Exodus 24:3-8 | Psalm 116:12-13, 15-16, 17-18 | Hebrews 9:11-15 | Mark 14:12-16, 22-26

​Today we celebrate the solemnity of the most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. A little story can help us enter into the historical aspects of this feast and to see why it was instituted. In 1263, German priest Hochwürden Peer von Praga stopped at the Basilica di Santa Cristina in Bolsena, Italy while on a pilgrimage to Rome. He celebrated Holy Mass above the tomb of 3rd century martyr Christina of Bolsena. Although a duly ordained clergyman, he was plagued by doubts on the Real Presence. When he started saying the words of institution, the bread took to the form of human flesh and blood began to seep from it and run over his hands onto the altar and corporal. So powerful was this blood gush that it even marked the marble altar steps and floor. To this day, the Eucharistic flesh remains preserved as does the stained marble floor where the drops of the blood of Christ fell. After thorough investigation, Pope Urban IV instituted the feast of Corpus Christi a year later to recognize and to promote the great gift of the Blessed Sacrament. 

Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40 | Psalm 33:4-5, 6, 9, 18-19, 20, 22 | Romans 8:14-17 | Matthew 28:16-20

​There’s a story about Phillip, a young boy who goes and climbs up a mountain in what is now Turkey. He meets Evagrius of Pontus, a Greek monk of the 4th century. And the boy wakes the monk up because the monk is half asleep. And the monk says, “What can I do for you, young man?” And he says, “I want you to explain God for me.” And the monk smiles and he says, “God cannot be grasped by the mind. If God could be grasped, he is not a God that you should worship.” And he smiled and went back to sleep.

Acts of the Apostles 2:1-11 | Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34 | 1 Corinthians 12:3B-7, 12-13 | John 20:19-23

​Today we celebrate Pentecost – the coming of the Holy Spirit, the birthday of the church, the end of the Easter season. Pentecost comes from a Jewish harvest festival called Shavuot. It represents the first fruits gathered as the result of labor of those who completed the spring grain harvests. God chose the first Pentecost after Jesus Christ’s resurrection to demonstrate that God is harvesting the first fruits who came into the Kingdom as a result of Peter's preaching that day.

Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11 | Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9 | Ephesians 1:17-23 | Mark 16:15-20

​Today is the 40th day since Easter. The Easter story and the story of salvation are approaching their climax. What does the Ascension of Jesus Christ mean to all of us? First, Ascension guides us to capture the vision of our Lord. Secondly, it directs us to pray for wisdom and revelation. Finally, it commands us to take up God's work on earth.