Dear beloved parishioners of Blessed Sacrament and visitors,

After the Easter Season, which culminates in the Feast of Pentecost, the liturgy presents us with three additional Solemnities of the Lord: today is Trinity Sunday, followed by Corpus Christi next Thursday (though it will be celebrated on the following Sunday) and, finally, the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, commemorated the following Friday.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth. O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

FORTY DAYS after Easter, the Church celebrates the Ascension of Jesus into heaven. As the Preface of the Mass says, "the Lord Jesus, the King of glory, conqueror of sin and death, ascended (today) to the highest heavens, as the Angels gazed in wonder. Mediator between God and man, judge of the world and Lord of hosts."

Saint Matthew narrates that, before going to heaven, Jesus ratified the apostolic mission of his disciples: All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you (Mt 28:18-20).

Dear Parishioners of Blessed Sacrament and Visitors,

In the next two weeks, we will be celebrating the Solemnity of Pentecost, a day when the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus' disciples. In preparation for this solemnity, today's gospel presents Jesus speaking to His disciples-and to us -about the Holy Spirit and how we should prepare to receive Him. Jesus says, "And I will ask the Father, and Hе will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of Truth” (John 14:16).

Dear Fellow Parishioners of Blessed Sacrament and Visitors,

The month of April, which we recently concluded, is traditionally known as the Month of the Eucharist. This sacred designation arises primarily from the gospel readings proclaimed on most Sundays and weekdays of this month, which are predominantly taken from the Gospel of John and focus on the theme of the Bread of Life. This period is also significant as it coincides with the time when many children within our diocese receive their First Holy Communion. At Blessed Sacrament, we were pleased to welcome more than 20 new members through the sacraments of Christian Initiation. Let us continue to keep them in our prayers, that they may remain steadfast in faith.

For the last two weeks we've been hearing in the Gospel readings about how fearful and disbelieving Jesus' disciples were about Jesus having risen. They were despondent, some were even in hiding weeks after having seen the Risen Jesus. But, in our First Readings, Luke's been telling us about the zeal and boldness of Peter and John as they went about openly proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ. What happened between the times described in the Gospels and the times described in Acts that accounts for this?

Dear parishioners of Blessed Sacrament and visitors,

During the Easter Season, the Church presents us with scripture passages each Sunday that highlight how the Risen Lord made Himself known, not to all people, but through chosen witnesses, as we read in Acts 10:41.

Today's Gospel specifically recounts how Jesus appeared to two of His disciples on the way to Emmaus. These disciples were feeling completely discouraged, discussing how their great hopes were dashed by the crucifixion of the Lord. They were dejected, disillusioned, and despondent. The report from some women regarding the resurrection did not seem sufficient to convince them.

"Then he said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe." (John 20:27)

In my early 20s, I volunteered at a parish youth group. I witnessed teens encountering Jesus with a fresh, romantic wonder that reminded me of my own teenage conversion. But something had changed in me. I was quietly jaded and cynical. When teens shared stories of encountering Christ, I'd want to sarcastically murmur, "Well, good for you." I had grown suspicious of the zeal I once knew.

Dear Beloved Parishioners and Visitors,

Greetings in the joy of the Risen Lord, Jesus Christ!

On this beautiful Easter day, we celebrate the cornerstone of our Christian faith, as the apostle Paul aptly states, "If Christ had not been raised from the dead, then our preaching is in vain, and so is your faith" (1Corinthians 15:14). Through His suffering, death, and resurrection, Jesus has redeemed us. As the Lamb of God, He has taken away our sins and renewed our relationship with the Father through His sacrifice. The offspring of the new Eve, that is, Our Lord and Savior, has crushed the head of the offspring of the ancient Serpent, that is, Satan, as foretold in the book of Genesis 3:15. We owe Him infinite gratitude and praise!

My Dearly Beloved in Christ;

We are very near now to that time which is for us a new beginning, the commencement of the Blessed Passover in which the Lord was sacrificed. Starting from this day on which we celebrate Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, the Church recalls the entrance of Christ the Lord into Jerusalem to accomplish His Paschal Mystery. This event of the Triumphant Entry of Our Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, serves as the gateway to the High points of the Liturgical year which we celebrate in the Holy week.

A friend of mine wrote an imaginative reflection on the raising of Lazarus that caught me off guard. She proposed that when Jesus called Lazarus from the tomb, the man was not joyful but angry and annoyed. After so much suffering, maybe death felt like a release. He had finally escaped the pain. And then, suddenly, Jesus' voice cuts through the silence: "Lazarus, come out!" (John 11:43) The light stings his eyes. The pain returns. And now he is dragged back into a world that had broken him.

Dear Parishioners of the Blessed Sacrament and Visitors,

Today marks the fourth Sunday of Lent, traditionally known as Laetare Sunday, or the Sunday of Rejoicing. Rightly so, in the opening antiphon of the liturgy of this Sunday, the church proclaims, "Rejoice, Jerusalem, and be joyful, all who are in mourning."

Fellow parishioners of Blessed Sacrament and Visitors,

We are already in the third Sunday of Lent, and time is flying by quickly. Before we know it, Easter will be here. If you started off slowly in fully embracing this season, it's time to roll up your sleeves and recommit yourself to your Lenten resolutions.