Though it celebrates the most profound mystery of the Christian faith this feast presents a great challenge to all Christians especially on a Sunday morning in May The traditional formulation of the doctrine ldquo three persons in one God rdquo is puzzling to contemporary people for whom per

The annual celebration of the paschal mystery which began on Ash Wednesday culminates at Pentecost In a narrative evocative of major Old Testament themes Acts recounts the overwhelming gift of the Spirit Such a fresh outpouring of the Spirit was to accompany the messianic age Also the first-ce

Since most dioceses have transferred the observance of the Ascension to this Sunday preaching on these Sunday readings will be relatively rare Yet they contain rich resources for reflection as the church prepares for the liturgical re-enactment of the coming of the gift of the Spirit at Pentecost

A courtroom dramawhether it is a John Grisham novel a prime time TV series or one of a host of films from To Kill a Mockingbird to Philadelphiaprovides enduring fascination Especially common are plots pitting a little-known lawyer defending a victimized client against powerful adversaries This

In one of the annual preached retreats I was subjected to as a young Jesuit the director presented a vivid picture of the ascension long before the age of shuttle launchings As Jesus rose heavenward he saw Jerusalem Nazareth Galilee Asia Minor Greece and finally Rome This is precisely what

As the Easter cycle moves to Ascension and Pentecost the readings foreshadow the ongoing life of the church Acts describes an early conflict in the community and the choice of seven men filled with the Spirit One is Stephen who immediately afterward is put to death This leads to the spread of t