“A reading from the CONCLUSION” of the holy gospel according to Matthew.” This is one of my favorite books in the New Testament. When I read this book for the first time (I think I was 14) and came to the last few pages, I found myself reading slowly, savoring every word. I did not want the story to end. The time I had spent with the characters had been exciting, and here I was, without them.

Today's gospel, as you heard, is from the conclusion. Jesus is leaving the earth, body and soul, and ascending into heaven. He will be joining his Father, and his friends will not see him again. Imagine how the apostles responded; they were not ready to be without Jesus. The ending had come too soon; they had loved being with them. The gospel, however, does not focus on a depressed group of disciples. Instead, we have an image of the apostles keeping the Lord with them by talking about him, sharing his teachings, baptizing others so they, too, might share the same message. Perhaps we should say, “A reading from the conclusion of the holy gospel according to Matthew and the beginning of a life devoted to bringing Jesus and his Word alive to others.”

This feast of the Ascension is an exciting one. What begins as sadness at saying goodbye to Jesus, ends with the realization that Jesus will always be with the disciples and us. When we pray and offer the sign of peace at Mass, it is a reminder of Jesus and a way for us to share his message with each other. We are literally passing the Word along that we, as Christians, follow the life of Jesus, a life of peace and love of friend, family and stranger. Today we are given the challenge of continuing to pass the word, the exciting message that Jesus is here for all of us.

Happy Mother's Day and congratulations to our First Communicants. Please know that I carry you I my heart and prayers.

Join St. Robert’s TIPPS at Happy Hollow Park and Zoo!!
(located just off Hwy 280 in San Jose)
http://www.hhpz.org

Saturday, May 21, 2005
(rescheduled from April 23rd due to rain)

Happy Hollow has lots of activities for young children and toddlers. The Pirate’s Cove picnic area is reserved from 10am to 1pm. Bring a picnic lunch or enjoy the snack bar. Our group rate is $5 per adult and child over 2. Free for children under 2. Parking is $6. For those wishing to leave together, we will meet in St. Robert’s school parking lot at 9:30 am.

Please contact Andrew or Ana Kimoto or email  ajkimoto@sanbrunocable.com for reservations and directions.

On receiving the Pius X Award
for their 5 yeas teaching in our
Parish Religious Education Program.

MERCY CENTER
2300 Adeline Drive, Burlingame, CA 94010
650-340-7474

June 3rd-June 5th
A Renewal for Busy People
Father DeMello

VALLOMBROSA
250 Oak Grove, Menlo Park, CA 94025
650- 325-5614 ext. 14

June 3rd-5th
Living the Beatitudes Today
Toinette Eugene, PhD.

June 17th-19th
Eucharist and Healing
A silent retreat for men and women.
Father Richard Bain

SAN DAMIANO RETREAT CENTER
P.O. Box 767, Danville, CA 94526-0767
925-837-9141

May 29th/1-5 p.m.
Day of Dialogue
Richard Purcell, OFM

May 31st - 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Marian Day
The Magnificent of Mary
Evan Howard, OFM

A Mother’s Day Prayer

God of Love, listen to our prayer for the mothers of our parish.
Bless them with the strength of your Spirit,
as they teach their children how to walk and how to play.

Bless them with the melody of your love,
as they teach their children how to speak,
how to sing and how to pray to you.

Bless them with a sense of your presence,
as they feed and nurture the life of the family you have given them.

Let them feel how much you love them and
grant them to be merciful with themselves.

Bless them now in this lifetime with joy, love, laughter and
pride in their children and with the support of close friends.

Having spent most of the past two weeks with my Mom, I had lots of time to reflect on many things. I was aware of a role reversal, wondering how many times she had sat by my bed when I was sick as a child. Some of the time, she would open her eyes and make all the sense in the world: “It’s so good to see you all!” Other times, I hadn’t a clue what she was trying to say as the Alzheimer’s scrambled her words. She is at a wonderful facility called Somerford Place in Roseville where I witnessed amazing love from everyone. The activity director came in to kiss her before she went off shift; the caregivers stroked her cheek as they explained that they needed to roll her over; the housekeepers regularly greeted her, including the young man who came in on his day off to see how she was doing. We have been blessed that this disease has left Mom gentle, loving and grateful for the littlest thing. She would often tell someone how pretty she looked or how nicely her hair was fixed. I have known wonderful people made belligerent and foul-mouthed by Alzheimer’s, totally against their will. How much more challenging to show compassionate love towards these people who are so difficult to love!

Not knowing when a stroke or heart attack might take her, we said our good-byes. There seems to be such a mystery about dying. When I asked her if she was ready to die, she paused and said, “I don’t know.” When I asked if she was afraid to die, she answered, “No.” Even when it seems sudden from our perspective, is the time of death worked out between God and the person? How is it that so often when a family member keeps vigil all night, then leaves for a bathroom break or a cup of coffee, the loved one dies? Was Jean-Paul Sartre correct when he wrote that we are born and die alone? With Alzheimer’s, does the person still do a review of life in preparation for that most important journey? My hope is that my Dad who died May 12, 1994 may come and walk her home. Thank you for all your prayers and concern for her and for me and my family. We have felt your support.