Dear Parishioners,

Last Sunday in my homily as we have live-streamed the Solemnity of the Ascension, somebody texted me. It says: “Today is the feast of the Ascension, if anybody is asking what is this all about, Ascension is when Jesus started to work from home.” I find it interesting, and there can be humor in considering the kind of life we are having right now due to the COVID 19 pandemic. Some of our parishioners are asking me when we are going to return to the Sunday liturgy and daily Mass. My response is simple, “The experts are working on the vaccine, the scientists never stop studying all about this virus and our government officials are doing their job. Let us wait for our Bishop to give us the directives, and we will follow through with it. God knows when the proper time is to open up everything, and we have to put our faith and trust in Him.”

Allow me to share with you an experience of a Minister who is writing his sermon on a Saturday night for his Sunday service. His little daughter saw him working busily and asked him what he was doing. So, he said he is writing his sermon. She asked,” Daddy, how do you know what to write?” He answered, “God tells me what to write.” Then she asked, “Why do you keep on erasing?”

Sometimes it is obvious, and sometimes it is quite challenging to know what God is saying to us. I must admit that sometimes I feel like that minister, especially when I was trying to figure out what I should say about the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. There is so much to say, and yet, when we finish saying everything that could be said, we will still be dealing with the great mystery of who is the Holy Spirit and the Spirit’s mysterious workings in the Church and us. It is a great mystery because God is exceptionally awesome and too immense for us to understand.

As we listened to the Gospel, today’s feast is a reminder of what it is all about: The Lord gives the gift of peace and the gift of the Holy Spirit to his disciples. It is remarkable that in today’s Gospel, Jesus says, “Peace be with you” twice. Is it that they would not have heard this message the first time Jesus spoke, as this was the first time, he appeared to them after having risen from the dead? He repeats it to make sure that they will get the message and the wonderful gift of the Lord’s peace.

Learning that peace is genuinely theirs, Jesus goes on to gift them with the Holy Spirit. He breathes on them and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” He gives this gift, and then instructions follow; Jesus further casts out gifts to the disciples, but this time with authority. The Lord entrusts them with the power to either forgive or withhold forgiveness over sin.

As we celebrate the Church’s birthday, it is an essential time for us to realize that the same gifts are given to us. The peace of the Lord is ours today, and the Holy Spirit is poured afresh on us. Each one of us needs to know the peace of Jesus, feel the consolation of Him, and see the serenity of Jesus, most importantly at this present time of uncertainty and challenges. Keep in mind that with this knowledge comes the ability to cope with whatever life has thrown at us, such as loneliness, depression, and anxiety in this current COVID 19 pandemic crisis. Knowing that we do not stand alone and full of hope that Jesus is always by our side. Amen.

As we conclude this reflection, allow me to thank our kind and generous parishioners profusely. They never cease making themselves present as they continue to support through monetary donations our parish community. My heart is moved as they consistently show their love for their Church. Please mail to the parish your envelopes or drop them off to the parish office. And for those who have not signed up yet for the online giving, we encourage you to do so now. May God bless you and your loved ones as well.

Father Angelito

 print 

© 2022 Saint Catherine's - 31 Asbury Road, Farmingdale, New Jersey 07727 | phone: 732-938-5375 | fax: 732-938-3260
Religious Education 732-938-6229