FEATURED POST

Have you ever met someone who had no hope? When I turn on the news, I think I see it in individuals whose homes were destroyed in a tornado or in a wildfire or in some other natural disaster ... they look utterly dejected ... in shock ... maybe with no hope.

Thoughtful reflection on our readings from Sacred Scripture today can reveal some pertinent information about the Church, the Body of Christ, here on earth. The First Reading from the Acts of the Apostles shows how a critical pastoral problem was solved by the early Church. The ministry of the Church included (and still includes) not only evangelization, but also works of charity.

Years ago, in a small southeastern Indiana village called Oldenburg there lived a dairy farmer called Marvin Wissel. Marvin was a kind, gentle, loving man who had names for each one of his cows. He would introduce you to Clara, Isabelle, Mabel and so on as he would affectionately pat each one as he introduced them. It soon became very obvious that Marvin was an exemplary caretaker. He lived on the family farm where his elderly Mom and Dad still lived. His Dad was crippled wit

Have you ever had someone come up to you and begin talking to you like they knew you and you have no idea who they are? And maybe you feel bad about it and as the conversation continues, you hope for clues as to the other person’s identity.

Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! How many of you remember a TV commercial where the loaves of bread talked? Let me take you back for a moment to 1972 and a commercial for Wonder Bread. The company promised that their bread was so fresh it even had a voice.

A few years ago, an Ohio man asked a court of law to declare that he was alive. It seems, after Donald Miller had been missing for a number of years, his wife had her husband declared legally dead. She needed to do so in order for her children to receive Social Security benefits. Nearly 20 years later, when Mr. Miller returned to his hometown of Findlay, he found out it was not easy to come back from the dead, at least, in a legal sense.

The “Mother of all Feasts” is the title given by many to this night. The image that this title awakens, for some, might be that of a “family reunion:” for example, several generations are present ... the members gather around a campfire ... family bonds are renewed ... stories are told and retold.