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On this Ascension Sunday, we have in the readings both sides of a dichotomy in the spiritual life—contemplation, symbolized by the disciples gazing up into heaven, and action, symbolized by Jesus' command for them to go out and preach. We each need to balance these for a healthy spiritual life.

In our first reading, Apollos was an eloquent Christian preacher, but needed further instruction in the faith, which was provided by Priscilla and Aquila. How might further study improve our own faith journey?

Jesus tells those who were looking for him because they had their fill of bread to search instead for the food that endures to eternal life. We should all look deeper at what we really want out of God and the Church.

The resurrected Jesus appears to the disciples and eats with them and still has the wounds in his hands and in his side. This is no "spiritual" resurrection, but bodily resurrection in which we can unite our our own bodily suffering with his, and be in solidarity with all those who suffer.

Fr. Charlie Bouchard, OP breaks open the readings for this Palm Sunday, noticing how embodied all of the readings are. Jesus gave his body for our salvation. Can we give our bodies, just as they are, for the salvation and faith of others?

On this Feast of St. Joseph, we remember him as the patron saint of happy deaths, since he died presumably with Mary and Jesus at his side. Some planning ahead and conversing with loved ones can make your dying moments more likely to go better.

Today's readings are full of sin, but in the first, courage and wisdom are shown to be more powerful than sin, and in the Gospel, mercy is stronger than sin. So we acknowledge sin in the world, but also that it is not the whole picture.

Jesus told his followers to be perfect, just as our heavenly Father is perfect. While we can never reach the perfection of God, we can always be better than we are right now, and striving for that is good enough.

The readings today talk about developing virtue, the inclination to choose to do what is good. Virtue is skill that is developed, and Lent is perfect time to work on it. What virtue would you like to work on this Lent?

Fr. Charles Bouchard, OP breaks open the readings for the Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time—the healing of lepers, noting that Jesus healed not just people's physical ailments, but their spiritual ailments as well, and anything that isolated them from other people. May we also work to reach out to people who are isolated, bringing them back in communion with others, so that we all might be a part of the Kingdom of God.

King David's son Absalom led others in rebellion against his father. David, instead of responding in anger, in true humility, asked what his own part might be in this.

Jesus led with an authority that was powerful in its honesty and integrity. In this election season, we should demand the same from our politicians.