Easter, 3rd Week, Monday, Apr 27

Acts 6:8-15 / John 6:22-29 

Jesus speaks about hunger: “Spiritual hunger demands spiritual food.”

There are over four billion people in the world. About a half billion of these people suffer from chronic physical hunger and malnutrition. We have heard this statistic so often that it no longer makes a great impact on us. But there is a more frightening statistic about hunger that is never mentioned. It’s the statistic that of the four billion people in the world, perhaps three billion or more are suffering from chronic spiritual hunger and malnutrition. This is the point Jesus makes in today’s gospel. That’s why he tells the people to seek not just “body” food but also “soul” food—“food that endures for eternal life.”

Largest Oxygen Source in Nature - Phytoplankton

Much of the oxygen that we breathe in comes from a tiny plant in the ocean - phytoplankton. Want to know more about it? Watch the video.

Our God, and God of all people: Covid Prayer

Our God, and God of all people:

God of the rich and God of the poor;

God of the healthy and God of the afflicted;

God of those with healthcare, and God of the uninsured;

God of the hoarder, and God of the helper;

God of those who have no God.

God of refuge, we seek your Protection - Covid Prayer

God of refuge, we seek your Protection

Protect the vulnerable from illness: Those who are old and frail, weakened by years and struggle, those who care for others, expending their energy and love; those for whom inability to work means hardship and poverty.

Psalm 23 adapted for this time of Covid

The Lord is our shepherd who guides us and so we don't lack and never will lack anything. He leads us to places of rest and care; and to drink waters of trust. He renews our strength so we do not abandon the path of solidarity because it is there, in our empathy with others where we honour his name.

Easter, 2nd Week, Saturday, Apr 25

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. What confuses the person is that during the most trying times in life only one set of footprints appears. When the person asks the Lord why he left during these most trying times, the Lord says, “I would never leave you during your times of trial and suffering. When you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”

Easter 2nd Week, Friday, Apr 24

Acts 5:34-42 / John 6:1-15 

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?”

What is the best way to keep your computer healthy?

• shut it down once a day
• put it in sleep when not in use
• Use a simple software called 360 Total Security for security, cleaning, virus, desktop organizer, etc. Less than Rs. 1000 ($13)
• When the laptop opens, it scans every document on the desktop, so don’t store documents on the desktop. Put them in a folder called “desktop”. 

With many files on desktop, laptops open slowly as it looks at every file on the desktop. Put it all in a folder…job done! Faster laptop.

SPIRITUAL COMMUNION -During Covid

Even if the church doors remain closed and I can’t participate in the Holy Mass, I will not be distressed, because the blessed Trinity dwells within me. God took residence in my heart when I got baptized into the Church, the body of Christ. Today, when my heart longs for his precious body and blood, when I miss him terribly, the Lord consoles me from within saying, “Child, don’t be sad, I am here within you. I am the infinite one. I am beyond space and time. I am still close. I can hear you; I can feel you.” Now when your heart deeply misses the holy communion, understand that you can always receive me in spiritual communion. When you desire and pray for this, I come to you the same way as I have come before in the holy communion.

Easter, 2nd Week,Thursday, Apr 23

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. Most people who eat food can’t tell you how the magic protein works. But they don’t deny that it works. The growth of the body tells them that. It’s the same way with the Christian life. Most people can’t tell you how faith works. But they don’t deny that it works. Their own transformed lives tell them that.