The tender shoots finally are finding their way from the hidden protection of the soil to bask in the bright warmth of the sun. The green of new leaves and the punch of color in the first blooms of spring can give us pause and even take our breath away!
On this Fifth Sunday of Easter Jesus taps into this connection between us and the wonder of creation all around us. The vine and branches, the health that bears much fruit and branches that wither and will be pruned make sense to us. What remains is to afford the Word and Sacrament of Easter to truly give us pause, even to take our breath away! Today’s passage from Acts proclaims,
“The Church was at peace ...and with the consolation of the Holy Spirit it grew in numbers.” Acts 9: 31
A truly awesome component of the Easter we celebrate is revealed for us in the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. The commitment of the Faith Community to an individual and her or his family and of that individual and family to the Faith Community are the punch of color and new growth by which vibrant life is not only revealed TO us but also is called forth WITHIN us...
We welcome that commitment to new life in Christ proclaimed by and with Kelly Heney and Evan Roy in the Sacrament of Confirmation celebrated with Bishop Robert McManus this past Thursday evening at St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish in Upton. We welcome to the Altar of Christ those who join with us for the first time this Sunday in receiving the Sacrament of His Precious Body and Blood. May their posture of excitement and anticipation renew our own. May their and their families’ celebration of this “first” remind us to rediscover the wonder and awe in which we respond to Christ’s and the Church’s call: “Behold the Lamb of God... blessed are those called to the Supper of the Lamb!”
Roman Missal, Communion Rite
Thank you to everyone who has shared in the formation and preparation of our young parishioners on their journey of faith! Fr. Tom