PACHAL INSIGHTS INTO THE 6TH SUNDAY OF EASTER.............

In these advancing days of the Easter Season on this 6th Sunday of the Pasch, the Scriptures today focus on the the divisions and debates in the early Church between the Jewish and Gentile memberships and whether the Gentiles had to totally carry out Jewish practices to join and be baptized.  After a rigorous argument about the requirements Gentiles had to meet in order to become Christians, specifically regarding the need to be circumcised, the decision was made that the lack of circumcision for ritual purity, was not prohibitive.  Paul and the majority then placed the focus on the power of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of the individual and the life of the community.  The coming and transforming effect of the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy showered upon the members of the Church as promised by the Risen Christ.  In this Easter Season we too as Believers in the Paschal Mystery of Christ's Passion, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension, anticipate anew the Coming of the Holy Spirit this Pentecost.  As Easter People committed to the ministry and mission of the Risen Jesus, renew and   increase your personal commitment to the Resurrection by invoking the grace and strength the Spirit will bring us again this Pentecost, two weeks from now as we do in fidelity and holiness what the Holy Trinity of God, Father, Son, and Spirit calls and embraces us to be and to do as Catholic-Christians.............Fr.  Troy