+ The gospel passage today, in which we see the
classic scene of Jesus commissioning St. Peter to be the first leader of the
band of Apostles sent into the world on Ascension Day to ensure the presence of
Jesus to any who are interested, until the end of the world.
Three times Jesus asks Peter
if he loves him, and three times Peter says Yes,
Lord, you know that I love you! Then feed my sheep, and tend my lambs! The
Church is in your care now – but the promised Spirit will be sent and the whole
organization will then become a living organism – in fact, it will be a
Mystical Organization – it will be my Mystical Body – to which all humanity is
invited to exist it – both in this life and forever in heaven.
May and June are typically
“ordination months” in the Church calendar year – it is when men studying for
the priesthood are ordained at their home cathedrals by the bishops (the
successor of the Apostles) they promised to serve faithfully for life. Ordination
Day in this diocese of Richmond will be held on June 2, at the Cathedral of the
Sacred Heart. We pray for the three who will be ordained at that time. May the
first fervor into which they will begin their ministry last a long time and may
their productive years in the “vineyard of the Lord” continue to be fruitful
until they reach my age – 70 in a few months – when they will be able to say:
“I did the best I could, with what you gave me to work with, and the great
people you sent me to serve!”
Come Holy Spirit with all your
gift for the whole church. May we cooperate fully with your plan for the
remainder of the Church’s life on this earth – no matter how long that will be.
All we have is here, and now! Let each one be the best it can be! Amen.
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