goes further: “But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.”
At Jesus’ words, the disciples might have experienced the beginnings of hope, but they did not fully understand. Only after Jesus left them, ascended to the Father, and sent the Holy Spirit at Pentecost did they begin to understand. And only after living with the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives for some time did they more fully comprehend the depth of this promise. This reflects our own spiritual journey; it takes time and openness for the wisdom of God’s plan to unfold in our lives.
Whenever we face grief or confusion, we would benefit from pondering this exchange between Jesus and the disciples. Romans 8:28 tells us, “We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” That means “all things,” not just some things. When we fully commit ourselves to God and His perfect will, everything we encounter has the potential to produce good fruit. Every sorrow, joy, cross, victory, or persecution, as well as all the emotions that accompany these experiences, is able to be used as an instrument of God’s grace in our lives, and through us, in the lives of others.
The reason this is so is because of God’s perfect wisdom. From the divine perspective, Jesus transformed suffering and death through His Cross and Resurrection, and nothing is beyond the reach of God’s power. God can use even something as painful as the tragic and sudden loss of a loved one for good.
Believing this instills hope in our lives, which is among the three most important virtues. Faith is the certain belief that God can work all things for good, and hope is the drive that moves us toward the fulfillment of that belief. Together, faith and hope produce charity, the greatest gift of all, the only gift that endures even in Heaven. Just as the disciples later understood the value of Jesus’ departure—when they received the Holy Spirit and discovered that the Lord they loved now lived within them, never to leave—so we too will come to that same realization when we open ourselves to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit through prayer, trust, and surrender to His guidance.
Reflect today on a moment in your life when you faced grief or loss. Offer that memory to God in prayer, asking Him to reveal how His grace was at work in that situation, bringing growth, healing, or a deeper understanding of His love. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill your heart with faith and hope, trusting that even in the face of sorrow, God’s perfect plan is unfolding for good.
Lord of perfect wisdom, I do believe that all things work for the good for those who love You. When I feel pain and grief, please give me hope. Holy Spirit, please come to me and dwell within me, so that all I experience will lead to the good You intend. Jesus, I trust in You.
Bearing All Truth
Wednesday of the Sixth Week of Easter
Jesus said to his disciples: “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth.” John 16:12–13
Even Jesus’ closest companions, who spent three years with Him during His public ministry, could not bear the fullness of Truth without the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth. This is a significant reminder for us, who did not have the privilege of walking with Jesus during His earthly ministry.
Imagine those three years: the disciples witnessed miracle after miracle, listened to sermon after sermon, and enjoyed intimate conversations with Jesus. Just being in His presence—observing how He interacted with others—must have been profoundly inspiring. Yet, even those formative years did not prepare them to bear all that Jesus wished to reveal.
This shows us that understanding the fullness of Truth goes far beyond human capacity. Only through the supernatural gift of the Holy Spirit can we comprehend the deepest mysteries of faith.
What happens to a soul who receives the Holy Spirit and is guided into “all truth?” That soul is transformed. The natural soul gives way to a supernaturally elevated soul, becoming a new creation in Christ. But this transformation requires something essential: the old self must die. We must surrender our fallen nature to receive the new life Christ offers. This requires great sacrifice because we must let go of our old ways and embrace God’s grace. But every sacrifice that leads to a life transformed by divine truth is worth it.
Recall Jesus’ teaching: “No one pours new wine into old wineskins…New wine must be poured into fresh wineskins” (Luke 5:37–38). For us to become fresh wineskins, ready to receive the new wine of God’s grace, we must allow the Holy Spirit to change us. This transformation might be startling at times. As the Spirit works within us, opening our eyes to truths we could never imagine, we begin to bear those truths that previously seemed unbearable. This leads to wonder, awe, and praise of God.
Consider the example of Saint Stephen, the Church’s first martyr. When Stephen spoke, the corrupt religious leaders “could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke” (Acts 6:10). He didn’t rely on years of education or human effort to gain knowledge; instead, the Spirit of Truth lived in him and spoke through him. Stephen had become a fresh wineskin, and the new wine of God’s truth poured forth from him in superabundance, even to the point of giving his life for Christ.
Reflect today on the boundless truths that God desires to reveal to you through the Holy Spirit. No amount of human learning can compare to the depth of wisdom available to those who become new creations in Christ. What areas of your life still resist the Spirit’s transformative work? What old wineskins must you cast aside to receive the new wine of divine grace? By surrendering to the Holy Spirit, you allow God to lead you into the fullness of Truth. As this truth fills your heart, it will draw you into deeper awe and praise for the mysteries of faith, preparing you to bear witness to the world as a true disciple of Christ.
Lord of all Truth, You desire to reveal to me Your very self, yet I am unable to bear the fullness of Who You are and all that You wish to reveal. Please transform me by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit so that I become a new creation more fully able to receive the fullness of divine Truth. Jesus, I trust in You.
(If you celebrate the Ascension in your diocese today, see the reflection below. Otherwise, skip to the next reflection and return to the Ascension reflection on Sunday.)
Evangelizing All Nations
Ascension of Our Lord (Year A)
“All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18–20
What a monumental task the Apostles were given! These are Jesus’ parting words as He stands on the Mount of the Ascension, the final words recorded in Matthew’s Gospel. They are powerful words by which Jesus entrusts extraordinary responsibility to eleven of His closest companions. Their mission was not merely to gain new followers but to proclaim the Gospel to every nation. Additionally, they were to baptize all nations and teach them everything Jesus had commanded.
This incredible task would have seemed daunting, if not impossible. Yet it is grounded in divine authority: “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore…” These are not mere words of encouragement but a divine command, rooted in the authority entrusted to Jesus by the Father. With this declaration, Jesus equips the Apostles with the grace to fulfill their mission, knowing they act under His authority.
The Ascension marks a fundamental transition in salvation history. Before the Incarnation, God established covenants with His people and sent prophets to call them to fidelity and prepare them for the coming of the Messiah. With Jesus’ Incarnation, a new era of salvation history began. Through His Passion and Resurrection, Jesus opened the floodgates of grace and inaugurated the final phase of God’s eternal plan. This phase continues today and will only reach its fulfillment when Christ returns in glory to judge the living and the dead and establish the new Heaven and new Earth.
Because we live in this final phase of salvation history, Jesus’ words to His Apostles also apply to us. We are not only among the “all nations” called to be disciples, but we also share in the Apostles’ mission to evangelize the world. While the Apostles, as the first bishops, had a unique role, every baptized person participates in Christ’s mission through the priestly, prophetic, and kingly offices conferred at baptism.
The recently canonized Saint John Henry Newman beautifully illustrates this shared mission in a prayer he wrote: “God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission…I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons….” Each of us has a unique role to play, and we can be certain that God has given us some definite service to act as a link in a chain and a bond of connection between God and others.
Newman continues: “If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him, in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him. If I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him.” This reminds us that Jesus, the all-powerful God who holds “all power in heaven and on earth,” can use every aspect of our lives for His glory and mission—if we let Him.
Reflect today on two truths. First, consider your place among the “all nations” called to become disciples. Second, reflect on your duty as a disciple to share in Christ’s mission to evangelize the world. As we celebrate our Lord’s Ascension, hear His commission spoken to you. Embrace the privilege and responsibility of His command, allowing His authority and presence to guide your life and your mission.
Lord of all power in Heaven and Earth, You have called all people to Yourself. I accept that call and open myself to Your gift of eternal salvation. With my “Yes” to You, I also accept the responsibility to share in Your mission of evangelization. Please reveal Your will to me and empower me to fulfill my duty so that all nations will hear Your saving Word. Jesus, I trust in You.
(If you celebrate the Ascension in your diocese today, see the reflection below. Otherwise, skip to the next reflection and return to the Ascension reflection on Sunday.)
Accompanying Signs of the Gospel
Ascension of Our Lord (Year B)
So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs. Mark 16:19–20
When Jesus ascended into Heaven and took His seat at the right hand of the Father, His earthly mission was not over—it had just begun. While on Earth, the Son of God limited Himself to the restrictions of human nature. He could not be everywhere at once, nor could He speak to every person in every nation simultaneously. He was bound by time and space and interacted within that time and space as each of us does.
Jesus’ earthly mission was a preparation for the fullness of His work of evangelizing the world. During His earthly ministry, He gathered disciples, entrusted His divine authority to His Apostles upon whom He established His Church, offered His human life as the Sacrificial Lamb Who takes away the sins of the world, conquered death by rising, and then ascended into Heaven.
From Heaven, the Son of Man’s work transitioned into a new and glorious era of worldwide evangelization and interior transformation for all who respond to Him. Now, seated at the right hand of the Father, He is present everywhere, communicating and assisting everyone who turns to Him in faith.
Though Jesus will return at the end of time to judge the living and the dead and to establish His permanent and visible Kingdom—at which time every knee will bow before Him—His return must begin today. His Kingdom must first be established within our lives and in our societies.
The Ascension marks the beginning of Jesus’ eternal and universal rule over the world. His kingship is not imposed upon us; rather, it is the only true source of freedom and authentic, universal flourishing. We are called to cooperate with Him, becoming instruments of His kingly reign today.
How do we do this? For now, His reign is not forced upon the world. We are not called to create earthly laws that mandate conversion and religious observance. God respects our free will. Our mission to help establish God’s Kingdom on Earth is accomplished by imitating Jesus’ first Apostles: “But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.” It is our duty to preach everywhere. When our preaching is pure and aligned with God’s will, God will confirm our mission with accompanying signs. These signs might not necessarily be miraculous, but they will nonetheless testify to God’s work of evangelization.
One of the clearest accompanying signs is the way we live. We are called to be signs to others of radical Christian living. We do so by living virtuously, selflessly, and sacrificially. Our confidence, total self-giving to the mission of Christ, purity of life, and manifest charity will all be ways that God accompanies the Gospel we speak and live.
Reflect today on the Apostles going forth from the Mount of the Ascension, preaching in Jesus’ name, as Jesus uses various means to confirm the authenticity of their words. Hear Jesus’ call to you to share in that mission. Saving souls and building God’s Kingdom on Earth is unquestionably our greatest responsibility. Resolve to be an apostle of Christ, sent forth to continue His work, touching those whom God wants to touch through you.
My accompanying Lord, You have promised to be with me always when I remain faithful to You and Your will. I give my life to You; please use me as You will. Send me forth to preach Your Word, and give me the grace to remain faithful to Your Word so that I become a pure and holy instrument of Your saving grace for others. Jesus, I trust in You.
(If you celebrate the Ascension in your diocese today, see the reflection below. Otherwise, skip to the next reflection and return to the Ascension reflection on Sunday.)
God’s Eternal Plan
Ascension of Our Lord (Year C)
Jesus said to his disciples: “Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” Luke 24:46–49
Who could have conceived of an eternal plan in which God Himself takes on human nature, suffers, dies, and rises from the dead so that those who repent would receive the forgiveness of sins? Even Jesus’ closest followers struggled to fully grasp this plan, despite His many attempts to share it with them.
Christ’s mission to “suffer and rise from the dead on the third day” was alluded to in the Old Testament. Isaiah 53 describes the Suffering Servant who is “pierced for our transgressions” and “crushed for our iniquities,” whose suffering brings healing and redemption. Psalm 22 portrays the anguish of one who suffers unjustly yet ultimately trusts in God’s deliverance. The sacrifice of Isaac in Genesis prefigures the offering of the Son by the Father, pointing to Christ’s ultimate sacrifice. The Paschal Lamb of the Exodus foreshadows Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Though each of these Old Testament prefigurations and prophecies were being fulfilled in Jesus, the disciples, prior to Jesus’ Ascension and Pentecost, did not yet understand them fully.
During Jesus’ public ministry, He told His disciples that He must “go to Jerusalem and suffer many things…and be killed, and on the third day be raised” (Matthew 16:21). In Mark 10:33–34, He predicted His betrayal, condemnation, and execution, followed by His resurrection. At the Last Supper, Jesus instituted the Eucharist, explaining that His Body and Blood would be “given up” and “poured out” for the forgiveness of sins. Yet the mystery remained veiled as His disciples listened.
Today, we are blessed to understand more fully the incredible wisdom of God’s eternal plan. After Jesus ascended and sent the Holy Spirit upon the Church, the Spirit of Truth did what Jesus promised: He led the Apostles—and us—into all truth. Just as the Apostles moved from confusion to clarity through the Holy Spirit’s guidance, we too are invited to grow in understanding and participation in God’s salvific mission. Though we will only fully comprehend these divine mysteries in Heaven, as we gaze upon the Beatific Vision, our understanding of Jesus’ earthly mission is far clearer than it was to the Apostles during Jesus’ earthly life.
As we celebrate the Ascension, we are called to view Christ’s saving mission with faith, enlightened by the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ final words to His disciples are also spoken to us. With the utmost clarity, we must understand that the Christ had to suffer, die, and rise, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins must be preached in Jesus’ name and with His divine authority to all nations. Like the Apostles, we must be witnesses to these glorious truths, these divine mysteries, God’s perfect and eternal plan of salvation.
Reflect today on the transition the Apostles went through from the night of Holy Thursday to Jesus’ Ascension. With them, remain in continuous vigil as you anticipate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Having received the Holy Spirit in Baptism and Confirmation, we continue to be renewed and strengthened by His presence in our lives, enabling us to fulfill our mission to preach repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Let Jesus’ exhortation inspire you. Seek to understand the mission of the Christ, the Anointed One of God, and give yourself over to that mission. Receive His forgiveness and then commit to proclaiming repentance so that all nations will come to share in His saving grace.
Lord of all Wisdom, the eternal plan, conceived in the heart of the Father from all eternity, is perfect in every way. Though this plan unfolded throughout the ages, we are blessed with great clarity, given by the Holy Spirit. I accept Your plan in my life and pray that You pour forth the Holy Spirit upon me in abundance so that I will be a better instrument of Your saving plan to the world. Jesus, I trust in You.
(The reflection below is used when the Solemnity of the Ascension is transferred to the coming Sunday.)
Navigating Emotional Responses
Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter
Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Are you discussing with one another what I said, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.” John 16:19–20
Joy often brings clarity, while grief is often accompanied by confusion. When the disciples saw Jesus arrested, tortured, and crucified, their grief led to confusion. They might have wondered, “Was He not the Messiah? Did we not witness His miracles? Did He not speak with divine authority? How could it be that He is now dead?” After the Resurrection, those questions faded as their joy brought clarity.
In a similar way, we face moments of grief and confusion when God’s will seems hidden or His promises delayed. When a perceived misfortune happens, such as a serious illness and hospitalization of a loved one, we feel grief and might experience confusion. If our loved one recovers and returns home, we rejoice and give thanks to God. That thanksgiving is often accompanied by an apparent clarity that God was faithful and brought about the healing through our prayers. Though that might be true, it’s important to understand the effects that grief and joy have on us.
Not every earthly cause of human grief will result in natural joy. Not every loved one recovers. Not every prayer is answered in the way we hope. Similarly, not every experience of the emotion of joy is in response to God’s answer to our prayer. Sometimes joy is simply a natural response to something we desire and have attained.
The important point is that the emotions of grief and joy are not good guides to God’s will. Jesus, in His great empathy, showed He was aware of and concerned about the emotional turmoil His Apostles would soon experience. That’s why He told them, “You will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.” He was readying them to navigate the emotions they would soon face. Jesus continues to extend the same fatherly care to us, preparing our hearts to navigate the complexities of life with faith and trust.
If the Apostles understood the value of Jesus’ Crucifixion as we understand it today, they might have had a different emotional experience. Certainly, there would have been deep sorrow as they gazed upon the human suffering of the Son of God. But the clarity they would have had, knowing the infinite riches of grace that were being won through His Passion, would have transformed their human grief into a spiritual sorrow, simultaneously mixed with joy.
By analogy, imagine seeing an incredibly heroic act of courage and selflessness in which someone laid down his life for another. For example, say you were with Saint Maximilian Kolbe when he stepped forward in Auschwitz and offered to die in place of Franciszek Gajowniczek, the father and husband whom the guards chose to die in the starvation chamber. Witnessing such selflessness would likely have brought tears to your eyes but also great inspiration and joy within your spirit. Similarly, if the Apostles knew what we know today about Jesus’ death and Resurrection, they would have had clarity in the face of grief, and joy would have accompanied that grief.
While the Apostles struggled with sorrow and confusion, the Blessed Virgin Mary provides the perfect example of how grace transforms suffering. Given that Mary was full of grace and sinless, her human emotions and thinking were perfectly aligned with God’s will. As she gazed on the horror of her Son’s Passion, she had both sorrow and joy, feeling the pain of Jesus’ sufferings as she rejoiced in the greatest act of love ever seen.
Reflect today on the fluctuations of emotion you have encountered and how those experiences have affected your thinking. Remind yourself that emotions are poor guides to God’s will. Sometimes God calls us to great sacrifice, which results in suffering. Such sacrifice, when seen with clarity, allows joy to coexist with grief. Resolve to look at your life through the lens of Jesus’ Passion, knowing that every sacrifice you make with and in Him is an act of love worth rejoicing over, no matter how difficult the emotional grief that accompanies such sacrifice may be.
My empathetic Lord, You are aware of every emotion I feel, confusion I have, and thought that I ponder. Please purify my emotions and bring clarity to my thoughts so that I am guided by You alone as I experience the sorrows and joys of life. Jesus, I trust in You.
Temporary or Eternal?
Friday of the Sixth Week of Easter
“When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived; but when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born into the world. So you also are now in anguish. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.” John 16:21–22
When we live fully united to Christ, we can endure anguish with confidence and determination. Without Christ, even small, temporary trials become so burdensome that we tend to avoid them. Though trials are not desirable in themselves, God permits them to strengthen us in virtue and prepare us for eternity. The anguish that accompanies them is temporary, but the victory over them is eternal. If we refuse to endure the temporary, we risk losing the eternal.
Our Gospel illustrates this point well. The purpose of pregnancy is to cooperate with God’s creative power and to bring forth into the world a precious new soul who will exist for all eternity. What a joy it is for parents to learn of their pregnancy, endure the nine months and the labor, hold their newborn child, and accompany that child throughout life and into Heaven.
In order to give birth to that child, the woman must endure labor pains. These pains are not desirable or sought for their own sake, but a woman willingly endures them as a necessary condition for the great joy of new life. Afterward, a loving mother does not regret having a baby because the labor was painful. The joy of holding her newborn is so rewarding that it puts the pain in perspective.
Just as a woman willingly endures labor pains for the joy of new life, we too must embrace temporary trials to receive eternal blessings. Trials are a consequence of Original Sin. In the beginning, God did not will that trials would be part of our lives. After the Fall, many forms of trials entered human existence. To enable us to overcome these trials, the Son of God took on flesh and overcame everything we endure. Therefore, when we face trials, God looks at us and invites us to follow His example: to carry our crosses with His strength, to do what He already did.
When Jesus told His Apostles, “So you also are now in anguish,” He was speaking not only to them but also to us. Jesus was fully aware of the anguish the Apostles would endure through His coming Passion, and He is fully aware of every anguish we will endure. His awareness is active, offering hope: “I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.” This is His promise to each of us as we confidently endure the trials of life. Our endurance will lead to eternal joy, for we will share in the victory of Christ’s Resurrection.
Reflect today on whether you are willing to endure the anguish of temporary trials so as to share in the eternal blessing that will come after. Are you living for what is temporary or eternal? Do you avoid trials out of fear, or do you embrace them with trust in Christ’s promise? Reflect on how you might unite your daily struggles with His Passion and seek His grace to persevere. Turn to Jesus, Who has already endured every trial and triumphed, and imitate Him so that you share in His victory and rejoice with Him for all eternity.
My determined Lord, You fully aligned Your will with the Father’s by embracing the great anguish caused by Your Passion and exhorted Your disciples to imitate You. You call me to do the same. Please give me the grace and wisdom I need to keep my eyes on the eternal and glorious end to which I am called, so that I can endure every temporary anguish with hope and joy. Jesus, I trust in You.
The Prayer of Divine Worship
Saturday of the Sixth Week of Easter
Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you. Until now you have not asked anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.” John 16:23–24
During Jesus’ Last Supper Discourse, the theme of praying to the Father in Jesus’ name comes up repeatedly. Each time, Jesus reassures His disciples that whatever they ask for in His name, the Father will grant. That’s quite a promise! How do we make this promise a reality?
Today’s Gospel is the third and final time this theme appears. Jesus informs the disciples, “Until now you have not asked anything in my name…” He highlights this to ensure they understand what awaits them: praying in His name will bring about complete joy: “Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.”
Complete joy is not a fleeting emotion or the satisfaction of earthly desires. It is the deep and abiding happiness that flows from union with God—the fulfillment of our deepest longings. This joy is rooted in the very life of the Trinity, which we begin to share when we enter into a relationship with the Father through Christ. It is a foretaste of the eternal joy of heaven, where our love for God will find its perfection.
Though every rational person desires this joy, we often extinguish it in our hearts by choosing sin. Sin deceives us into believing it will bring happiness, but it ultimately separates us from the source of true joy—God Himself. Jesus instructs us that to receive this joy, we must ask for it in His name. But what does it mean to pray in His name? Jesus provides the answer: “On that day you will ask in my name, and I do not tell you that I will ask the Father for you. For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have come to believe that I came from God” (John 16:26–27).
Praying in Jesus’ name means loving Jesus by believing that He is God and treating Him as God. This is authentic prayer. It is an act of divine worship of the Son of God. Worship is the highest form of love because it acknowledges Jesus not only as our Savior but as our God. Worship goes beyond charity and is the form of love owed uniquely to God. This worship transforms us, drawing us into the Son’s perfect relationship with the Father. Through worship, we are united with Christ so intimately that we become one with Him, making His prayer to the Father our own.
This oneness with Christ earns us the Father’s love because the Father loves the Son perfectly. As we unite ourselves with Jesus through worship, the Father looks upon us and sees His beloved Son. Worship is not merely one aspect of Christian life; it is central to everything Jesus teaches us. It is the means by which we attain the fullness of joy and participate in the life of the Trinity.
Reflect today on your desire for complete joy and the means to attain it: divine worship. When you pray, do you only ask for favors, seek consolation, or pursue understanding? Or do you move deeper into the heart of prayer by worshiping God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength? One of the most profound ways to worship Jesus is through Eucharistic adoration. Spending time on our knees before Jesus, praising Him because He is worthy of our praise and is God Almighty, must be the foundation of our prayer. Believe that the Father will grant everything you pray for in the name of His Son. Pray that way through divine worship so that the Father will bestow countless blessings on you and the world through you.
My divine Lord Jesus, I believe that You are God and worship You with all the powers of my soul. I praise You, adore You, and glorify You as my God and my all. Please deepen my worship and transform me by it, so that as I pray, the Father hears Your sacred voice and answers Your every prayer. Jesus, I trust in You.
All 4 volumes are available in paperback & eBook format!
Amazon – Google Play – iTunes – Barnes and Noble – and more!
