May 10 Mon Easter Weekday. [Saint John of Ávila, Priest and Doctor of the Church; USA: Saint Damien de Veuster, Priest] Acts 16:11-15/Jn 15:26—16:4a 

11 Tue Easter Weekday Acts 16:22-34/Jn 16:5-11 

12 Wed Easter Weekday [Saints Nereus and Achilleus, Martyrs; Saint Pancras, Martyr] Acts 17:15, 22—18:1/Jn 16:12-15 

 13 Thu THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD Solemnity Acts 1:1-11/Eph 1:17-23 or Eph 4:1-13 or 4:1-7, 11-13/Mk 16:15-20 

14 Fri Saint Matthias, Apostle  Feast Acts 1:15-17, 20-26/Jn 15:9-17

15 Sat Easter Weekday [USA: Saint Isidore] Acts 18:23-28/Jn 16:23b-28

16 SUN SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER Acts 1:15-17, 20a, 20c-26/1 Jn 4:11-16/Jn 17:11b-19 

The Feast of the Ascension is celebrated on Thursday this week in the Eastern United States where I live but on Sunday in the western dioceses. Better to celebrate this feast at the same time, I think.

In the Acts of the Apostles, Paul takes the stage at Athens, the intellectual capitol of the Roman world, but his words chosen carefully are met mostly with rejection or curiosity. “We would like to hear you some other time.” (Wednesday)

Friday is the feast of St. Matthias, chosen to be an apostle to take the place of Judas who betrayed the Lord.

On Friday the ordinary readings tell us that Paul after his rejection at Athens,  gets a better reception in Corinth, not far from Athens, but worlds away from the proud self sufficient city. “Do not be afraid. Go on speaking, and do not be silent, for I am with you.” Jesus says to Paul in a vision. 

In the reading from Acts on Saturday, Luke reminds us that Paul had great people with him like Priscilla and Aquila, the wife and husband, who instruct Apollos, a good speaker but weak in his theology.  “When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the Way of God more accurately.”

Some time ago I told a cousin of mine recently who wasn’t sure about a sermon she heard in church. “You may be right and he’s wrong.”