2nd Week of Easter, Saturday, April 17

 2nd Week of Easter, Saturday, April 17

Acts 6:1-7 / John 6:16-21

The disciples run into trouble; The Lord was with them in their trouble. 

There's a famous poem called "Footprints." It's about a person, in a dream, walking along a beach with the Lord. Suddenly, across the sky, scenes appear from the person's life. For each scene, two sets of footprints appear in the sand: one belonging to the Lord, the other to the person.

2nd Week of Easter, Friday, April 16

 2nd Week of Easter, Friday, April 16

Acts 5:34-42 / John 6:1-15

From today and until next Saturday (8 days), the Eucharistic discourse of Jesus, as given in John 6 from the multiplication of bread. Jesus confronts us with the question: “Why are you looking for me?” Why are we looking for God, for Jesus? Is it merely for the things he gives us? We receive much from God, but do we look for Jesus himself, for what he means in our lives? Let us look to get closer to him and to become more like him. He asks us for faith in his person and mission. 

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Jesus feeds 5,000 people; He multiplied five loaves. 

Almost a century ago, two men were on a train in France. The older man was reading the Bible story of the multiplication of the loaves. Noticing this, the younger man said, "Pardon me, sir, but do you really believe what you're reading?" "Yes," said the older man, "don't you believe it?"

2nd Week of Easter, Thursday, April 15

 2nd Week of Easter, Thursday, April 15

Acts 5:27-33 / John 3:31-36 

Jesus speaks about eternal life; Whoever believes has eternal life.

Most people who turn on a television set can't tell you how the magic box works. But they don't deny that it works. The picture on the screen tells them that. Most people who drive an automobile can't tell you how the magic motor works. But they don't deny that it works. The movement of the car tells them that.

Easter 2nd Week: April 12-17:

 Easter 2^nd Week: April 12-17: 

April 12 Monday: The context: Today’s Gospel describes the night visit of Nicodemus made to Jesus. Nicodemus was a rich Jewish rabbi and one of the seventy members of Sanhedrin. Later in his Gospel, John shows us how Nicodemus argued for a fair trial for Jesus (7:51) and how he cooperated with Joseph of Arimathea to bury Jesus (19:38). Nicodemus came to Jesus convinced that obeying the Mosaic Law and offering the prescribed sacrifices were enough for one’s eternal salvation.

2nd Week of Easter, Tuesday, April 13

2nd Week of Easter, Tuesday, April 13

Acts 4:32-37 / John 3:7-15

Jesus continues his instruction; "We must be born of the spirit. " 

A town drunk and loafer underwent a religious conversion. Some of his old cronies ridiculed him. One said sarcastically, "Surely you haven't begun to believe all that stuff about changing water into wine?" The ex-drunk replied, "I can't tell you whether Jesus turned water into wine in Cana.

Saturday within Octave of Easter, April 10

 Saturday within Octave of Easter, April 10

Acts 4:13-21 / Mark 16:9-15     

Jesus instructs his disciples; "Proclaim the gospel to all creatures. " 

The capital of Texas is named after Stephen Austin, an early pioneer who founded numerous settlements in Texas. Austin didn't like preachers and tried to keep them out of his towns.

Thursday within the Octave of Easter, April 8

 Thursday within the Octave of Easter, April 8

Acts 3:11-26 / Luke 24:35-48

Jesus instructs his disciples; You are to be my witnesses. 

Jesus underscores three things in this reading.

(1)               the reality of the resurrection,

(2)               the necessity of the cross, and

(3)               the urgency of the task of preaching the Good News to all nations.

Easter Octave: April 5-10, 2021:

 Easter Octave: April 5-10, 2021:

5 Monday: Mt 28:8-15: 

The context: Today’s Gospel describes how the two Marys who had been at the foot of the cross – Mary Magdalene and “the other Mary” (sister or cousin of Jesus’ mother) – went to the tomb of Jesus early on Sunday morning. They were shocked at seeing an open tomb without Jesus’ body in it. As they ran back with fear and joy to report the news to the apostles, the risen Jesus greeted them and told them to inform the apostles that he would meet them in Galilee. The guards, too, went to the chief priests to report the Resurrection of Jesus. But they were promptly silenced by the Temple authorities who bribed them to spread the false news that Jesus’ body had been stolen by his disciples.

Easter 7th Week, Saturday, May 30

Acts 28:16-20, 30-31 / John 21:20-25 

Jesus instructs Peter: “Follow me!”:

The city of Rome was under serious siege in 1849. The great Italian patriot Garibaldi issued a public proclamation to the young men of Italy: “I have nothing to offer you but hunger and thirst, hardship and death; but I call on all who love their country to join me.” The response was beyond belief. It was this kind of challenge that Jesus held out to his apostles. It was this kind of challenge that Jesus repeated to Peter in today’s gospel. It is this same challenge that Jesus repeats to each one of us today.

Easter 7th Week, Friday, May 29

Acts 25:3-21 / John 21:15-19 

Jesus instructs Peter: “Feed my lambs. Tend my sheep.”

Jesus looked upon God as a shepherd: “The Lord is my shepherd.” Psalm 23. The Israelites also looked upon their leaders as shepherds, God’s representatives. Thus Ezekiel condemns these leaders for being bad shepherds and foretells that God will replace them With a good shepherd. (Ezekiel 34:2, 23)

It’s against this scriptural background that we must interpret Jesus words: “I am the good shepherd.” John 10:11. It’s against this biblical background that we must also interpret Jesus’ words to Peter: “Feed my lambs. Tend my sheep.” John 21:15-16. Jesus commissions Peter to succeed him as the shepherd of the flock of his followers. 

Easter 7th Week, Thursday, May 28

Acts 22:30; 23:6-11 / John 17:20-26 

Jesus continues to pray: “May I live in them as you live in me.”

Christians are four things. First, they’re a body in which Christ lives. Paul writes, “I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me.” Galatians 2.20

Second, they’re a mind through which Christ thinks. Paul writes, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. ” Phiiippians 2:5 (Kjv)

Third, they’re a voice through which Christ speaks. Jesus said, “Whoever listens to you listens to me.” Luke 10:16

Easter, 7th Week, Wednesday, May 27th

Acts 20:28-38 / John 17:11-19 

Jesus prays for his disciples: “As the Father sent me, so I send you.”

A legend says that when Jesus ascended into heaven, the angel Gabriel asked him if all the people on earth knew about God’s love for them. “Oh, no!” said Jesus, “just a handful of people do.” Gabriel was shocked and replied, “But, Lord, what if this handful of people let you down? What if they meet with opposition and become discouraged? Don’t you have a back-up plan, just in case?” “No,” said Jesus, “I’m simply counting on them not to let me down.”

Easter 7th Week -May 25-30

May 25, Monday: Jn 15:9-17:  As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.

Easter 7th Week, Tuesday, May 26th

Acts 20:17-27 / John 17:1-11 

Jesus prays:  Jesus looked up to heaven while he prayed.

Three preachers were discussing the best posture to use while praying. The first said, “I’ve tried them all, and kneeling is still the best posture.” The second said, “That may be true, but most Eastern mystics recommend sitting cross-legged on the floor.”

Easter 7th Week, Monday, May 25th

Acts 19:1-8 / John 16:29-33 

Jesus speaks plainly: “You will have trouble, but take courage.”

Jesus probably noticed the fear on the faces of his disciples when he told them that both they and he would have to suffer. But this did not alarm him. Jesus knew that fear is not a bad thing. In fact, it’s a good thing, if rightly accepted. 

Easter 6th Week, Saturday, May 23rd

Acts 18:23-28 / John 16:23-28 

Jesus gives final instructions: “Ask and you will receive.”

An amusing cartoon showed a tiny insect peering up at a huge insect. After staring at the huge insect for a while, the tiny insect said, “What kind of a bug are you?”

“I’m a praying mantis,” came the reply. “That’s absurd!” said the tiny insect. “Bugs don’t pray!” With that, the praying mantis grabbed the little bug around the throat and began to squeeze. The bug’s eyes began to bulge.

Easter 6th Week, Thursday, May 21st

Acts 18:1-8 / John 16:16-20 

Jesus speaks about his leaving: “In a little while and you will no longer see me” (Jn 16/16)

Someone said hindsight is always 20/20. But hindsight is what you don’t have at the time. In simple matters of fact hindsight is a simple thing: you can see within the hour that you backed the wrong horse – or within seconds that you said the wrong thing. But in deeper matters, hindsight is a slow process of realization. The Holy Spirit gives hindsight on Jesus. This is the Spirit working in us, the patient inner teacher, opening our minds slowly to the light that has long since come into the world. The Spirit guides us (hodegeo) along the way; it is Jesus who is the way (hodos) itself – indeed the truth itself (Jn 14:6).

Easter 6th Week, Wednesday, May 20th

Acts 17:15, 22 - 18:1 / John 16:12-15 

Jesus speaks more about the Spirit: “The Spirit will guide you.”

A young Hindu and a Christian seminarian were attending the same week-long seminar on the Sermon on the Mount. In the course of the week, the two young people became good friends. At one point the young Hindu confided to the seminarian that he had problems with Jesus’ sermon. He knew how much it had influenced Gandhi, and he wanted to live his life by it. But he feared it was too lofty an ethic for ordinary people to live by. Toward the end of the seminar, however, the Hindu gained new insight into his problem. The ethic was indeed lofty, but he had forgotten about Jesus’ promise. The Holy Spirit will not only teach the people the value of the ethic but also empower them to follow it.

Easter 6th Week- May 18-23

May 18 Monday (St. John I, Pope, Martyr):

 https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-john-i/ : John 15: 26–16:4 : 26 But when the Counselor comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness to me; 27 and you also are witnesses, because you have been with me from the beginning. (John 16) 1 “I have said all this to you to keep you from falling away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues; indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 And they will do this because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you of them.  “I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. http://www.usccb.org/bible/reflections/

Easter 6th Week, Monday, May 18th

Acts 16:11-15 / John 15:26 - 16:4 

Jesus instructs his disciples: “You must bear witness on my behalf.”

A witness is someone who can say, “I know what I am talking about from personal experience.” Thus, Christian witness involves two things:

(1) a burning internal conviction about Jesus and

(2) a convincing external expression of this conviction.