Dear Friends,

I don’t know whether or not the timing of Easter has made a difference, but I feel a little squeezed this year with the summer already upon us.

The way I see it, I have two alternatives here to help explain the phenomenon of vanishing time: Either I’m getting older at an increasingly fast rate or I really enjoy post-Pentecost, pre-end-of-the-school-year, time.

It can’t be the first, right? Well, it can be. This year was 1/38th of my life whereas last year was 1/37th of my life. But this seems to be a dismal path.

So let’s just say I love the time between Pentecost and the end of the school year.

This space gives us a privileged time to reflect on – and put into action – the reality of Jesus’ Ascension and the sending of his Spirit. We end Easter with a bang when we find ourselves under Jesus’ Lordship (his Ascension), being strengthened by him to advance his rule in the world (what the sending of his Spirit is meant to accomplish.)

As it stands, I’m getting ahead of myself. In this period before Pentecost, it is ours to join the disciples in nine days of prayer: the Church’s first novena. As the Apostles were gathered together after Jesus’ Ascension they committed themselves to prayer in anticipation of receiving his Spirit.

There is no better time than the present to beg God for a fresh outpouring of his Spirit in our lives!

Peace in our Risen Lord,
Father Daniel