Our Lady of Sorrows
    info@oladyofsorrows.org
    956-686-0251
    • Home
    • News
      • Weekly Bulletin
    • Homilies
      • Msgr. Gustavo Barrera
      • Dcn. Ray Thomas
      • Dcn. Johnny Gonzalez
      • Dcn. Crawford Higgins
    • About Us
      • Office Directory
      • Worship & Liturgy Schedule
      • Our Pastor
      • Photo Gallery
    • Donate
    • Sacraments
      • Baptism
      • Matrimony
      • CCD
      • RCIA
    • Ministries & Organizations
      • Adoration
      • Altar & Rosary Society
      • Altar Servers
      • Asamblea de Oracion de Matrimonios (AOM)
      • Catholic Daughters of the Americas
      • Homebound Ministry
      • JCDA
      • Choir
      • Knights of Columbus
      • Legion of Mary
      • Readers of the Word (Lectors)
      • Serra Club
      • Star of Hope
    • Faith & Spirituality Groups
      • Bereavement Support
      • Centering Prayer Group
    • Become a Parishioner
    • Funeral Information
    • Quinceañera Information
    • OLS YouTube Channel
    • School
    • Diocese of Brownsville
    • Contact Us

    Pentecost, Cycle B

    5/21/2018

     
    John 15:26-27, 16:12-15
    ​
    In a world filled with lies, we welcome the One who speaks the truth.  God the Holy Spirit is the spirit of truth, who leads us to the perfect revelation of who God is. 
     
    From Abraham to John the Baptist God spoke through prophets who did their best to interpret what God had to say to us.  All through history the prophets messed up.  The Law became the central reason for worship.  613 Commandments, many that dealt with guarding against ritual impurity dominated the focus of the Jewish religion.  The prophets failed and were unable to live up to the expectations set in the Commandments.  People thought that they had to keep God happy because He wasn’t happy with us.  So they offered human sacrifice, animal sacrifice the best crops and still people knew, in their gut, that God could not be happy, since over and over we were unable to keep our end of the Covenant.  Until a young girl, probably around 16 years old, without fear, no guilt, no sin, was willing to say “Yes” to being the mother of Jesus.  Her husband was also courageous—because he found out that his bride was pregnant and he was not the father.  Yet, he was willing to do what God wanted, risking his reputation in order to become the husband of an unwed mother.  Two unselfish young people paved the way for Jesus to be born into the world.  The Holy Spirit spoke to the Blessed Mother through an angel, spoke to St. Joseph in a dream and they both said “Yes.”  Nobody had to ask them, “What do you want for Christmas?”  They received Jesus Christ—He was all that they needed.  Jesus was born into human history to get us back on track—back to the original plan.  The Lord could have beamed down, manifested Himself as a ball of fire, or an all powerful king with servants all around.  Instead He chose to come through people, simple, unassuming people like Joseph and Mary. 
     
    We all know the story.  Jesus grew up and He made lots of folks angry because He did not meet their expectations.  Jesus associated with undesirables, untouchables, with sinners.  One of the most scandalous things that Jesus did was to call God His Daddy.  And He said that we could all do the same.  “When you pray say, Our Father, Abba”.  Mouths were wide open, people walked away, the authorities started to think of ways to kill Him.  Given our lowliness, God could not possibly be related to us!  None of us could ever be worthy to call God “Our Father.” 
     
    Yet, God is related to us.  Better said, we are related to God.  He made us and does not regret having loved us—because he sent the Holy Spirit.  The same Spirit that created the world, breath life into Adam and Eve and came upon the Apostles at Pentecost is the same Spirit present in the Church—that speaks the truth.  The same Spirit that makes the Eucharist change from bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ.  The Spirit is present in all of the Sacraments, when we are Baptized, receive absolution, are anointed when we are sick.  The Spirit is alive in the love of husband and wife in marriage and in every act of kindness, especially towards the poor.  The Spirit is why we are here, why we woke up today and why we live.  Just like the Spirit gave courage to the Apostles who were hiding behind closed doors, He gives us courage to speak about Him, especially to the folks who do not know Him or who are angry with God or have forgotten the importance of coming to Holy Mass every weekend.  God continues to use people to proclaim His truth.  Not perfect, sinless people, but ordinary folks—just like you, just like me. 
     
    The world is hungry for the message of truth.  With the Eucharist inside of us, we must never be afraid to speak to others about our best friend, Jesus Christ.    
     

    Comments are closed.
      Picture
      Msgr. Gustavo Barrera,
      ​celebrated his first Holy Mass as pastor on September 15, 2007, the feast day of Our Lady of Sorrows. With his enthusiasm and spiritual guidance, OLS continues to serve our Catholic family in a way that challenges us to grow as an evangelizing community.

      Archives

      February 2023
      January 2023
      December 2022
      November 2022
      October 2022
      September 2022
      August 2022
      July 2022
      June 2022
      May 2022
      April 2022
      March 2022
      February 2022
      January 2022
      November 2020
      October 2020
      September 2020
      August 2020
      July 2020
      June 2020
      May 2020
      April 2020
      March 2020
      February 2020
      January 2020
      December 2019
      November 2019
      October 2019
      September 2019
      July 2019
      June 2019
      May 2019
      April 2019
      March 2019
      February 2019
      January 2019
      December 2018
      November 2018
      October 2018
      September 2018
      August 2018
      July 2018
      June 2018
      May 2018
      April 2018
      March 2018
      February 2018
      January 2018
      December 2017
      November 2017
      October 2017
      September 2017
      August 2017
      June 2017
      May 2017
      April 2017
      March 2017
      February 2017
      January 2017
      December 2016
      November 2016
      October 2016
      September 2016
      August 2016
      July 2016
      June 2016
      May 2016
      April 2016
      March 2016
      February 2016
      January 2016
      December 2015
      November 2015
      October 2015
      September 2015
      August 2015
      July 2015
      June 2015
      May 2015
      April 2015
      March 2015

      Msgr. Gustavo Barrera, Pastor.

      Categories

      All

      RSS Feed

    About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Office Directory
    • Stewardship
    • Pastor
    • Our History
    Sacraments
    • Baptism
    • First Reconciliation
    • First Communion
    • Confirmation
    • Marriage
    • Anointing of the Sick
    Parish Life
    1. Become a Parishioner
    2. Bulletin & Newsletters
    3. Planning Center Log-in​
    Worship and Liturgy
    • Daily Readings
    • Liturgy of Hours
    • Mass & Reconciliation
    • Eucharistic Adoration
    Faith Formation
    • CCD
    • RCIA​
    Links & Resources
    • CDOB
    • USCCB
    • Vatican: Holy See
    • American Catholic
    More
    • Homilies
    • Online Giving
    • OLS School
    • OLS on YouTube
    Our Lady of Sorrows Parish
    1108 W Hackberry Ave.
    McAllen, Texas 78501-4370
    Telephone
    : (956) 686-0251
    Picture
    Picture

    Website Development by The Parish Solutions Company
    Our Lady of Sorrow Image Copyright Cromo NB permission to use by CNB Basevi.
    Back to top