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  Saturday Feast of St. Mark Gospel– Mark 16:15-20 You’re Hired! Chapel of the Ascension We take a brief pause today during the Season of Easter to celebrate the Feast of St. Mark, Apostle and Evangelist.   What we hear in today’s Gospel is the very end of the story according to Mark – the Ascension.   Rather curious actually, since we still have a long way to go before we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension. There is a story I recall many decades ago about a Christian missionary who went and lived with an isolated tribe in Africa.   For 2 years, he lived with them, worked with them, instructed them and guided them in the Christian faith.   At the end of 2 years, a good number of them were baptized.   And at the end of the ritual, he got up and told them “I have finished my last instruction in your village.   I will never come back to teach anyone else here.   From this day on, it is you people who must teach and judge whether anyone is r...
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  Friday 3 rd Week of Easter Gospel – John 6:52-58 The “Ring” of Truth Chapel of Tears, Jerusalem I wear 2 rings on my fingers.   One, of course, is my wedding ring, celebrating (as of yesterday) 50 years of marriage to Ginger.   And the other is a high school class ring.   But it’s not mine; it’s my Dad’s! His high school senior ring from 1939.   I never even knew he had a class ring until, unfortunately, the week after he passed away 20 years ago.   I found it as we were sorting through his jewelry, and I immediately put it on my finger and have worn it every day since. It's a constant reminder to me of my dad, our relationship and all the memories I have of him.   It gives me a feeling that my dad is still here with me, guiding me and encouraging me. But in the end, this ring is not my dad.   It’s just a reminder, a symbol of our relationship, a holder of all my father/son memories of the past.   But it’s not the same as having hi...
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  Thursday – 3 rd Week of Easter Reading – Acts 8:26-40 Distractions! On the Road to Gaza I decided to water my garden. As I turn on the hose, I look over at my car and decide my car needs washing.   As I start toward the garage, I notice that there is mail on the porch table that I brought up from the mailbox earlier. I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car.   I lay my car keys down on the table, put the junk mail in the garbage can under the table, and notice that the can is full. So, I decide to put the bills back on the table and take out the garbage first. But then I think, since I'm going to be near the mailbox when I take out the garbage anyway, I may as well pay the bills first. I take my checkbook off the table and see that there is only one check left.   My extra checks are in my desk in the study, so I go inside the study to my desk where I find the can of Coke that I had been drinking. I'm going to look for my checks, but first I ne...