St. Ailbe Catholic Church of Chicago

JESUS, THE BREAD OF LIFE, JESUS, THE CUP OF SALVATION!

The Body and Blood of Christ! The expression is all too familiar to us Catholic Christians. When Jesus first spoke of himself as re-al food, real drink, though, it was shocking and startling. Some took it as strange, unsettling, intolerable language and turned away from him.Today for many the Body and Blood of Christ is still unknown or misunderstood. For some Christians “Communion” is not a regular part of their experience and tradition. For others, the ritual surrounding the Body and Blood of Christ is merely “symbolic.”What about us Catholic Christians? We say that THIS IS FOR REAL! We say we believe in the real presence of Christ. We believe it is Real Food and Real Drink for Body and Spirit. We believe in the transformative power of the Eucharist in our lives. Are we attune to the Real Presence of Christ Jesus?

Feast of the Holy Trinity: Holy Trinity – One God!

By AilbeAdmin

On June 11, 2017

In Bulletins

HOLY TRINITY – ONE GOD!

The Blessed Three In One! How is this possible? What does it mean? What does it tell us?We celebrate today the mystery of Three persons in One God. While we claim this to by a mystery, its reality does not totally escape our experience, but rather calls us into a new and different experience, a new and different way of living!The Trinity is about the power of life and love that is beyond all imagining. The Father is so full of dynamic life and love that His very Word is a Person the Son! The love and communication between the Father and the Son is so intense that it is a Person the Spirit!The Holy Trinity becomes for a the model and ideal of the perfect community we strive for: three persons so united in love and purpose that in fact they are ONE!As we celebrate Father’s Day this Weekend, we appropriately look to the Holy Trinity not only for Divine Strength, but as a model to reach for: To live and love so closely together that we achieve the Unity we long for!

I Am With You Always – Feast of the Ascension of the Lord

By AilbeAdmin

On May 31, 2017

In Bulletins

I Am With You Always! Transformation! What “transformative” moments do you remember in your life? The first day of School? First Communion or Confirmation? Graduation? Your first job? Moving out on your own? Wedding Day? Your first child? The death of a parent or sibling? The list is long for most of us!This Ascension Day is a transformative moment for the disciples of Jesus, and for all of us who aspire to follow in their footsteps! They had already experienced the “whirlwind” of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus. When they meet Him on the mountain, they worship him, but still have lingering doubts. Now, just as the reality of his resurrected presence has begun to sink in, he is lifted up before their eyes. He charges them to go out and make disciples of all nations. His assurance to them: I am with you always, until the end of the age! He is still with us in this age!

Good Shepherd Sunday – Fourth Sunday of Easter

By AilbeAdmin

On May 5, 2017

In Bulletins

Do You Recognize His Voice?

Do You Recognize His Voice? Whose voice do you recognize? Probably the voices of count-less people! But do you recognize HIS voice, the voice of the Good Shepherd?The fourth Sunday of Easter is traditionally known as “Good Shepherd” Sunday, and each year the Gospel presents Jesus as “shepherd.” What do you know about shepherds and sheep? Probably not much. We are told sheep can be less than highly intelligent, and at times so are we. We are told they can easily get themselves into trouble, and so can we. They can also learn to recognize and follow a shepherd, and so can we!Jesus tells us he is the “gate” for the sheep. The gate is the place where the shepherds calls the flock that is his own. Upon hearing his voice, they recognize it and they follow him, and he leads them to safe pasture.The question for us: Whose voice do we recognize, respond to and follow as we search for safe pasture? Do we recognize His voice?

Jesus Is Alive! 3rd Sunday of Easter

By AilbeAdmin

On April 30, 2017

In Bulletins

Jesus Is Alive!

Imagine running into Jesus when and where you least expect him! This was the experience of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. This was the experience of the many followers of Jesus after he rose from the dead on Easter Sunday morning!Today’s Gospel from Luke is a familiar and favorite Resurrection story for many believers. The two disciples on the road to Emmaus on Easter Sunday are so engrossed in their own grief, dismay and disillusionment that they fail to recognize the “stranger” who has joined them on the road. Their recognition of Jesus comes in two ways: (1) when they take time to “break bread” with Jesus when they arrive at the inn, and (2) in hindsight when they realized how their “hearts were burning” when he broke open the Scriptures for them while they were on the road.We too experience the resurrected Christ each Sunday, in breaking open the word, and in the breaking of bread. Yes, Jesus Is Alive!

My Lord and My God!

By AilbeAdmin

On April 26, 2017

In Bulletins

My Lord And My God!

Easter amazement! The events of Easter Sunday are beyond comprehension, especially for those who were witnesses of the spectacle of Good Friday!During these six weeks of the Easter season we continue to hear the accounts of the risen Christ appearing to his followers. At the tomb, in the upper room, at the inn at Emmaus, on the beach, it still seems too good to be true!Today’s Gospel takes us to the upper room where the Last Supper was celebrated. We find the apostles on Easter Sunday night behind locked doors, and again a week later in the same place, this time with Thomas present. The apostle Thomas expresses where we often find ourselves, at first skeptical or incredulous, having to see things for ourselves, only to be brought to our knees with the reality of God’s power and love for us! What else can we say, but “My Lord and My God!”

Easter Sunday – Christ Is Risen! We Are Witnesses!

By AilbeAdmin

On April 18, 2017

In Bulletins

The Lord is Risen! He is not here, for he has risen just as he said! These words mark the star-tling end of an amazing journey we call Holy Week!In fact, these words, this event marks a whole new era, a whole new beginning for human be-ings. Those closest to Jesus during his lifetime and public ministry would only gradually come to an understanding of what happened on this day, and what it meant for them and the whole world. Gradually they came to fully believe that what he foretold would come to pass.Two thousand years later, we have the benefit of the testimony of Scripture and the ongoing belief of countless believers who have gone before us, and billions alive today who profess belief in the Resurrection. Still, our faith is of-ten shaken when death seems to conquer life. We need this day, that we might come to more fully believe that Jesus conquered the power of death and won for us Endless Life!

Speak the Truth – Jesus Christ is Lord!

By AilbeAdmin

On April 8, 2017

In Bulletins

Hosanna to the Son of David! Hosanna in the Highest!

Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!

With shouts of joy and exhalation this day begins, with a triumphal procession down the Mount of Olives into the City of Jerusalem! But the spirit will quickly change as events unfold to turn the shouts from cheers to jeers! The holy Week Journey has begun. We are invited to follow Jesus through the events of this week: at the Last Supper Table, at Calvary, at the tomb of the Risen Savior! By speaking the truth He won salvation for us all!

See Through The Eyes of Faith!

By AilbeAdmin

On March 25, 2017

In Bulletins

Fourth Sunday of Lent – March 26th, 2017 Can’t you see? Are you blind? Don’t you see? How do you see things? Sight is so critical to our human experience that we find it hard to imagine what it might be like to be born blind. When our eyesight changes or begins to fail, we are thrown into a panic. How will I see? Today’s Gospel is about sight, and what true sight really is. The story details the miracle of Jesus curing the man born blind. As the story continues, we encounter others afflicted by another kind of blindness. They cannot see, or refuse to recognize what is really going on.

Jesus says: “I came into the world for judgment, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind.”

Without faith, we are blind to life and its real meaning. Do I see myself as I really am? Do I see myself as God sees me? See through the Eyes of Faith!