A message from Father Pete

For Sunday, May 29, 2022 Acts 1:1-11; Ephesians 1:17-23; Luke 24:46-53 I remember when I was a youngster and it was time to go to bed ... one of my parents joined me as we knelt down together and I said my nightly prayers. As usual, I wanted to stay up longer but it never worked. The message always was, “Peter, time to go to bed.” So I would drag my time out by praying for everyone I could remember. It worked a very few times, but then it was bedtime. Today we are celebrating the Feast of the Ascension of Jesus. One might imagine that its importance is in Jesus’ returning to heaven and assuming the authority He won in His death and resurrection. He descended to be with us … to teach us God’s love … to show us God’s care, love and mercy … to tell us that heaven is our home too. He rose to give us a glimpse of that eternal glory here and now, even as we continue our journey though our designated earthly life. Jesus’ Ascension doesn’t celebrate Jesus’ descent into our dreariness, but th...

For Sunday, May 22, 2022 Acts 15:1-2, 22–29; Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23; John 14:23-29 Today’s first reading from Acts recounts what has been called the Council of Jerusalem. It was held in Jerusalem around 50 A.D. and is unique among the ancient pre-ecumenical councils in that it is considered by Catholics and Eastern Orthodox to be the first model and forerunner of later ecumenical councils. Its topics: the controversy about male circumcision and the validity of the Mosaic Law. So what was required of the “new members ” of the Church? At this point Christianity is not a distinct religion but is living out the covenant relationship with God as taught by Jesus. As Jews, they observed all the religious practices and going to Sabbath worship, then participating in the Breaking of the Bread on Sunday. So what about the “new” members … the Gentiles? Were they required to become Jews? Paul and Barnabas had been working with the Gentiles and welcomed them into the faith. They went to Ant...

For May 15, 2022 Acts 14:14, 21-27; Revelation 21:1-5; John 13:31-35 What is the goal of my life in living as a Christian, as a Catholic? What is the goal of my life in living? Are these the same? Do I separate the way I am living from the way I am living my belief in God? Am I two-faced in this? If someone asked me these questions, I would have a strong tendency to be defensive, alarmed even ... disturbed by being so openly challenged. Why? Because I would feel that I try to do the best I can in living my life as a person of love, caring and obedience to God’s commands. These demanding, testing, taxing questions leave me uncomfortable and could make me irritable rather than realizing that these are questions to me, about me. Is my goal in life really heaven, and am I living my life accordingly? Why not? Is there anything more basic in my life than my life in heaven? One could answer, “I’m married” — “I have children” — “I have grandchildren to raise.” — “I have people for whom I'm...

For Sunday, May 8, 2022 Acts 13:14, 43-52; Revelation 7:9, 14-17; John 10:27-30 How do we view what happened in the early church? Do we see it as a foretaste of our path to learning more about God and His leading us to heaven? Do we see as helpful the pitfalls and conflicts that existed with the early Christians, or do we feel comfortable with where we are right now in exercising and practicing our Christianity? If we are comfortable, do we feel God is challenging us every day to go deeper ... to learn and realize the depth of His love? Do we realize that nowhere in the New Testament is the Church called Catholic? St. Ignatius of Antioch first used the term “catholic” in the first century A.D., and he meant it to differentiate the “whole Church” from local congregations. At first he meant “Catholic” as the all-embracing, universal Church as a whole. The Church soon began using the term to mean “orthodox,” or faithful to the Gospel it had received. “Katholikos” in Greek was meant to des...