Dear Friends in Christ,

The Word of God today speaks directly to one of the deepest human experiences: FEAR. We live in a world filled with uncertainties, disappointments, suffering, persecution, sickness, economic hardship, insecurity, and the fear of the unknown. Many people carry hidden burdens and anxieties that no one else sees. Yet, in the midst of all these realities, the Lord repeatedly tells us in today’s Gospel: “Do not be afraid” (Matthew 10:26, 28, 31).

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today’s readings reveal a beautiful movement in God’s plan of salvation: God chooses us, God loves us, and God sends us. Before God gives a mission, He first establishes a relationship. Before He asks us to serve, He first reminds us that we are loved.

My Dear Friends in Christ,

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) originated in the 13th century following a mystic’s vision and a Eucharistic miracle. St. Juliana of Cornillon, a Belgian nun, received a vision of a full moon with a dark spot, which the Lord revealed represented the absence of a liturgical feast dedicated exclusively to the Holy Eucharist.

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. The Trinity invites us into the deepest mystery of the Christian faith: one God in three Divine Persons - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Trinity is a communion of love into which every Christian is called to enter. The readings of today reveal a God who is merciful, relational, loving, and united in perfect harmony.

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today, the Church celebrates one of the greatest solemnities in Christianity: Pentecost, the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and the birth of the Church. Pentecost is not simply the remembrance of a past event. It is a living reality. The same Spirit that descended upon the Apostles in Jerusalem continues to descend upon the Church today.

Dear Friends in Christ,

The readings from Acts 1:12–14, 1 Peter 4:13–16, and John 17:1–11 draw us into a profound moment in the life of the early Church: a period between Christ’s Ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. These passages are deeply connected through the themes of prayer, perseverance in suffering, unity, and participation in the glory of Christ.

My Dear Friends,

Today we celebrate the Sixth Sunday of Easter, and in two weeks we shall be celebrating the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles on Pentecost. This is precisely why the Readings at the liturgy this weekend revolve around the effects of the coming of the Holy Spirit on members of the early and post-Resurrection Church.

Dear Friends in Christ,

This Sunday presents us with beautiful happenings in the life of the early Church and in the lives of the disciples.

In the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles 6:1–7 (When Growth Reveals Weakness), the early Church community begins to grow rapidly, and it’s a huge concern for the Jewish community. This seems like pure success, but growth exposes cracks. The disciples of Jesus were caught up with the challenge of serving the people and preaching the Word to them, and at this, they needed help with other services so that they could concentrate on the role of preaching. This is one of the scriptural passages that speaks about the Office of the Diaconate, an office of service.