Unity in Diversity

The de facto motto of the the United States long was “out of many, one.” Humans everywhere have great difficulty holding together unity and diversity. The Christian Solemnity of Pentecost recognizes unity in diversity is a divine gift. Cooperating with that gift is ever the goal.

At mass in the Basilica of St. Peter Pope Francis indicated three enemies of unity. Video is included.

#PopeFrancis urges Christians to ask the Holy Spirit to free us from the paralysis of selfishness to dedicate ourselves to serving others and doing good. #Pentecost https://t.co/kJODq0hLm5

— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) May 31, 2020

Prayer Vigil Saturday Evening

Choose to participate at 8 p.m. in one of three time zones named at the web site.

It has been a long, hard winter.

But as people of faith & good will, we believe not only will it pass, but that we can be stronger together.

This Saturday, join the millions in the Ignatian family around the world for an #IgnatianPentecost Prayer Vigil.https://t.co/2f4xfLDWs4 pic.twitter.com/BpBm4wX4To

— Society of Jesus (@TheJesuits) May 25, 2020

Global Prayer on Vigil of Pentecost

The global Ignatian family—millions of people “in more than 100 countries”—will pray on the vigil of Pentecost, 31 May. People may choose to participate at 8 p.m. in one of three time zones named at the web site.

Have you ever been part of a world-wide prayer vigil? Join the global Ignatian family on May 30 as we welcome the Holy Spirit. #TogetherAMDG #IgnatianPentecost check us out at https://t.co/bmpwO5F5TS and choose your time.

— Thinking Faith (@ThinkingFaith) May 28, 2020

“Ascension Withdrawal” & Maturity

For the Solemnity of the Ascension Jesuit Peter Gallagher reflected that both aspects in the title are interrelated. Joy is also present.

Peter Gallagher’s homily for the Ascension this year included Mary. One conviction: “Supported by the grace of God, inspired by the example of Mary, we allow ourselves to be carried up into the divine presence.”

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Wiki-image Ascension of Jesus Christ 04 ies.jpg by “Frank Vincentz | CC BY-SA 3.0"

Bring Them Along

One help to praying that St. Ignatius of Loyola counselled was: engage with anyone present in a scripture that focuses one’s prayer. The Ascension of Jesus involves his disciples. It helps prayer to bring them along, particularly if we are grieving.

What Jesus’ ascension can teach us about coping with grief https://t.co/BkCqddTjqk

— America Magazine (@americamag) May 21, 2020

Upcoming

Some locales celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension on 21May; more will celebrate on 24May. Thinking Faith offers archived resources: one surveys the Gospel of Matthew, in which Jesus’ closing words to his disciples speak to contemporary people; and 

"Ignatius was no sentimentalist. If he used kingly language to speak of Jesus it was quite simply because he knew Jesus as a King." Why does @DamianHoward8 think this is key our understanding of the #Ascension? https://t.co/B519mOfJZM

— Thinking Faith (@ThinkingFaith) May 20, 2020

Today’s 2nd Reading

The figure of St. Paul dominates the latter portion of the Acts of the Apostles. Mission dominated his life.

Paul's masterful speech at the Areopagus, which we hear in today's first reading, has been called the climax to Acts of the Apostles and been recognised by the Church as a model of mission. https://t.co/YESKaLUoYV pic.twitter.com/rGkIdqhkqp

— Thinking Faith (@ThinkingFaith) May 20, 2020

Loving Is Mission

The Fourth Gospel exploits words and their connotations. Loving and being loved is mission. Holy Spirit guides and shines light to participate in the mission inaugurated by Jesus.

#PopeFrancis dedicates his catechesis on the Sixth Sunday of Easter to the gratuitousness of God’s love and to the gift of the Holy Spirit. #ReginaCoeli https://t.co/kAECEybxrS

— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) May 17, 2020

Intimate, Whole Self

At the last supper Jesus asked his disciples to pray. He had their future, their mission, in view. Asking is also loving. The image of vine and branches brings to the centre continuity—Jesus with us, we with Jesus by the power of Holy Spirit. At today's General Audience Pope Francis listed some characteristics of prayer.

#PopeFrancis reflects on the essential characteristics of prayer, saying it is universal, intimate, and entirely trusting in God. #GeneralAudience https://t.co/ZvJZuig3lv

— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) May 13, 2020

Way Forward Has its Guide

The rhythm of Lent-Easter aims to assist Christians to move with risen Jesus, to move more like him, to follow his way. From Thinking Faith archives Jesuit Joseph Simmons tours the Way to help Christians restart and continue their journey—this year with pandemic-shaped “contours.”

Formed by our Lenten discipline and with Easter eyes, we hope to be able to see more clearly the contours of life's journey, for ourselves and others, says Joseph Simmons SJ. ‘No matter where we are in life, we are always somewhere on the Easter path.’ https://t.co/EZUXeUFPiY

— Thinking Faith (@ThinkingFaith) May 10, 2020

Praying Into Sunday’s Readings

Challenging to take Jesus at his word. Consoling if one takes the chance.

Jesus said to his disciples; ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled.
Trust in God still, and trust in me.'
Pray with today's readings:https://t.co/uevk3d6jjY pic.twitter.com/HNlMugUTi5

— Jesuits in Britain (@JesuitsBritain) May 10, 2020

Sunday’s 2nd Reading

T hinking Faith reposted Jesuit Peter Edmond’s guide to selections from the First Letter of Peter, read this year on the Sundays of Easter. Tomorrow’s verses remind: “Jesus is not the only building stone. The people can take pride in being living stones who build themselves up in God’s sight not as a temple but as a holy priesthood.”

In the second reading for the fifth Sunday of Easter, we are invited to join pilgrims of old on pilgrimage to God’s temple in Jerusalem: https://t.co/xdZJmtRdSa pic.twitter.com/ugDQavOrS2

— Thinking Faith (@ThinkingFaith) May 9, 2020

Including

Chapters 10 and 11 of the Acts of the Apostles unwind a process of discernment: including Gentiles in the Way, the followers of Christ. Sister of Mercy Renee Yann reflects on ways individuals foster or resist including others.

It seems to be an enduring human inclination and, rather than - like Peter - to seek a road to inclusion, we claim privilege for ourselves and exclude others on all kinds of bases: https://t.co/feWLpJKkpT pic.twitter.com/0qyc6u8GgZ

— Renee Yann, RSM (@ReneeYann) May 3, 2020

“Power of Voice”

Likening himself to a shepherd Jesus announced in today’s gospel, “As the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them…the sheep follow him because they recognize his voice.” How do we distinguish Jesus’ voice from other voices? At America Magazine Father Terrence Klein helped careful consideration. He began with “insufficient, misleading answers” before disclosing the gift of “a pattern that we perceive.”

How do we listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd? Ponder what the Spirit brings before your eyes. Pray and process. Let the patterns emerge.https://t.co/IHP4jeMVbl

— America Magazine (@americamag) May 3, 2020

The Narrative Flow

Getting a feel for the flow of any writing reveals much. That is true of scripture. The Gospel of John moves forward; it also expresses and re-expresses themes of life. An archived Thinking Faith post offers that feel for this gospel. Shepherd is mentioned in it 4 times. It is the image of today’s gospel selection.

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Wiki-image Good Shepherd by “Francis Helminski | PD-US"

Sundays With Peter

The second scripture reading on Sundays in the Easter Season this year is from the First Letter of Peter. The letter in the main is a baptismal homily. The season of Easter is baptismal: the church celebrates full initiation into the corporate Body of Christ and everyone's baptism.

At Thinking Faith Jesuit Peter Edmonds considered each Sunday selection from the First Letter of Peter. He offered an important reminder: the letter’s imagery speaks as poetry, which is the language of liturgy. “We listen to Peter…as we read in our exile the letter sent out long ago in his name. …May his words deepen our knowledge about God, about the Lord Jesus Christ and about our own calling as Christians so that we may become better citizens of the Kingdom of God.”

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Wiki-image S. Salvatore in Chora - Nartece - San Pietro2 - Foto G. Dall'Orto 26-5-2006.jpg by “Giovanni Dall'Orto | allows anyone to use it for any purpose, provided that the copyright holder is properly attributed."

50 Days

The season of Easter provides sustained time to immerse oneself in the mystery of the risen Christ. Noticing the signs begins on a walk, observed Jesuit Brian Strassburger.

What does flying a kite have to do with #Easter? @StrassburgerSJ will tell you with our new mini-series, "Signs of Easter" https://t.co/DeHMKRd50v pic.twitter.com/946z9CBg5V

— The Jesuit Post (@TheJesuitPost) April 24, 2020

Situation Poses Questions

Eucharistic famine: one description of the pandemic keeping people from eucharistic celebrations. The burden is particularly hard for Christians for whom eucharistic liturgy “is the most gracious legacy of [Christ’s] new covenant. On the night he was delivered up to be crucified he left us this gift as a pledge of his abiding presence.” Because liturgy is ritual behaviour its repeated experience shapes hearts and minds to count on it. What does “counting on it” mean? Only to have it?

Does not counting on eucharist mean relying on it to sustain one to embody Christ’s self-sacrificial way in and for the world? During the ease of sharing eucharistic communion do Christians run the risk of missing the ways in which Christ is present to us and with us? Orthodox Fr. Alexis Vinogradov reflected about “communion beyond the eucharist in pandemic time.” Directed to ministers of the eucharist, his reflection affects all the baptized.

“But is communion limited to the Eucharist? And is not the purpose of the Eucharist itself to reveal the very essence and goal of all of life as communion?” https://t.co/bOnhtzJtjw

— Aristotle Papanikolaou (@atpapanik) April 22, 2020

30-Day At-Home Retreat

Jesuit Mark Thibodeaux will be offering the retreat beginning this Saturday. His introduction is the video in this tweet posted by Jesuit Quang Tran.

30-Day-At-Home #Ignatian Retreat starting this Saturday with #Jesuit Fr. Mark Thibodeaux, SJ, author and former Novice Master of @JesuitsUCS Province https://t.co/rLdwdiDixr

— Quang D. Tran, S.J. (@LeMeTellUSumtin) April 22, 2020

Earth Day: Begin Online Retreat

On Earth Day begin (or revisit) an audio retreat. “Walking with the Risen Christ–New Creation Retreat” offers daily scripture, reflections and music with a focus on integral ecology.  Offered by the Jesuits in Britain it is 6-weeks (6-days each week) and available at Pathways to God.

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Wiki-image  August 2010 CME SDO Multi-Wavelength by “NASA/SDO/AIA - NASA Image of the Day | PD-US"