June 1 2025. The Ascension of Our Lord
GOSPEL Luke 24:46-53
Translated from a homily by Don Fabio Rosini, broadcast on Vatican Radio

Don Fabio’s reflection follows the Gospel reading . . .

GOSPEL Luke 24:46-53

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer
and rise from the dead on the third day
and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins,
would be preached in his name
to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
You are witnesses of these things.
And behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you;
but stay in the city
until you are clothed with power from on high."
Then he led them out as far as Bethany,
raised his hands, and blessed them.
As he blessed them he parted from them
and was taken up to heaven.
They did him homage
and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
and they were continually in the temple praising God.
The Gospel of the Lord: Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ

SUMMARY

Jesus’ Ascension shows us that our ultimate destination is the Father. Thus, our final goal is not really a place but a relationship with the God who made us. This goal becomes the yardstick or measuring the value of everything in our lives. If something does not lead me to heaven, then it must be rejected. But how can we live our lives as a journey to the Father? Jesus instructs us to stay in the “city”, to remain with the community of the Church, in the things of God. It is here that we will be clothed with the Holy Spirit. In Genesis, Adam breaks his relationship with God. He doubts God’s paternal embrace and seeks to hide from him. He covers himself with fig leaves, the things of the earth. We too distrust God and try to cover ourselves with the things of the earth – vainglory and success. And no matter how much we try to cover ourselves, we remain  incomplete. In Christ we gain a new garment, a new covering that is utterly unlike the worldly things that we use to hide ourselves. What is this garment? It is the gift of the Holy Spirit which gives us a childlike dependency on the loving providence of God. It is one thing to try to confront reality purely with our own abilities, and it is another matter entirely to hand our lives over to the Father, moment by moment. In these days between Ascension and Pentecost, let us begin to turn away from our worldly dependencies and prepare ourselves to be clothed in the providence of God.

Jesus’ Ascension shows us that our ultimate destination is the Father. Thus, our final goal is not  really a place but a relationship with the God who made us. This goal becomes the yardstick for measuring the value of everything in our lives. If something does not lead me to heaven, then it  must be rejected
This Sunday we see the Lord Jesus ascending to the Father, and we contemplate the revelation that the final destination of the risen Lord is not here below, but heaven. What lies beyond death? Our heavenly Father! Christ, in fact, does not rise just to resume living, but to bring to completion the human life that he assumed and bring it to the Father. Such is the goal of humanity. Our destination is not really a place, but a relationship. This can be experienced already in this life, every time we stop making absolutes of ourselves and open ourselves to a life as children of God. In those moments we enter into love and unleash our most authentic beauty. It is therefore vital to evaluate everything in the light of that joyful goal. If we are to live wisely, then we must apply a principle of discernment: what is not directed towards heaven has little value and must be neglected.

How can we live our lives as a journey to the Father? Jesus instructs us to stay in the “city”, to remain with the community of the Church. It is here that we will be clothed with the Holy Spirit.
We can ask ourselves: what does it mean to live life as a journey to the Father? In the Gospel passage
for Sunday, Jesus gives his disciples some directions: "Stay in the city, until you are clothed with power from above". These instructions are also for us today. The "city" is the place of the Christian
community, the place of the sacraments, the New Jerusalem, the liturgical assembly. The Lord
manifests himself in the Church's liturgy. If we "remain" in this assembly, then we receive the new
garment that comes down from above, the Holy Spirit.

In Genesis, Adam breaks his relationship with God. He doubts God’s paternal embrace and  seeks to hide from him. He covers himself with fig leaves, the things of the earth. We too distrust  God and try to cover ourselves with the things of the earth – vainglory and success. And no matter how much we try to cover ourselves, we remain incomplete.
The image of being clothed originates in Genesis: Adam sins and breaks his relationship with
God and realizes that he is naked. He doubts the paternal embrace of God and feels exposed and
fragile. And what does it do? He takes the things of the earth, the leaves from the trees, to cover
himself. But this does not give him the courage to face the gaze of that God whom he no longer
trusts. We dress with the things of the earth, with vainglory, successes, projects. And no matter how
much we try to cover ourselves, we remain incomplete and uncertain.

The Christian is clothed in the providence of God
But humanity receives in Christ a new garment, a new guise, a new role. What is a child of God dressed in? In the providence of God! The Gospel of Matthew says: "Do not worry, therefore, saying: ‘What shall we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ Your heavenly Father knows what you need." The heavenly garment, in other words, is the relationship with the Father, a childlike dependence that is the Holy Spirit. It is one thing to try to face reality with our own abilities and survival techniques, but it is another matter entirely to hand our lives over to the Father, moment by moment. These days between the Ascension and Pentecost are the time to strip ourselves of our earthly dependencies and be clothed from above. To ascend with Christ to the Father through the power of the Holy Spirit is done "by remaining" in the city, in the Christian community, in the things of God. At that point, one is no more simply down here on earth; one lives "on earth as it is in heaven".

“In the Stars the Glory of His Eyes – Tales from an Irish Tour Guide in Rome”

FROM IGNATIUS PRESS

Tales of unexpected blessings, hilarious true stories, unique perspectives on the lives of the saints. An original, entertaining and orthodox presentation of the Catholic faith. You won’t be able to put it down!

"Captivating."

— Elizabeth Lev, Professor of Art History, Rome.

“Entertaining.”

— Cardinal Seán Brady, 

Ireland.

"I laughed out loud many times, and told the stories to others who laughed just as hard."

— Sally Read, Author.

"Enchanting."

— Bishop Brendan Leahy, Diocese of Limerick.

"Unique and insightful."

— Archbishop Kieran O'Reilly, Cashel and Emly.

“In the Stars the Glory of His Eyes – Tales from an Irish Tour Guide in Rome”

FROM IGNATIUS PRESS

Tales of unexpected blessings, hilarious true stories, unique perspectives on the lives of the saints. An original, entertaining and orthodox presentation of the Catholic faith. You won’t be able to put it down!

"Captivating."

— Elizabeth Lev, Professor of Art History, Rome.

“Entertaining.”

— Cardinal Seán Brady, 

Ireland.

"I laughed out loud many times, and told the stories to others who laughed just as hard."

— Sally Read, Author.

"Enchanting."

— Bishop Brendan Leahy, Diocese of Limerick.

"Unique and insightful."

— Archbishop Kieran O'Reilly, Cashel and Emly.

May 25th 2025. Sixth Sunday of Easter

GOSPEL  John 14:23-29

Translated from a homily by Don Fabio Rosini, broadcast on Vatican Radio

Don Fabio’s reflection follows the Gospel reading . . .

GOSPEL  John 14:23-29

Jesus said to his disciples: "Whoever loves me will keep my word,
and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.
Whoever does not love me does not keep my words;
yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me.
"I have told you this while I am with you.
The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name,
will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do I give it to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.
You heard me tell you, 'I am going away and I will come back to you.'
If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father;
for the Father is greater than I.
And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe."

The Gospel of the Lord: Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ

 

SUMMARY

- Obedience flows from love: Jesus tells us that if we love him then we will keep his word. It is love that produces true obedience, not vice-versa. Yes, there is a form of slavish obedience that is possible without love, but what Jesus desires from us is the higher obedience that flows naturally out of love.

- If I keep Jesus’ words, then God makes himself present in my life: If we cherish Christ’s words, then this wonderful process begins: "My Father will love him and we will come to him and make our home with him". God will be present in our daily lives and actions!

- The Holy Spirit has two functions: The Holy Spirit will become our teacher and guide. According to Jesus, the Holy Spirit teaches us and guides our memories.

- Is the Spirit’s teaching limited to certain areas? What does the Spirit teach us? Particular instructions for the “religious” part of our lives! No, the Holy Spirit’s function is to teach us everything! If there is an area in which I think I know everything, then I can be sure that this area is marked by mediocrity.

- Humility is essential before the Spirit can teach us: “To teach” means “to write within”. If our inner hearts are already covered in our own beliefs and priorities, then it is more difficult for the Holy Spirit to write in us anew. In order to learn, we need the beautiful virtue of humility! We must allow our cherished ideas and prejudices to be rewritten by the Spirit.

- The Holy Spirit is the master of reading the past: My memory needs to be renewed by the Holy Spirit. He can help me to see how God’s loving providence was active, especially in the areas of my life in which I have failed. He brings peace and helps me to see that my anxieties are unfounded.

 

Love leads to obedience, not vice-versa

"If anyone loves me, he will keep my word." According to Jesus, obedience does not produce love. It is the very opposite that is true – love gives rise to obedience. In the spiritual life, obedience is certainly very important, but full and complete obedience flows from love, not vice-versa. There is slavish obedience and then there is a higher form of obedience that originates in gratitude and affection. The Gospel passage describes this noble process. If someone loves Jesus, then he "observes" his word - he cherishes what Jesus has told him. And this is something that becomes even greater as our love for Jesus deepens: ". . . and my Father will love him and we will come to him and make our home with him". God "will make a home" in that person; he will be present in his daily life and actions. This is the experience of being guided by the Holy Spirit. “Paraclete" means "one who is called neighbour". This closeness of the Spirit makes him our "Comforter".

 

The Holy Spirit has two functions, to teach and to help us remember properly

According to Jesus, the Paraclete does two things: "He will teach you everything" and "He will remind you of all that I have told you". Teaching is not so simple. The problem is that we often think we have nothing to learn. For example, we think we already know what love is, yet love is not something that can be learned once and for all. It is an ever-new art. To love you have to start afresh every day, and we need the Spirit to teach us how. The verb "to teach" means "to write upon". The Holy Spirit wishes to write something new in us, but our inner page is already covered in beliefs and priorities that are difficult to change. That is why the wonderful virtue of humility is essential for authentic learning. He who is without humility does not learn and does not correct himself. Such a life will have difficulties in learning how to love.

 

What do we need to learn? Everything! If we think there is an area in which we know everything then we can be sure that this is an area marked by mediocrity

We could ask: what do we learn from the Holy Spirit? How to pray? How to behave? Yes, this too; but Jesus says that the task of the Spirit is to teach us ... everything! We need to learn all we do over and over again. The beautiful thing about Christian life is that everything is a constant discovery! And if there is an area of ​​life in which we believe we have nothing to learn, we can be sure that this area is marked by mediocrity. Everything in us needs to be continually renewed by the Holy Spirit!

 

The Holy Spirit illuminates our memory and helps us to see the loving action of God towards us in all that has happened

The other task of the Spirit is to remind us of what Jesus said. This is essential because it is from the word of Christ that one is born again and becomes a coherent follower of the Lord. God has actually been speaking to us from childhood. How much we still have to understand and discover about our past! Above all, we need to comprehend better those areas in which we have refused God or failed in some way. In those events, God was telling us something that perhaps we have not yet accepted. The Spirit is the master of memory, of reading the past. When he illuminates our memory, he brings to light and envelops our existence in its truth. The text of our lives is connected to its beginning and to everything that has happened in the meantime. The Spirit teaches us how to keep the word of Jesus in our memories. He triggers the process with which we come to see the loving providence of God in all that has happened to us. This is the pathway to inner peace, where everything that might cause us anxiety is seen to be small.

“In the Stars the Glory of His Eyes – Tales from an Irish Tour Guide in Rome”

FROM IGNATIUS PRESS

Tales of unexpected blessings, hilarious true stories, unique perspectives on the lives of the saints. An original, entertaining and orthodox presentation of the Catholic faith. You won’t be able to put it down!

"Captivating."

— Elizabeth Lev, Professor of Art History, Rome.

“Entertaining.”

— Cardinal Seán Brady, 

Ireland.

"I laughed out loud many times, and told the stories to others who laughed just as hard."

— Sally Read, Author.

"Enchanting."

— Bishop Brendan Leahy, Diocese of Limerick.

"Unique and insightful."

— Archbishop Kieran O'Reilly, Cashel and Emly.

“In the Stars the Glory of His Eyes – Tales from an Irish Tour Guide in Rome”

FROM IGNATIUS PRESS

Tales of unexpected blessings, hilarious true stories, unique perspectives on the lives of the saints. An original, entertaining and orthodox presentation of the Catholic faith. You won’t be able to put it down!

"Captivating."

— Elizabeth Lev, Professor of Art History, Rome.

“Entertaining.”

— Cardinal Seán Brady, 

Ireland.

"I laughed out loud many times, and told the stories to others who laughed just as hard."

— Sally Read, Author.

"Enchanting."

— Bishop Brendan Leahy, Diocese of Limerick.

"Unique and insightful."

— Archbishop Kieran O'Reilly, Cashel and Emly.

May 18th 2025.  Fifth Sunday of Easter
GOSPEL   John 13:31-33A, 34-35

Translated from a homily by Don Fabio Rosini, broadcast on Vatican Radio

Don Fabio’s reflection follows the Gospel reading . . .

GOSPEL   John 13:31-33A, 34-35

When Judas had left them, Jesus said,
"Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
If God is glorified in him,
God will also glorify him in himself,
and God will glorify him at once.
My children, I will be with you only a little while longer.
I give you a new commandment: love one another.
As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.
This is how all will know that you are my disciples,
if you have love for one another."

The Gospel of the Lord: Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ

 

SUMMARY

In the Gospel, Judas leaves the Upper Room to betray Jesus, and Jesus immediately begins talking about the glory of God! It might seem like a strange thing to talk about glory just before the moment of betrayal and ignominious crucifixion. We think of glory in terms of the vain hype and spectacle of the sporting or entertainment worlds. But the Hebrew word for “glory” refers to the weight or value of a thing. The glory of God is related to his love. It is at this very moment that Jesus gives his new commandment: to love one another as he has loved us. In the Old Testament, I was asked to love my neighbour as myself. I was the measure of love. Now, with Jesus, everything changes. His sacrificial love becomes the measure of true love. How am I to achieve this kind of love? With willpower? With my own efforts and capacities? No! Unfortunately many people in the Church continue to believe that it is a matter of effort and application. But love that depends on my own capacities will never arise above mediocrity. It is only when we are invaded by the love that Christ has for us that we become capable of loving in return. When we are immersed in Jesus, he begins to love in us. A valley echoes back a voice which comes from outside of itself. We must become like valleys that echo back the love of God. Like a valley, we do not produce the sound, but we do have the capacity to make it reverberate! A true Christian is not distinguished by his wonderful personal talents, but by the fact that he echoes back the love that he has encountered in Christ. This is the glory of God, this is the glory of Easter, a passage from an existence based on myself, to an existence based on the love that Jesus has for me.

What is God’s glory? A big show of light and sound?

Judas leaves the Upper Room and at that moment Jesus begins a strange line of discourse: "Now the Son of man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him". What is the connection between the glory of Jesus and Judas who betrays him? What is the glory of God? Does it involve a big external show of light and sound? No! In Hebrew "glory" means the weight of a thing, its substance, its truth. The glory of God, its specific weight, is love. This is why the liturgy this Sunday is careful to include the mention of the person of Judah in the Gospel. The Lord loves this man who will lead him to being massacred. Jesus continues to love the one who is about to sell him out for money. It is in the light of utter benevolence towards Judas (and towards each one of us) that Jesus speaks of his glory.

 

A new measure of love: we are no longer the parameter for true love; Jesus sacrificial offering becomes the yardstick

It is in such a dramatic context that the new commandment is given: "love one another, as I have loved you ..." This is very distinct from the old commandment of the Old Testament: "You shall love your neighbour as yourself". Here the parameter of love was myself: as I love myself, so I must love my neighbour. With Jesus’ new instruction, everything changes: we are still asked to love one another, but not as we love ourselves. Now we are asked to love as Jesus loves us. The criterion of love is not found in us but in Him. After Jesus' Passover, the disciples will have time to look back and understand that each of them, like Judas, was loved by Jesus despite his defects. In fact, all of them failed but all were loved regardless. What is the meaning of this Easter time we are celebrating? It is the passage from an existence based on ourselves to a new parameter of existence - the love that Christ has for us. It is an entrance into the glory of God, which allows us to love, not in the impoverished way that we love ourselves, but as He alone knows how to do.

 

When love remains a mediocre effort

How many, even in the Church, are deceived and tortured into believing that love is a matter of willpower! So long as I continue to think that love originates in my own abilities and is based on my individual characteristics, it will never take me beyond myself. Love that depends purely on my capacities will never arise above mediocrity. Christ alone shatters this closed circle, loving us in a way that goes beyond our narrow logic.  In Jesus, we find ourselves visited by a love that is greater than ourselves. And once we are invaded by his love, we discover that Christ loves in us. He knows us and knows that we are fragile and weak. Our love becomes one of response to His. Think of it the following way. In certain valleys, if one shouts aloud, the cry resounds with an echo. What is it that comes back? The sound of our own voice. This is what God does in us. He loves us and we are like a valley, which receives a sound from outside of itself. We do not produce the sound on our own, but we do have the capacity to make it reverberate. Christians are not distinguished by their personal skills, but by the fact that they are an echo of the love they have encountered. They do not love because they are so capable, but because they themselves have been loved. They have seen the glory of God, his limitless mercy, the love that Jesus manifested in his Passover. This is what makes them suitable bearers of gratitude and forgiveness

“In the Stars the Glory of His Eyes – Tales from an Irish Tour Guide in Rome”

FROM IGNATIUS PRESS

Tales of unexpected blessings, hilarious true stories, unique perspectives on the lives of the saints. An original, entertaining and orthodox presentation of the Catholic faith. You won’t be able to put it down!

"Captivating."

— Elizabeth Lev, Professor of Art History, Rome.

“Entertaining.”

— Cardinal Seán Brady, 

Ireland.

"I laughed out loud many times, and told the stories to others who laughed just as hard."

— Sally Read, Author.

"Enchanting."

— Bishop Brendan Leahy, Diocese of Limerick.

"Unique and insightful."

— Archbishop Kieran O'Reilly, Cashel and Emly.

“In the Stars the Glory of His Eyes – Tales from an Irish Tour Guide in Rome”

FROM IGNATIUS PRESS

Tales of unexpected blessings, hilarious true stories, unique perspectives on the lives of the saints. An original, entertaining and orthodox presentation of the Catholic faith. You won’t be able to put it down!

"Captivating."

— Elizabeth Lev, Professor of Art History, Rome.

“Entertaining.”

— Cardinal Seán Brady, 

Ireland.

"I laughed out loud many times, and told the stories to others who laughed just as hard."

— Sally Read, Author.

"Enchanting."

— Bishop Brendan Leahy, Diocese of Limerick.

"Unique and insightful."

— Archbishop Kieran O'Reilly, Cashel and Emly.