“Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’” (Mt 5:37)

This world devalues words. Our Lord, who IS the Word of God, protects them, recalling the most basic rule: “yes means yes,” “no means no.” When I am a husband, when I am a wife, all my life, all my actions should express who am I.

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my saving strengths.” (Communion Antiphon)

“‘Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD;
the LORD will be passing by.’ …But the LORD was not in the wind…not in the earthquake…. was not in the fire.
After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound. When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of the cave.” (1 Kings 19, 11-13)

The Most Powerful God, before Whom all the creation trembles, is not in the wind, not in the earthquake, not in the fire but in “a tiny whispering sound. ” Elijah was His prophet and He knew Him. He reacted neither when he heard the wind nor the earthquake, nor fire. He prepared himself to meet with God after a tiny whispering sound. This is the best way to communicate with others – like Our God does.

“Shine like lights on the world, as you hold on to the word of life.” (Gospel Acclamation)

“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother…” (Mt 5:21-22)

Being angry with your brother (husband, wife, sister, daughter, son…) is like killing him. How often we are angry because we have different expectations towards the other person, as he or she “should do” or “shouldn’t do” something, and so on.

Somebody said that marriage is not 50:50. Divorce is 50:50. Marriage is 100%. My role in marriage is to be a gift of self – 100%; not a demander.

“I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you” (Alleluia versus)

“Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father” (Mt 5:16).

Our good deeds are connected with the glory of our heavenly Father, because He is the Author of all good things in our lives. When we are connected with Him, when we follow His word, we are able to understand and to fulfill His invitation to be His apostles in this world.

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my saving strength” (Communion Antiphon)

“He began to teach them, saying: ‘Blessed are…’” (Mt 5:2-3)

Eight simple blessings which cover all kinds of life situations: from lack of food to persecution, from mourning to thirst for justice. Each of this situations is covered with God’s blessing. Our Lord gives us a different perspective. The blessing is not in prosperity, in goods or in success; the blessing rests in relation with Him. When we imitate His life, when we follow His ways, when we perform His will, we are blessed.

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my saving strength” (Communion Antiphon)

“Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans … yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God.” (Acts 2:7.11)

The miracle of “hearing” or of “speaking”? “We hear them speaking in our own tongues.” Theology says that this miracle consisted in speaking. “Speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God”. God gave them the new tongue, a new ability – to proclaim His presence among us.

Today, on Pentecost Sunday, we are asking God to send us the people who will speak in our own tongue about the mighty acts of God. We are surrounded by too much information about what happened in the world; today we need preachers, neighbors, colleagues, fathers and mothers, and friends, who will speak “in our own tongue of the mighty acts of God.”

“Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of you love.” (Alleluia versus)

“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” (Acts 28:30-31)

This is the end of the Acts of the Apostles. The circle is closed: “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem…and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Paul started his mission in Jerusalem, where he watched the death of St. Stephen (Acts 8:1), and now is in Rome, ready to give his own life for Jesus. From the moment he met Jesus “he proclaimed the Kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ” to “all who came to him.”

“I will send to you the Spirit of truth, says the Lord, he will guide you to all truth.” (Alleluia versus)

“‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’ Simon Peter answered him, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’” (John 21:15)

One of the most famous dialogs in the New Testament between Our Lord and Simon after resurrection. Because Peter denied knowing Jesus three times, now there are also three questions: “Do you love me?” And the opportunity to answer again, and again, and again. Threefold denial — and now threefold declaration or confirmation of Peter’s love. This is how we generally understand this scene. But maybe there is one more option of understanding this scene, in a deeper sense.

Our Lord asked Peter: “Do you love me?”, which means, in Koine Greek (the Greek of that time): “Agapas me?” – and this is a word for unconditional love. Peter answered: “Philo se,” using the word which describes an affection that could denote friendship or brotherhood. It is as if Jesus asks Peter: “Do you love me unconditionally?” – and Peter answers: “You know, Jesus, I like you so much, you are a good friend, the best in my life.”

So Our Lord asked him again. And again the same thing happened. So, Jesus asked him for the third time. And also this time he wasn’t upset or offended that Peter didn’t understend his invitation to a true relationship, and He asked him: “Philo me?”. Peter answerd” “Philo se.” “Do you ‘like me?’ ” –  “Yes, I like you so much.” It was more important for Jesus to meet Peter at his level of love than to force him to declare more or to reject him. We know, that the last word of Peter’s, at the end of his life, was AGAPAS SE. I LOVE YOU, MY LORD!!!

Our Lord loves us unconditionally. And he is patient. He can wait for us until we grow up.

“Christ loved us and washed us clean of our sins by his Blood, and made us into a kingdom, priests for this God and Father, alleluia” (Entrance Antiphon)

“Paul was aware that some were Sadducees and some Pharisees, so he called out before the Sanhedrin, ‘My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees; I am on trial for hope in the resurrection of the dead.’ ” (Acts 23:6)

Our Lord promised us to be our protector. It doesn’t mean that He should be there physically to defend us. We can use the gift of wisdom. Paul was aware of being alone against two strong groups, so he looked for allies; knowing the basic difference between Sadducees and Pharisees he put the subject of resurrection of the dead into the discussion. It helped.

We are never alone, Our Lord is always with us. He will come with help whenever we need it. Important is to use our reason enlightened by faith.

“Perpetual light will shine on your Saints, o Lord, and life without end for ever, alleluia.” (Entrance Antiphon)

“And now I commend you to God and to that gracious word of his that can build you up and give you the inheritance among all who are consecrated.” (Acts 20:32)

The word which can build. Unfortunately, we also know the words which can destroy. This is the reason why we should start every day with a moment of reflection on His word. His gracious word “can build you up and give you the inheritance among all who are consecrated.” Our Lord expects from us only the space, the time when His gracious word can build us up. When we invite His word to our life, to our days, to our relationships – we can expect miracles.

“Your word, O Lord, is truth; consecrate us in the truth.” (Alleluia versus)