I believe it was Winston Churchill who once referred to the Soviet Union as “a mystery wrapped in an enigma.”  For many Catholics, when you ask them about the Trinity, you get a similar response.

Today’s Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord is a “transitional” feast”:  it is at once about letting go, and about the promise of new beginnings.  One story comes to a close: the Gospel, the time in which Jesus is present and visible to the eye of the flesh.  Another story begins: the Acts of the Apostles, in which the Holy Spirit is the prime mover.  The principle of continuity between the two stories is the person of Jesus, who says "Remember, I am with you always, to the end of time."  The difference lies in the form of his presence: from now on, the followers of Jesus discern his presence in the world not by his physical body, but through his empowering and indwelling Spirit.

Today is traditionally known as ‘Good Shepherd Sunday’ as reflected in our readings this afternoon/morning.  “My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me….

A few moments ago we began our solemn liturgy of the Easter Vigil with the lucernarium a Latin word meaning the time of the lighting of the lamps and we lit the new fire and the great candle representing Christ risen among us. Our liturgy tonight is filled with the symbolism of light overcoming the darkness. In our opening prayer we asked that “the light of Christ rising in glory dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds.”  As the Paschal candle was processed through the community its great light was shared and the church moved from darkness into the light of our faith, our belief that Jesus Christ is “the Beginning and the End, the Alpha and the Omega. All time belongs to him and all the ages.