The Catholic Parish of
Saint John Henry Newman

 Covering most of East Leeds

The Word This Week ~ 1 June 2014

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First Reading: Acts 1:1-11

Throughout the Gospels, the disciples struggle through their fear, confusion and doubt. Even after the Resurrection and the presence of Jesus among them, they still do not see the big picture. As Jesus is about to ascend to the Father, they are still asking him about the political state of Israel, missing the whole point. Being witness to the Resurrection doesn't mean that the message of Jesus is entirely clear to us.


Second Reading: Ephesians 1:17-23

Like the disciples, we may find ourselves staring into the sky after Jesus rather than fulfilling the mission he gave us. Saint Paul speaks about enlightenment about knowing the hope of God’s call and knowing the power of God in our lives. He urges us to stop looking for the shadow of the Christ who has gone into the sky and start looking for Christ in the faces of those around us.


Gospel Reading: Matthew 28:16-20

The Ascension must have been one of the most difficult moments in the disciples’ journey with Jesus. Their Master and Teacher, the One they had followed and given their lives to, the One who had opened their eyes and then been taken from them in the most horrific way had returned from the dead and walked among them once more. They were still rejoicing in his new presence when the time came for him to leave once more. It must have been like losing him twice. Our faith may often be an experience of finding Jesus and losing him again. In these moments, the words of Jesus ring out: “I am with you always, even to the end of time.”



Published Fri 30th May 2014 17:22:28

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