May 9, 2024 - Thu. of 9th Week of Easter
Today is the 40th Day after the resurrection. Some dioceses celebrate the Ascension on this day. Other diocese, such as the Los Angeles Archdiocese (in California), transfer the Ascension to the upcoming Sunday (replacing the Seventh Sunday of Easter). The words which follow are in conjunction with the Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter.
May you continue to focus on the Lord Jesus as the source of your strength, particularly as you face the changes and challenges of life.
A while ago, I was reflecting on how things have changed in my life. Certain aspects of my life that I once believed to be unchangeable have changed again and again. And certain parts of my life that I expected to change have been fixed for years. I was recalling that when I came for the first time to where I was applying to work, the employer asked me, “How long do you think you will be working here?” I responded, “Four or five years, since that seems to be a pattern in my life.” A few years ago (2020), I retired after 36 years working there. As the axiom says, “There is one thing that never changes: Life is always changing!” How we deal with changes (whether they are our choice or the choice of others or circumstances beyond our control) can become positive if we realize we have One Who is with us at all times and in all circumstances.
Link to the Reflection for Ascension Thursday:
May 9, 2024 - Ascension Thursday
Today is the 40th Day after the resurrection. Some dioceses celebrate the Ascension on this day. Other diocese, such as the Los Angeles Archdiocese (in California), transfer the Ascension to the upcoming Sunday (replacing the Seventh Sunday of Easter). The words which follow are in conjunction with the Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter.
May you continue to focus on the Lord Jesus as the source of your strength, particularly as you face the changes and challenges of life.
A while ago, I was reflecting on how things have changed in my life. Certain aspects of my life that I once believed to be unchangeable have changed again and again. And certain parts of my life that I expected to change have been fixed for years. I was recalling that when I came for the first time to where I was applying to work, the employer asked me, “How long do you think you will be working here?” I responded, “Four or five years, since that seems to be a pattern in my life.” A few years ago (2020), I retired after 36 years working there. As the axiom says, “There is one thing that never changes: Life is always changing!” How we deal with changes (whether they are our choice or the choice of others or circumstances beyond our control) can become positive if we realize we have One Who is with us at all times and in all circumstances.
Link to the Reflection for Ascension Thursday:
May 9, 2024 - Ascension Thursday
Readings can be obtained from: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050924-Weekday.cfm
Saint John of Avila: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-john-of-avila -
[Liturgical Day is May 10.]
Readings: Acts 18: 1-8; Psalm 98: 1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4; John 16: 16-20
Nota Bene: It has been forty days since Easter. This is the fortieth day of Easter. In Acts 1: 1-11, we read that Jesus remained with His disciples for forty days after His resurrection. On the fortieth day Jesus ascended into heaven. Some communities celebrate Jesus’ ascension today. Others transfer the celebration to the upcoming Sunday. In this reflection, I have chosen to reflect on Jesus’ ascension this coming Sunday rather than today since this is what is done in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and other American dioceses, especially in the Western US. I will provide a separate reflection for the Ascension being celebrated on Thursday, May 9, 2024.
Life is constantly changing. Today we hear about the changes that St. Paul went through as he had to adjust his life to his ministry. Some aspects remained the same, others changed quite dramatically for Paul. Jesus, in today’s Gospel passage from His Last Supper discourse, also speaks about change and how it will affect His followers.
We pick up today’s First Reading from where we ended yesterday. Paul leaves Athens and travels to Corinth. In Corinth he meets up with some fellow Jews who have left Rome after the persecution of the Jews by Emperor Claudius. Paul makes friends with these fellow Jews who also practice the trade of tent-making. Paul feels at home with this married couple (Aquila and Priscilla) because they share their common Jewish faith and also a common skill. Elsewhere we hear that Aquila and Priscilla are Christians. Paul and his message, however, are not equally received by other Jews in Corinth. In fact, some of the Jews reject Paul’s announcement of the GOoD News. Paul realizes that from this time forward his ministry is to focus on the Gentiles rather than his fellow Jews. That is probably very hard for Paul. He wants the Jews to accept Jesus as much as he wants the Gentiles to do so.
In today’s Gospel, during His final discourse before this death, Jesus speaks to His disciples about changes that will take place in their lives because He is going to go away to His death (and later, His Ascension). He promises that He will return in His resurrection (and eventually, His Second Coming), but in the meantime, they will weep and mourn while He is gone. He also promises that their sorrow and grief will turn to joy as they realize that He is once again with them, and through the presence of the Holy Spirit, He will always be with them.
My reflection turns to changes in our lives. Just as Paul, Aquila, Priscilla, and the disciples of Jesus had to adjust to changes in their lives, so we, too, must face, and adjust to, changes. This struck me a while ago as I chatted with a former co-worker. This colleague was speaking about the changes that needed to be made in the person’s life. My friend had become accustomed to a certain way of living, working, and relating to people. The individual had been happy being a teacher, but he wondered if there was more being asked of him, particularly by GOD. The friend questioned what GOD was asking of this person and whether it was okay to desire personal fulfillment from GOD, besides having the occupational satisfaction of being a GOoD teacher and a positive role model in the life of students. It seemed that there has been a great deal of spiritual growth, educational growth, occupational growth, but personal growth, particular in a long-term relationship was at a standstill. The individual wanted to know what GOD was asking the person to do.
I also remember talking to my cousin who sold his business, his home, and moved to his wife’s homeland of Thailand. He realized he could not continue living here because he could not afford the rent of his place of business nor fight against big stores that were undercutting his prices.
Another cousin communicated with me concerning the fact that our parents’ generation has now totally passed away and that we were now “the older generation.” My cousin questioned what was being asked of us as the “elders” or “senior citizens” of our family.
Obviously, we have all faced rough times over the last few years with the Corona Virus crisis, climate changes, conflicts throughout the world, especially in Eastern Europe and Middle East, violence by individuals in our country, inflation rates on fuel, food, housing, etc. Many of us who still had jobs were working more than before either online or in our essential businesses. Others were facing financial issues due to being unemployed. For all of us, our lifestyle has changed in challenging ways during the global and local issues.
It is always difficult to face new circumstances and events which change our lives, whether that be the death of loved one, our own sickness, changes in our community, moving to new places, a new job situation, or realizing our position in society and in a family. A lot of my ministry as a Stephen Minister, has been helping people to deal with the changes they are forced to make in their lives. Change, even for the better, is not always easy. We have to adjust to new ways of dealing with circumstances and even different people. It can be very unsettling and even disturbing. We often ask, “why couldn’t things just remain the same?” It is particularly frustrating when we sense the changes are due to evilness or sudden, unexpected changes in the world, such as terrorists, environmental conditions, political upheavals worldwide sicknesses, and/or circumstances beyond our control.
We need something, or more precisely, Someone, on Whom we can depend to be the Constant in our lives. GOD wants to be that stable element in our lives. The Lord Jesus wants us to depend on Him, after all, in the end that is all to which (or to Whom) we will be able to cling. Jesus speaks to us as He did to His disciples on the night before He died: “I tell you truly, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices; you will grieve for a time, but your grief will be turned into joy.” This is truly a vale of tears through which we walk. Yet, if we remain focused on our Lord Jesus, we will experience a joy that will never end. The difficult part is remaining focused on the Lord Jesus as we weep, and our eyes fill with tears as everything seems to be changing, particularly when it changes to the apparent worse. Yet, Jesus has to be the center of our attention. With Him as our focal point, we will be able to face all other challenges and changes that come our way. We need to realize that, with Jesus, we have salus – wholeness, health, well-being, salvation.
We have to be willing to let go of what we thought were our social security blankets. Everything can change. Friends can go by the way through moving or death or change of attitude or worldwide conditions. The Lord Jesus, however, will be there if we lift up our eyes and hearts. We must proclaim, as our psalm today says, “Sing to the LORD a new song, for the LORD has done wondrous deeds.” We may not presently see the events of our lives as wondrous deeds of GOD, but the Lord Jesus will change the difficulties we face into wondrous deeds. All we need do is to keep our eyes focused on GOD. We will experience new happenings for which we will want to sing a new song.
Blessed are You, LORD GOD, our Rock in the midst of a turbulent torrent. Through Your GOoDness, You wish to bring us a sense of joy even in the midst of our trials and sorrows. You allow us to experience instability in our lives to remind us that You are the firm foundation to which (to Whom) we must cling. We ask that through the continued presence of Your Holy Spirit in our lives, we will be able to release that to which we had been accustomed, so that we can hold on to our faith and trust in You. You have sent You Son to us to remind us that we will have to weep and mourn, but that our weeping and mourning will give rise to joy as we experience His presence in our lives. We pray for all those who are facing changing times which can lead to frustration and even anger. We ask that they may sense Your healing presence in their lives, so that they will be able to sing a new song to You, giving You all the praise and glory that is due. We make this prayer through Jesus, our Lord and Master-Teacher, Who is Your Son and our Brother, Who is living and reigning with You and the Holy Spirit, our one and only GOD, for ever and ever. Amen. Alleluia!
Song of the Day: ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus by Louisa Stead:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M98sTXVvftY
Come to Jesus by Chris Rice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGy2VHlj0qY
or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-67SOxcXCvw
In Christ Alone: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExnTlIM5QgE
On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQgD_Wg9DG4
I Go to the Rock sung by Whitney Houston:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTylq8lhPjc
Video of the Day: Saint John of Avila: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0K1V49hMeqw
© rjk, 12-07-22
Saint John of Avila: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-john-of-avila -
[Liturgical Day is May 10.]
Readings: Acts 18: 1-8; Psalm 98: 1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4; John 16: 16-20
Nota Bene: It has been forty days since Easter. This is the fortieth day of Easter. In Acts 1: 1-11, we read that Jesus remained with His disciples for forty days after His resurrection. On the fortieth day Jesus ascended into heaven. Some communities celebrate Jesus’ ascension today. Others transfer the celebration to the upcoming Sunday. In this reflection, I have chosen to reflect on Jesus’ ascension this coming Sunday rather than today since this is what is done in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and other American dioceses, especially in the Western US. I will provide a separate reflection for the Ascension being celebrated on Thursday, May 9, 2024.
Life is constantly changing. Today we hear about the changes that St. Paul went through as he had to adjust his life to his ministry. Some aspects remained the same, others changed quite dramatically for Paul. Jesus, in today’s Gospel passage from His Last Supper discourse, also speaks about change and how it will affect His followers.
We pick up today’s First Reading from where we ended yesterday. Paul leaves Athens and travels to Corinth. In Corinth he meets up with some fellow Jews who have left Rome after the persecution of the Jews by Emperor Claudius. Paul makes friends with these fellow Jews who also practice the trade of tent-making. Paul feels at home with this married couple (Aquila and Priscilla) because they share their common Jewish faith and also a common skill. Elsewhere we hear that Aquila and Priscilla are Christians. Paul and his message, however, are not equally received by other Jews in Corinth. In fact, some of the Jews reject Paul’s announcement of the GOoD News. Paul realizes that from this time forward his ministry is to focus on the Gentiles rather than his fellow Jews. That is probably very hard for Paul. He wants the Jews to accept Jesus as much as he wants the Gentiles to do so.
In today’s Gospel, during His final discourse before this death, Jesus speaks to His disciples about changes that will take place in their lives because He is going to go away to His death (and later, His Ascension). He promises that He will return in His resurrection (and eventually, His Second Coming), but in the meantime, they will weep and mourn while He is gone. He also promises that their sorrow and grief will turn to joy as they realize that He is once again with them, and through the presence of the Holy Spirit, He will always be with them.
My reflection turns to changes in our lives. Just as Paul, Aquila, Priscilla, and the disciples of Jesus had to adjust to changes in their lives, so we, too, must face, and adjust to, changes. This struck me a while ago as I chatted with a former co-worker. This colleague was speaking about the changes that needed to be made in the person’s life. My friend had become accustomed to a certain way of living, working, and relating to people. The individual had been happy being a teacher, but he wondered if there was more being asked of him, particularly by GOD. The friend questioned what GOD was asking of this person and whether it was okay to desire personal fulfillment from GOD, besides having the occupational satisfaction of being a GOoD teacher and a positive role model in the life of students. It seemed that there has been a great deal of spiritual growth, educational growth, occupational growth, but personal growth, particular in a long-term relationship was at a standstill. The individual wanted to know what GOD was asking the person to do.
I also remember talking to my cousin who sold his business, his home, and moved to his wife’s homeland of Thailand. He realized he could not continue living here because he could not afford the rent of his place of business nor fight against big stores that were undercutting his prices.
Another cousin communicated with me concerning the fact that our parents’ generation has now totally passed away and that we were now “the older generation.” My cousin questioned what was being asked of us as the “elders” or “senior citizens” of our family.
Obviously, we have all faced rough times over the last few years with the Corona Virus crisis, climate changes, conflicts throughout the world, especially in Eastern Europe and Middle East, violence by individuals in our country, inflation rates on fuel, food, housing, etc. Many of us who still had jobs were working more than before either online or in our essential businesses. Others were facing financial issues due to being unemployed. For all of us, our lifestyle has changed in challenging ways during the global and local issues.
It is always difficult to face new circumstances and events which change our lives, whether that be the death of loved one, our own sickness, changes in our community, moving to new places, a new job situation, or realizing our position in society and in a family. A lot of my ministry as a Stephen Minister, has been helping people to deal with the changes they are forced to make in their lives. Change, even for the better, is not always easy. We have to adjust to new ways of dealing with circumstances and even different people. It can be very unsettling and even disturbing. We often ask, “why couldn’t things just remain the same?” It is particularly frustrating when we sense the changes are due to evilness or sudden, unexpected changes in the world, such as terrorists, environmental conditions, political upheavals worldwide sicknesses, and/or circumstances beyond our control.
We need something, or more precisely, Someone, on Whom we can depend to be the Constant in our lives. GOD wants to be that stable element in our lives. The Lord Jesus wants us to depend on Him, after all, in the end that is all to which (or to Whom) we will be able to cling. Jesus speaks to us as He did to His disciples on the night before He died: “I tell you truly, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices; you will grieve for a time, but your grief will be turned into joy.” This is truly a vale of tears through which we walk. Yet, if we remain focused on our Lord Jesus, we will experience a joy that will never end. The difficult part is remaining focused on the Lord Jesus as we weep, and our eyes fill with tears as everything seems to be changing, particularly when it changes to the apparent worse. Yet, Jesus has to be the center of our attention. With Him as our focal point, we will be able to face all other challenges and changes that come our way. We need to realize that, with Jesus, we have salus – wholeness, health, well-being, salvation.
We have to be willing to let go of what we thought were our social security blankets. Everything can change. Friends can go by the way through moving or death or change of attitude or worldwide conditions. The Lord Jesus, however, will be there if we lift up our eyes and hearts. We must proclaim, as our psalm today says, “Sing to the LORD a new song, for the LORD has done wondrous deeds.” We may not presently see the events of our lives as wondrous deeds of GOD, but the Lord Jesus will change the difficulties we face into wondrous deeds. All we need do is to keep our eyes focused on GOD. We will experience new happenings for which we will want to sing a new song.
- The personal question/action for today: What is changing in my life that I am finding difficult to accept? How can I turn more fully to the Lord Jesus and trust that GOD is my strength and GOD will see me through the most trying and difficult transitions in my life? What can I do to help other people who are going through changes in their lives?
Blessed are You, LORD GOD, our Rock in the midst of a turbulent torrent. Through Your GOoDness, You wish to bring us a sense of joy even in the midst of our trials and sorrows. You allow us to experience instability in our lives to remind us that You are the firm foundation to which (to Whom) we must cling. We ask that through the continued presence of Your Holy Spirit in our lives, we will be able to release that to which we had been accustomed, so that we can hold on to our faith and trust in You. You have sent You Son to us to remind us that we will have to weep and mourn, but that our weeping and mourning will give rise to joy as we experience His presence in our lives. We pray for all those who are facing changing times which can lead to frustration and even anger. We ask that they may sense Your healing presence in their lives, so that they will be able to sing a new song to You, giving You all the praise and glory that is due. We make this prayer through Jesus, our Lord and Master-Teacher, Who is Your Son and our Brother, Who is living and reigning with You and the Holy Spirit, our one and only GOD, for ever and ever. Amen. Alleluia!
Song of the Day: ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus by Louisa Stead:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M98sTXVvftY
Come to Jesus by Chris Rice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGy2VHlj0qY
or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-67SOxcXCvw
In Christ Alone: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExnTlIM5QgE
On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQgD_Wg9DG4
I Go to the Rock sung by Whitney Houston:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTylq8lhPjc
Video of the Day: Saint John of Avila: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0K1V49hMeqw
© rjk, 12-07-22