May 18, 2024 – Saturday of the 7th Week of Easter

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May 18, 2024 – Saturday of the 7th Week of Easter

Acts of the Apostles 28:16-20, 30-31

When he entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself,
with the soldier who was guarding him.

Three days later he called together the leaders of the Jews.
When they had gathered he said to them, “My brothers,
although I had done nothing against our people
or our ancestral customs,
I was handed over to the Romans as a prisoner from Jerusalem.
After trying my case the Romans wanted to release me,
because they found nothing against me deserving the death penalty.
But when the Jews objected, I was obliged to appeal to Caesar,
even though I had no accusation to make against my own nation.
This is the reason, then, I have requested to see you
and to speak with you, for it is on account of the hope of Israel
that I wear these chains.” 

He remained for two full years in his lodgings.
He received all who came to him, and with complete assurance
and without hindrance he proclaimed the Kingdom of God
and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Fr. Burke’s video for May 18 – https://youtu.be/h5R0J1N7Dyw

Fr. Burke’s State of the Parish Address – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZpIJGSYFbI

Tomorrow, we celebrate Pentecost Sunday, the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles. This whole Easter season, the 50 days after Easter, we have been reading from the Acts of the Apostles, which describes many of the amazing things the apostles did after the Holy Spirit filled them with God’s power. Today we read from the last chapter of this wonderful book that describes the early years of the Church.

Paul had been imprisoned in Caesarea, awaiting a trial, but the Romans could not find a charge against him that would deserve the death penalty. They sent him to Rome, where he was “allowed to live by himself, with a soldier who was guarding him”. In other words, Paul was under house arrest. Paul did nothing wrong to deserve house arrest, but he did not let the situation distress him.

How long was Paul under house arrest? “He remained two full years in his lodgings”. Imagine that! Two years as a prisoner, but Paul did not let this keep him from evangelizing. “He received all who came to him, and with complete assurance and without hindrance he proclaimed the Kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.” He spoke with “complete assurance.” He had no doubts about Jesus and the truth of the Gospel.  Even though he was held captive, he spoke “without hindrance.” Even though Paul was not allowed to move freely about Rome, he was totally free spiritually. No chains, guards or imprisonments were going to keep Paul from the mission he was given. His total focus was on Christ no matter what he was doing.

Have I maintained my eyes on Jesus and the mission He has given me?

Do I allow life circumstances to prevent me from sharing the Gospel?

Come Holy Spirit! Give me the freedom I desire no matter what situation I am in.

God bless,

Fr. Burke

Fr. Burke’s blog – https://frburke23.wordpress.com

Fr. Burke’s YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOt-ntVKl9ko98Yd7uiuWOA

St. Isaac Jogues Church website – https://sij.net/

St. Isaac Jogues parish YouTube channel – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8oDHtwLm7E_seoCj1ndzKA 

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Prayer schedule for Saturday, May 18, 2024 (all times Central)

8:00am – Mass with Fr. Bill Cullen

8:30am – Confessions with Fr. Burke & Fr. Bill Cullen

10:00am – Funeral Mass for Bettie Graham with Fr. Larry

11:00am – Bishop Hicks will ordain Luis Ron to the priesthood for the Diocese of Joliet at the Cathedral of St. Raymond in Joliet. All are welcome – no tickets required.

3:30pm – Confessions with Msgr. Burnett and Fr. Burke

4:30pm – Mass with Fr. Burke

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18 de mayo de 2024 – Sábado de la 7ma Semana de Pascua

Hechos de los Apóstoles 28, 16-20. 30-31

En aquellos días, cuando llegamos a Roma, se le permitió a Pablo vivir en una casa particular, con un soldado de guardia. Tres días después de su llegada, convocó a los judíos principales, y una vez reunidos, les dijo:

“Hermanos, sin haber hecho nada en contra de mi pueblo, ni de las tradiciones de nuestros padres, fui preso en Jerusalén y entregado a los romanos. Ellos, después de interrogarme, querían ponerme en libertad, porque no encontraron en mí nada que mereciera la muerte. Pero los judíos se opusieron y tuve que apelar al César, sin pretender por ello acusar a mi pueblo. Por esta razón he querido verlos y hablar con ustedes, pues llevo estas cadenas a causa de la esperanza de Israel”.

Dos años enteros pasó Pablo en una casa alquilada; ahí recibía a todos los que acudían a él, predicaba el Reino de Dios y les explicaba la vida de Jesucristo, el Señor, con absoluta libertad y sin estorbo alguno.

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Fr. Burke’s video for May 18 – https://youtu.be/h5R0J1N7Dyw

Fr. Burke’s State of the Parish Address – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZpIJGSYFbI

Mañana celebramos el Domingo de Pentecostés, la venida del Espíritu Santo sobre los apóstoles. En toda esta temporada de Pascua, los 50 días posteriores a la Pascua, hemos estado leyendo el libro de los Hechos de los Apóstoles, que describen muchas de las cosas maravillosas que hicieron los apóstoles después de que el Espíritu Santo los llenó con el poder de Dios. Hoy leemos del último capítulo de este maravilloso libro que describe los primeros años de la Iglesia.

Pablo había sido encarcelado en Cesárea, en espera de un juicio, pero los romanos no pudieron encontrar una acusación contra él que merezca la pena de muerte. Lo enviaron a Roma, donde “se le permitió a Pablo vivir en una casa particular, con un soldado de guardia”. En otras palabras, Paul estaba bajo arresto domiciliario. Pablo no hizo nada malo para merecer arresto domiciliario, pero no dejó que la situación lo angustia.

¿Cuánto tiempo estuvo Paul bajo arresto domiciliario? “Dos años enteros pasó Pablo en una casa alquilada”. ¡Imagínate eso! Dos años como prisionero, pero Pablo no dejó que esto le impidiera evangelizar. “Ahí recibía a todos los que acudían a él, predicaba el Reino de Dios y les explicaba la vida de Jesucristo, el Señor, con absoluta libertad y sin estorbo alguno”. Habló con “absoluta seguridad”. No tenía dudas acerca de Jesús y la verdad del Evangelio. A pesar de que estaba cautivo, habló “sin estorbo alguno”. A pesar de que a Pablo no se le permitió moverse libremente por Roma, era totalmente libre espiritualmente. Ninguna cadena, guardia o encarcelamiento iba a mantener a Pablo alejado de la misión que se le dio. Su enfoque total estaba en Cristo sin importar lo que estuviera haciendo.

¿He mantenido mis ojos en Jesús y en la misión que me ha dado?

¿Permito que las circunstancias de la vida me impidan compartir el Evangelio?

¡Ven Espíritu Santo! Dame la libertad que deseo sin importar en qué situación esté.

Dios te bendiga,

Padre Burke

Fr. Burke’s blog – https://frburke23.wordpress.com

Fr. Burke’s YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOt-ntVKl9ko98Yd7uiuWOA

St. Isaac Jogues Church website – https://sij.net/

St. Isaac Jogues parish YouTube channel – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8oDHtwLm7E_seoCj1ndzKA 

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