Fr. Denny's Reflections

In today’s gospel Jesus uses the imagery of a tiny mustard seed that grows and matures. The mustard plant is a nuisance weed. It is not planted by humans but mysteriously seems to appear here and there. Jesus uses this parable to help us appreciate the mystery of the Kingdom of God. Irrespective of the efforts and projects of human beings, God seems to sow the beginnings and potential of the reign of God taking root within us and among us.

Sometimes we may be surprised by the beginnings of heavenly and godly things that spring up among us, like an unexpected wave of peace or forgiveness or initiative to repair a relationship. We know that this “seed” comes from God rather than from our careful planning.

When have you noticed these mystery seeds being planted? How do you respond to them?

Today’s feast of The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) has its origins in thirteenth century Belgium. St. Juliana of Liege intuited the need for this special celebration of the Eucharist. It began to be celebrated in Belgium and spread in Europe. In 1264 Pope Urban IV established the feast of Corpus Christi as a universal feast in the Latin Rite of the Church. This feast is a good example of how the intuition of the people of God can become part of the practice of the Catholic Church.

For centuries this feast was also celebrated with a Eucharistic procession. The Blessed Sacrament was carried throughout towns and cities accompanied by hymns and litanies. The people would venerate the Body of Christ as the procession passed by.

The origins of this feast day point to two enduring dimensions of the Eucharist. First, the Risen Christ is really and truly present in the Eucharist. Second, by graceful participation in the Eucharist, we are to carry the presence of Christ into the world by our virtuous living and by our witness of faith, hope, and love.

What helps you to be aware of Christ’s presence  in our Eucharistic celebrations?  How are you called to manifest the presence of Christ in the world?

One of the first prayers we learn as children is the sign of the cross: “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Parents teach their children how to trace the cross on their bodies with this prayer. Our whole body person is involved in this prayer. Today’s gospel records the words of Jesus we use at each Baptism: “baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” This Trinitarian formula has been around since at least 80 AD when Matthew wrote his gospel.

The mystery of the Trinity is the central mystery of our faith and our life. All of the other mysteries of our faith flow from this one. All of our Christian living centers around this divine mystery. We experience God as the Creator and Source of all life. We are redeemed by the death of resurrection of Christ. We constantly experience the guidance of the Holy Spirit. When are you most aware of these three “persons” of God?

Today we celebrate the glorious feast of Pentecost. The word “Pentecost” means “50th” and concludes the Easter season. On Monday we return to Ordinary Time until next Advent.

We often think about Pentecost as an historical event. This mysterious experience for the early Christians is always related in the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles. However, there are actually five separate accounts of the dramatic outpouring of the Holy Spirit on believers. (See Acts 2:1-4; 4:28-31; 8:15-17; 10:44; 19:6.) This book of the Bible is often referred to as the “Book of the Holy Spirit” because of these various accounts. All of these experiences lead to deeper faith and witness to the presence and action of the Risen Christ in the midst of believers. These kinds of experiences continue in our day. In the gospel today Jesus relates how the Holy Spirit will come and guide us to all truth.

In what ways have you experienced a kind of outpouring of the Holy Spirit? What positive impact has this had in your life?

I have been inspired by a wonderful book published in 2014 titled Upward: Faith, Church, and the Ascension of Christ by Anthony Kelly. He writes about the “‘ascensional’ dynamism of Jesus’ whole existence.” We, along with Christ, are taken up in the upward call of God (see Phil. 3:14).

The ascension of Christ is often taken for granted and often neglected as an essential dimension of the paschal mystery. Kelly describes how our lives and our mission as followers of Christ are taken up in this upward movement, beyond what can be the mundane concerns of our daily existence. It is about paying attention to how God wants to draw us and take us up more and more into God’s hope and design for us.

How do you experience this upward call of God? When do you experience being drawn up into godly and Christ-like things?