Category: Gospels

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Ascension of the Lord

AUGUSTINE:

They could see the head, but they could not yet see the body. We can see the body, but we believe about the head. They are two: husband and wife, head and body, Christ and the church. He showed himself to the disciples and promised them the church. He showed us the church and ordered us to believe about himself. The apostles saw one thing, but they did not see the other. We also see one thing and do not see the other. Having the head there with them, they believed about the body. Having the body here with us, we should believe about the head. read more

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Sixth Sunday of Easter

CHRYSOSTOM:

The phrase “he remains with you” is what someone who himself is leaving would say. And so, to calm their grief, he says that as long as he remains with them the Spirit won’t come, which means they wouldn’t come to know the greater or more sublime things to come. He wanted them, in other words, to see his departure as a blessing. Notice how he often calls [the Spirit] Comforter, because of the troubles they had to deal with. And since they were still troubled, even after hearing all this, because of their sadness, the struggles and his departure, he calms them again by saying, “Peace I leave you.” … And because he brings up the subject of leaving again, which is enough in itself to trouble them, he again says, “Do not let your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” read more

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Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter

Paradoxically, the most sublime teaching on the reality of God – that He is the source and spirating substance of Love – provokes many who hear it to hatred.  Jesus is hated because His Word powerfully breaks down the worldly and all too human facades that encumber the mystery of God.  This is the world which John counts as the enemy of Jesus and of all who keep His words.  When Jesus’ Word breaks through our minds for the first time we grasp in a flash what is to be gained by laying hold of Him.  That is the gift of faith.  As we hold onto His Word we discover the presence of Its enemy: the world. read more