[Salvation]

May 4, 2005

Feast of St. Florian

St. Florian was a Roman army officer who served in Austria in the second century during the persecutions of Diocletian. After he refused an order to execute a group of Christians, Florian then professed his own faith, and he too was martyred.

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Legend says that Florian once saved a town from burning by throwing a single bucket of water on the blaze. That is why he is regarded as the patron of firefighters.

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On September 11, 2001, more than 350 firefighters were killed during the attack on the World Trade Center in Manhattan. Among those who also died was Fr. Mychal Judge, OFM, chaplain to the firefighters.

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On this date in 1626, the Indians sold Manhattan for $24.00 in cloth and buttons.

[Salvation]

Wednesday, Sixth Week of Easter

When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.

Acts 1: 9

As noted earlier, Luke dramatizes the end of Christ’s visible appearances with a scene in which the disciples visibly see him depart. He is the only New Testament writer to do this.

By dramatizing it this way, Luke is also teaching a deeper truth. When the risen Christ passed through death and went to the Father, he brought the human body into the realm where we thought only spirits and angels could dwell. From now on, we all belong there.

During the 50-day Easter Season, we celebrate the feast of all creation. No longer do we picture a future without matter. Flesh has been redeemed and glorified, and will last forever.

That’s what we believe and, in that sense, we’re materialists.”. We don’t want to destroy this world. We want the world to be transformed and be part of our future.

Today would be a good time to notice this good earth around us…and thank God not only for creating it, but for giving all of this – and us – a future.

Spend some quiet time with the Risen Lord.