We would all like life to be simple. If we could just tear up a bad situation and toss it away, then we think we would be happy. In our haste to correct the situation we may end up hurting ourselves and others. So how can we handle the problems we encounter?

I think today’s gospel excerpt points us in the right direction. To find a healthy answer to life’s difficulties, we need to plan and be patient. Patience gives us the time we need to formulate a plan. We can then decide the prudent way to act in a responsible and effective manner.

There are many people who can quote chapter and verse to us about what Christ says. There are not as many people who live the word of God. There are fewer whose lives are rooted in Jesus Christ.

To be a disciple of Jesus in today’s world, you and I are called to understand Christ in the same way we try to understand someone whom we love. Christ’s love for us makes it possible for us to be filled with the Holy Spirit. It is this Spirit of God who helps us to understand and love Jesus Christ.

We who are inspired by Christ can yield a fruitful harvest of saving deeds in the world. These deeds don’t need to be large in order to be effective. Our good deeds, if they come from our hearts full of love for God, will be like seeds that will continue to grow from one generation to the next.

As faithful citizens we try to keep a balance in our lives. We exercise our freedom in ways that are beneficial to us and to society. We understand that justice usually is the result of choosing the right action. Without a change of heart justice will not prevail.

Certainly, living freely and responsibly can be a burden. In the words of Christ, however, this burden can be light if we learn how to balance the problem. Let freedom ring and may it be heard by those who wish to use it for the good of all.

Just remember, there are little spies out there to report your next move.

We were thrilled to see this beautiful being developing so naturally. During the session, I was watching very closely and just for fun, trying to see out of my untrained eye what the sex might be. We told the technician that we did not want to find out and she did a very good job staying away. When we finished, the tech had to check the ovaries again, just for protocol.

We were both happy to see what we did and took our little pictures home to enjoy and stick on the refrigerator. A few weeks later, I was playing with my three-year-old and asked him what he thought mommy was going to have. His reply: "A little sister!" He sounded very confident, so, having my curiosity piqued by his quick response, I asked him why he thought that to be true. He responded, "Mommy went shopping." Hmmm. I thought for a quick moment, and then asked the next question, "For what?" His reply, "She bought PINK clothes!" And at this very moment, my wife was in the kitchen, holding her head in her hands and wondering how in the world she just got busted by a three-year-old.

So when you think you might have pulled something over on your spouse, just remember, there are little spies out there to report your next move.

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The parish also honors all our parents who have worked so hard with their children and have provided for them an excellent education. The Lord reminds us to never grow tired of doing good. Parents, teachers and students can be proud of their efforts and their finding the best in each child.

Here at St. Cyril’s School, we are blessed to be open for many years to come. As your pastor, I thank you for all of your sacrifices in keeping the building available for our school and PREP (CCD) children. With renewed hope for a brighter future, I wish you all a happy, safe and holy summer. See you in Church!

Wisdom comes to us if we are willing to listen. All too often we talk to God but we forget to listen to what He has to say. In order to hear Christ, we need to find a quiet space in our minds which is free of all of our "to do" lists. When we unclutter our minds then we have the ability to listen to God’s words and we become ready to act on them.

It’s good to remember that we do not need a lot of time to listen to God and to speak with Him. Sometimes it’s best for us to find two minutes where just the two of us can speak our minds. Good conversations on a regular basis can do wonders for our peace of mind and for our hopes and dreams.

"Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me." With these words, Jesus puts an end to whether or not we need Him to live. Jesus, by giving us His Body and Blood, gives us eternal life. God the Father loves us so much that He embraces all of humanity through our Risen Lord.

God does not keep His distance from us. He reaches out to us and hopes that we will accept His invitation. He simply wants us to realize that our happiness will be found in our reaching out to Him.

As we extend our hearts and hands toward Christ in the Eucharist, may we experience and embrace the joy of receiving Jesus the Lord.

The women expressed concern about modeling Christ in the workplace. They speak of trying to see Christ in others and treating others as Christ would. Many are conscious of setting a good example and acting on their moral beliefs. (My spiritual life influences my work in that I am more conscientious about how my words and actions impact others.)

Many said that their faith helps them to deal with situations at work, for example, they try to be more patient and understanding with difficult co-workers. Many pray about difficult situations. (When a crisis occurs I quickly ask God's help and the more I am able to do this, the more Christ-like I am.)

Support from the Church

Women want the church to acknowledge their time constraints. Some parish activities take place at times that are impossible for women who work outside the home (e.g., daytime bible study). Some believe that parishes and parish schools expect too much from women, especially those with younger children. After working all day, mothers do not want to come out at night or on weekends for church ministries.

Many said they would like to learn more about their faith. They suggested religious education tools and retreats and workshops for women. Others want practical services: day care, after school care, workshops to help people deal with aging parents. Women want to have a voice and to be taken seriously in the church. They want the church to acknowledge their gifts.

Peace comes through Truth. We find God when we listen to each other’s faith experiences. May the Holy Spirit bring Peace to all who are shaping the future through loving God and His people.

Of course, this is what Christ did for all of humanity. He humbled Himself so that we might live forever. In today’s gospel He prays to God the Father to restore that glory to Him so that all people will come to believe that He was sent by the Father. You and I are beneficiaries of God’s boundless love and glory. He glorifies the Son so that His love for creation may be experienced. The Son glorifies His followers so that they may be one with the Father and the Son.

As we prepare to celebrate the Ascension of Our Lord, we are filled with the glory of Jesus Christ who returns to the Father in order to send a Helper to us. The Lord who has gone beyond our sight is still with us through the power of the Holy Spirit. How wondrous is God’s love for us that He would send His only Son and His Holy Spirit to us who are undeserving of so great a gift. May we always be grateful for God’s faithfulness to us!

Today’s gospel reminds us that we are not alone in our efforts to re-create the world. Christ has sent us a Helper, the Holy Spirit. In truth He will lead us into a deeper union with the Father and Jesus Christ. This eternal union will enable us to look with hope to the possibilities of the future.

Through Him and with Him and in Him all things are possible.

In today’s world, we need to listen to Christ’s words of truth. There are too many people who speak untruths in order to become famous or rich. Jesus speaks to us about life and how to live forever for God’s sake and not for anyone else. Jesus opens pathways for us which lead to truth and goodness and life everlasting.

How can we distinguish Jesus’ voice from other voices which try to steal our hearts? First, we need to know that Jesus does not glorify Himself. He speaks in the name of His Father. Secondly, Jesus is not looking to become popular. He is already one in love with the Father and the Spirit. Thirdly, Jesus words are challenging and comforting. Jesus will console us and then challenge us to live out our vocation as sons and daughters of God.

Certainly, life is not simple. It is not always easy to know what the right thing to do is. Speaking to and listening to Jesus will help us make decisions that keep us true to ourselves and to God.

Springtime gives us the opportunity and the motivation to believe in and hope for a conversion of society. No matter what has been, we are God’s people who walk with Him. He continues to create and fulfill our eternal desires and possibilities. With God, we are much more than we could ever dream.

Jesus Christ is at one and the same time the beginning and the end of Creation. Through Him, the world was made; in Him it has reached perfection. All of humanity has been transformed by the life of one man, Jesus.

In Christ, we are washed in the living waters of new life. The Son of God brightens our vision of the goodness in our lives and the lives of people around the world. Through Jesus, we experience ourselves as God intends us to be. By breaking bread with us, Christ allows us to become one with Him. Through the mystery of Our Savior’s death and resurrection, we grow in holiness. We become what we are.

The seasons of our lives challenge, renew and refresh us. We exist in a world created by our Heavenly Father. His truth, beauty and goodness are ever-present. The darkness of evil can never overcome the brilliance of God’s glory.

Springtime gives us the opportunity and the motivation to believe in and hope for a conversion of society. No matter what has been, we are God’s people who walk with Him. He continues to create and fulfill our eternal desires and possibilities. With God, we are much more than we could ever dream.