April 1-6: From TK
April 1: Monday: Jn 4:43-54: 43
After the two days he departed to Galilee. 44 For Jesus himself testified that
a prophet has no honor in his own country. 45 So when he came to Galilee, the
Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the
feast, for they too had gone to the feast. 46 So he came again to Cana in
Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was a royal
official whose son was ill. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to
Galilee, he went and begged him to come down and heal his son, for he was at
the point of death. 48 Jesus therefore said to him, “Unless you see signs and
wonders you will not believe.” 49 The official said to him, “Sir, come down
before my child dies.” 50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man
believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went his way. ….54.
The context: According to John’s Gospel, after facing
rejection by his hometown, Nazareth, Jesus went to Jerusalem in Judea for the
Passover feast. From Jerusalem, Jesus returned to Galilee and to his
headquarters, Capernaum, where people received him as a miracle-working
preacher and prophet. Today’s Gospel describes how Jesus did a
long-distance (telepathic) healing for the dying son of an official employed in
the royal court of king Herod.
Jesus was preaching at Cana, twenty miles away
from Capernaum. Herod’s officer came on horseback from
Capernaum to Cana urgently seeking Jesus’ presence for the healing of his dying
son. He was desperate enough to swallow his pride and make a public
request to a wandering preacher for this healing. Jesus’ critical
comment on the lack of belief in the Pharisees did not discourage the
official. With expectant Faith he pleaded with Jesus, reminding him
of the seriousness of the illness. So, Jesus told him, “Go; your
son will live.” With trusting Faith in the assurance Jesus had
given him, the officer rushed back toward his house. On the way there, he
received the good news that his son had been healed at the very time Jesus gave
his assurance. The officer was so grateful that he and the other
members of his family accepted Jesus as the promised Messiah without fearing
the ridicule of fellow-officers and friends.
Life message: Miraculous healings can take place
in our lives, too, if we approach Jesus the healer with true humility, trusting
Faith, earnest prayer and the willingness to surrender ourselves to God’s will.
We have the unfailing word of Jesus to rely on, nothing
less. (http://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/19
April 2 Tuesday (St. Francis of Paola, Hermit): Jn
5:1-16: 1 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went
up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in
Hebrew called Bethesda, which has five porticoes. 3 In these lay a multitude of
invalids, blind, lame, paralyzed.5 One man was there, who had been ill for
thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him and knew that he had been lying there
a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” 7 The sick man
answered him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is
troubled, and while I am going another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said
to him, “Rise, take up your pallet, and walk.” 9 And at once the man was
healed, and he took up his pallet and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath. 10
So the Jews said to the man who was cured, “It is the Sabbath, it is not lawful
for you to carry your pallet.” 11 But he answered them, “The man who healed me
said to me, `Take up your pallet, and walk.'” 12 They asked him, “Who is the
man who said to you, `Take up your pallet, and walk’?” 13 Now the man who had
been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a
crowd in the place. 14 Afterward, Jesus found him in the temple, and said to
him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse befall you.” 15 The
man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. 16 And
this was why the Jews persecuted Jesus, because he did this on the Sabbath.
The context: The Jews had three major feasts –
the Feast of Tabernacles, the Feast of Passover and the Feast of
Pentecost. Although only adult male Jews living within a 15
mile-radius of Jerusalem were bound to participate in the Passover feast, Jesus
went to Jerusalem as a practicing Jew. Today’s Gospel passage
describes how Jesus healed a paralyzed man who had been lying near the “Probatic”
pool of Bethesda (also called Bethzatha), for 38 years, hoping for a
healing when the water was miraculously stirred by an angel. Before granting
the healing, Jesus asked the paralytic if he wanted to be healed. The man
expressed his intense desire for healing and confessed his inability to crawl
to the pond in time. At once, Jesus gave the healing command, “Take up your
pallet, and walk,” and the man obeyed. The Pharisees
sternly told the healed man that he shouldn’t be carrying his mat as that the
day was the Sabbath. The man responded that his healer had told him to but
was unable to identify Jesus as that healer when they asked. Later,
when the former paralytic recognized in the Temple that it was Jesus who had
healed him, he reported the fact to the Jews who had earlier questioned him
about carrying his mat.
Life message: 1 We too will experience miracles
in our lives when we approach God with trusting Faith in His power to do the
impossible and in His mercy for His children. But we need to express our desire
to Him with persevering and fervent prayers. (http://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/19
April 3 Wednesday: Jn 5:17-30: 17 But Jesus
answered them, “My Father is working still, and I am working.” 18 This was why
the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath
but also called God his Father, making himself equal with God. 19 Jesus said to
them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord,
but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever he does, that the Son does
likewise. 20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows him all that he himself is
doing; and greater works than these will he show him, that you may
marvel.
Context: Today’s Gospel passage gives Jesus’
explanation vindicating himself when he had been accused by the Jews of
breaking the Sabbath by healing on that day, and of being a blasphemer, by
claiming, as God’s Son, equality with God and the same authority and power as
God.
Jesus’ claims and justification: In general, Jesus
claims that he is one with the Father in all he does as Mediator, and that
there is a perfect understanding between him and his Father in the whole
matter. But, at the same time, he is obedient and so entirely devoted to his
Father’s will that it is impossible for him in anything to act separately from
his Father. Thus, Jesus claims that his identity with the Father is made
visible in his complete obedience: Jesus always does what his Father wants him
to do. Then Jesus proves his equality with the Father by doing some
works that are the exclusively works of God Who is his Father. For
example, it is God’s prerogative to raise the dead, and give life, and Jesus
exercises these prerogatives. Jesus has received Divine power from the Father
to exercise his judgment and authority over life and death. That is why Jesus’
words bring healing and life to those who believe in the One Who sent him, and
condemnation to those who do not. At the last judgment, all who have heard
Jesus’ voice and obeyed his word will be raised to eternal life.
Life message: True Christian life is the
surrender of our lives to God with the same love and obedience which Jesus
demonstrated for his Father. (http://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/19
April 4 Thursday (St. Isidore, Bishop, Doctor): Jn
5:31-47: If I testify on my own behalf, my testimony cannot be
verified. But there is another who bears witness to me, and I know that the
testimony which he bears to me is true. 33 You sent emissaries to John, and he
has borne witness to the truth. 34 Not that the testimony which I receive is
from man; but I say this that you may be saved. 35 He was a burning and shining
lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. 36 But the
testimony which I have is greater than that of John; for the works which the
Father has granted me to accomplish, these very works which I am doing,
bear me witness that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has
himself borne witness to me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have
never seen; 38 and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not
believe him whom he has sent. 39 You search the scriptures, because you think
that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness to
me; 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. 41 I do not
receive glory from men. 42 But I know that you have not the love of God within
you. 43 … ..47
The context: In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus
defends His Messianic claims. The Jews demanded proofs for Jesus’
Messianic claims, quoting Dt 19:15 which requires two or three witnesses to
substantiate a person’s claims. Hence, Jesus presents four witnesses who
approved His Messianic and Divine claims: John the Baptist, his own
miracles, his Heavenly Father, and the Sacred Scriptures of the Old
Testament.
1) John the Baptist, whom many Jews considered a prophet,
bore witness to Jesus as the “Lamb of God” and the Holy One whose paths he had
come to prepare. 2) The miracles Jesus worked could only have been
done by the power of God his Father. 3) God the Father attested to the
Divinity of Jesus at his Baptism (cfr. Jn 1:31-34); at the Transfiguration
(cfr. Matthew 17:1-8), and later, in the presence of the whole crowd (cfr. John
12:28-30). 4) The books of the Old Testament, namely the Law and the
Prophets, bear testimony to Jesus’ Divine and Messianic claims. It was the
Spirit of God Who prompted the prophets of the Old Testament to write their
Messianic prophecies. Then Jesus identifies three obstacles which
prevented the Jews from recognizing him as the Messiah and Son of God: 1) their
lack of love of God, 2) their striving after human glory, and 3) their
prejudiced interpretation of Sacred texts and lack of faith in Moses and the
prophets.
Life messages: When we have doubts about Faith
and the Church’s teachings we need to 1) read the Bible with trusting Faith; 2)
pray for an increase of Faith; 3) learn the teachings of the Church, starting
with the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the official
documents of the Church; 4) accept the mysteries of our Faith, relying on the
Divine Authority and veracity of Jesus; and 5) examine how strong our own
Christian testimony is. Does our life reflect the light of Christ so much
that it brings light to the darkness in others? (http://frtonyshomilies.com/)
L/19
April 5 Friday (St. Vincent Ferrer, Priest): Jn 7:1-2,
10, 25-30: Judea, because the Jews sought to kill him. 2 Now the
Jews’ feast of Tabernacles was at hand. 10 But after his brothers had gone up
to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private. 25 Some of the
people of Jerusalem therefore said, “Is not this the man whom they seek to
kill? 26 And here he is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to him! Can it
be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ? 27 Yet we know
where this man comes from; and when the Christ appears, no one will know where
he comes from.” 28 So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, “You know
me, and you know where I come from? But I have not come of my own accord; he
who sent me is true, and him you do not know. 29 I know him, for I come from
him, and he sent me.” 30 So they sought to arrest him; but no one laid hands on
him, because his hour had not yet come.
The context: Today’s Gospel passage describes
Jesus’ secret journey to Jerusalem to participate in the Feast of Tabernacles
(Booths), amid rumors of his possible arrest. But Jesus courageously
made his public appearance in the crowd in Jerusalem and started teaching in
the Temple. Naturally, people started wondering why the authorities
did not arrest him.
Jesus’ Messianic claim and the Jewish reaction: Jesus
made two unique and seemingly blasphemous claims. 1) He claimed that he was the
Messiah, God’s Anointed One. 2) Jesus made the additional claim that
only he knew God as He is because he came from God. By this claim
Jesus contradicted the Jewish belief that they had the perfect and final
revelation of God given through Moses and the prophets. In addition,
Jesus’ claim to be the Messiah and the “Son of Man” prophesied by Daniel with
exclusive and intimate knowledge of God was, they thought, nothing but
blasphemy. The Jews argued that a mere carpenter-turned-
wandering-preacher from Nazareth could not be the Messiah because nobody was supposed
to know where the Messiah would come from. According to Jewish
belief, the Messiah would emerge quite unexpectedly from Mount Olivet, cross
the Kedron Valley, enter the city of Jerusalem, be anointed by Elijah the
prophet, take possession of the City and the Temple and establish His Messianic
kingdom.
Life messages: 1) Like the Jews, we, too,
can be prejudiced and occasionally refuse to accept and follow the
teachings of the Church. We need to have the humility to honor the
teaching authority of the Church and its guidance by the Holy
Spirit. 2) We need to accept Jesus as our Lord and personal
Savior, experience him through prayer and the Sacramental life and surrender
our lives to him. 3) Like the Jews who expected the surprise
appearance of a super-human Messiah we, too, show the tendency to seek God only
in miraculous and extraordinary events, ignoring His presence within us and in
everyone around us. (http://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/19
April 6 Saturday: Jn 7:40-53: 40 When they
heard these words, some of the people said, “This is really the prophet.” 41
Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is the Christ to come from
Galilee? 42 Has not the scripture said that the Christ is descended from David,
and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” 43 So there was a
division among the people over him. 44 Some of them wanted to arrest him, but
no one laid hands on him. 45 The officers then went back to the chief priests
and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring him?” 46 The officers
answered, “No man ever spoke like this man!” 47 The Pharisees answered them,
“Are you led astray, you also? 48 Have any of the authorities or of the
Pharisees believed in him? 49 But this crowd, who do not know the law, are
accursed.” 50 Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them,
said to them, 51 “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing
and learning what he does?” 52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee too? Search
and you will see that no prophet is to rise from Galilee.” 53 They went each to
his own house.
The context: Today’s Gospel describes the
reaction of the people, the Pharisees, the Temple police, and Nicodemus, the
Sanhedrin member, to Jesus’ pubic claim to be the promised Messiah and
the “Son of Man” prophesied by Daniel.
The common people say that Jesus probably is the expected
Messiah because of His authoritative teaching and authentic miracles. But the
Pharisees, the Scribes and the Jewish priests can only see Jesus as a Galilean
from Nazareth, and they argue from Scripture that the real Messiah must be born
in David’s family in Bethlehem. The Temple police, whom they send to
arrest Jesus, report that they have not arrested Jesus because, “nobody ever
spoke like Him.” They are impressed by Jesus’ wisdom and
authoritative teaching. Nicodemus, a prominent member of the supreme council of
the Jews defends Jesus, demanding that the Sanhedrin give Jesus a fair trial
before they have Him punished for blasphemy on unfounded claims.
Life messages: 1) We believe in Jesus’ teachings
based on His authority as God. We believe in the Sacred Scriptures based on the
teaching authority Jesus gave to Peter and his successors. Since
Jesus and His Apostles believed in the Old Testament Books as the inspired word
of God, and since the Church teaches the same thing, we, too, believe them to
be the real word of God, and we follow the instructions given in the Bible.
Hence, we need to follow the Bible as the guide of our Christian life and
accept the traditional interpretation given to the word of God by the teaching
authority in the Church.
2) Today we Christians are also “a sign of contradiction,”
as Simeon described Jesus, because we are different when we stand for Christ
and choose His teachings while others reject them. We need to have,
and act on, the courage of our Christian
convictions. (http://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/19