The Pastor's Message

Dear Parishioners,

“God, let all the nations praise you!”  This statement is for all of us to hear and proclaim by our actions.  Last week, we heard the new commandment to love one another as He has loved us.  This refrain from our Responsorial Psalm reminds us that when we love others, we are praising God.

The Gospel today is from Jesus’ last discourse when He is explaining to His disciples what is about to happen.  In this discussion He draws the clear connection between God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, “The Trinity.”  It is God the Father who sent Jesus into the world and speaks through Him and it will be the Holy Spirit that will continue to guide the world.

Jesus brings us peace and we are to extend that same peace to all who we encounter.  This peace is the way in which we are showing our love for the Lord and our belief that He is God.  When we do not show our love for others, we are saying that we do not believe in His word and who He is. 

During this week, many parts of the world celebrate the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord on Thursday; however, in the western part of the United States, this Feast is transferred to the Seventh Sunday of Easter.  This was done so that we would recognize that the day in which Jesus ascended to the Father is not the most important message.  What is most important is the fact that He did ascend to Heaven.  In this event, He opens the gates of Heaven for each one of us.


Fr. George P. Blais

 

Dear Parishioners,

In the Gospel today, we hear Jesus giving us a new commandment to love one another as He loves us.  This exchange occurs when Jesus is with His disciples at the Last Supper.  After He has washed their feet and Judas Iscariot had left the room, He explains to them what He had just done for them and what He wants them to do for others.

As He calls the disciples to continue His work through acts of love, He also calls us to do the same.  He gives us the ultimate example of God’s love by stretching out His arms on the cross so that we may see His love for us.  While we are in this world, we are called to love one another as He has loved us.  We are to be the example of light, hope, and love for the world.  We do this by acts of compassion, mercy, and peace.  Jesus was willing to give His life for all and He asks us to do the same.

Jesus explains to His disciples that He will not be physically with them for much longer, but He assures them, as He assures us, that He will always be with them and us.  He promises to send the Holy Spirit to guide them and us to walk with us and help us to be His example of love for the world.

The refrain for the Responsorial Psalm is “I will praise your name for ever, my King and my God.”  When we love one another as He has loved us, we are living this refrain.  Our love for others is our praise of Jesus, our King, and our God. 

Fr. George P. Blais