The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity One week after celebrating the Feast of Pentecost, the Church honors and worships the Most Holy Trinity. Faithful people throughout history have tried to understand and contemplate the greatest mystery of existence with little headway—the relationship of the three divine persons in one God, the doctrine of faith … Continue reading The Mystery of the Holy Trinity
Author: Raphael Peters
The Gift of the Holy Spirit
The Feast of Pentecost Today is the annual celebration of the birthday of the Church, which is the Feast of Pentecost. The day the Holy Spirit descended, after Jesus was taken into heaven. The fulfilled promise that Jesus would not leave his disciples orphaned and the assurance of God’s invisible and continuous dwelling with his … Continue reading The Gift of the Holy Spirit
What a Wonderful Place to Be
The Ascension of the Lord The beginning of the Acts of the Apostles: “In the first book, Theopolis, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught until the day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.” Strangely, the first book, according to Luke, … Continue reading What a Wonderful Place to Be
I Will Never Leave You
Sixth Sunday of Easter-A "I will not leave you orphans.” I will never leave you, the promise given to the Lord’s disciples. This passage from the apostle John is part of Jesus' famous farewell discourse. In the context of the fourth Gospel, it is a discourse of utmost importance. Indeed, John does not record what … Continue reading I Will Never Leave You
Do Not Let Your Hearts be Troubled
Fifth Sunday of Easter-A As Jesus conversed with his disciples, St. Thomas asked the question that all humanity wishes to be answered. “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” The ‘way’ has always been elusive because sin has distorted the true calling of every person by tricking … Continue reading Do Not Let Your Hearts be Troubled
The Familiar Voice
Fourth Sunday of Easter-A Every voice is unique and, over time, becomes familiar. Even the tame beasts grazing in pastures soon learn to hear the voice of their master and come to know the shepherd is nonpredatory and safe. Throughout history, Christians have come to rely on Psalm 23 during times of tragedy to bring … Continue reading The Familiar Voice
Two Perceptions of Jesus: Both True
Third Sunday of Easter-A In 1953, the Austrian philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein used a simple image of the iconic duck-rabbit drawing to illustrate what philosophers called aspect perception. Aspect perception studies how a human being’s perception influences their understanding of the world. Especially important for those philosophers is how aspect perception plays a vital role in … Continue reading Two Perceptions of Jesus: Both True
Just as He Said; He has been Raised
First, there is doubt, then faith. In a conversation with the Pharisee, Nicodemus, Jesus tells his creatures the great love God has for them, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.In speaking with Nicodemus, Jesus … Continue reading Just as He Said; He has been Raised
Early in the Morning on the First Day
"It was early in the morning, on the first day of the week when Mary of Magdala came to the tomb. She saw the stone removed from the tomb." Early in the morning, the heavens radiate bright colors, the orange warmth of God's presence peeking into view. The burning red of God's redeeming love stretches … Continue reading Early in the Morning on the First Day
Behold the Man
Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord Flogging was the preliminary punishment before every Roman execution. The usual weapon used was a short leather whip braided with leather thongs of variable lengths. On these strips were small iron balls and sharp pieces of sheep bones, intended to cut human flesh into ribbons. Normally, the … Continue reading Behold the Man