In today’s Gospel (Jn 14:15-21), the sixth Sunday of Easter, year A, Jesus speaks to the disciples about the Holy Spirit using the term "Paraclete" (παράκλητος). The noun “Paraklētos” signifies a comforter, a defender, or both simultaneously. It means literally “one who stands beside another” like a defense attorney (Advocate). In the Old Testament, God is the great and ultimate defender and comforter of His people (Cf. Is 51:3; 57:18; Jer 31:13; Zech 1:17). In salvation history, this "God of consolation" (Rom 15:4) has become "incarnate" in Jesus Christ.

In promising the Holy Spirit to his followers Jesus said: “If you ask Me for anything in My name, I will do it. If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask

Once, a very wise and practical Bishop was humbly forthcoming in his response to a question on how he handled the reality and complexity of diversity in his diocese. He responded: “I am not big in policy, but I try to be at every policy meeting, and I listen attentively. At the end, I would always ask two simple questions. How would this policy benefit the poorest in my diocese? And who is missing at the table?” By implication, the good bishop believes that the Church in his diocese would be better off when everybody is at the table than when many people are missing from the table. There is wisdom in his conviction, and leaders of every organization, spiritual and temporal could learn and benefit a lot when they are mindful of such

During these year’s Lenten season, one of the spiritual activities we tried to live with our SEAS Catholic community was to spend at least thirty minutes with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament every morning for the forty days of Lent. The first fifteen minutes was about personal moment with the Eucharistic Lord in silence. And the other fifteen minutes was community Lauds prayed together with the Lord exposed in the Blessed Sacrament. In the personal segment, Linda Schubert’s pamphlet on prayer, “Miracle Hour” was a very fruitful worship aid for me. I prayed her litany of praise aloud in my inner self, and I tried to let it open my spirit, to draw me into the realm of the Eucharistic encounter with the agonizing Lord.

Today’s

In the New Testament, the Evangelists narrate to us the stories about Jesus’ post resurrection appearances. According to them, the risen Christ goes through locked doors showing his apostles his wounds (Jn 20:19-20); he meets the women on Easter morning running from the empty tomb (Mt 28, Mk 16, Lk 24, Jn 20-21); he disguises himself as a gardener encountering the weeping Mary Magdalen (Jn 20:14-16); he makes breakfast for his tired apostles after fruitless night fishing on the lake (Jn 21:1-13); and he invites Thomas to put his finger into the wounds of his hands (Jn 20:27). 

In today’s Gospel, the third Sunday of Easter, year A, the risen Lord appears and walks side by side with the two disciples, Cleopas and his anonymous

It was the evening ([ὀψίος] opsios) of the resurrection. The anxiety caused by the death of Jesus was subsiding as the apostles became more aware of how dangerous the Jews who crucified their master could be. They were overcame by fear ([φόβος] phobos). A shadow of gloom hung all over them. (Jn 20:19). Consequently, they sequestrated themselves in a corner and shut themselves behind the walls. It could be said that the circumstance of the time forced them into self-imprisonment, into a state of loss of liberty. Then came Jesus with the easter greeting: Shalom! “Peace be with you. He showed them his hands and side. They recognized him and were filled with joy.

What was in those hands and side that Jesus showed the apostles? The