Tuesday of the 2nd Week of Easter
Acts 4:32-37  +  John 3:7-15
April 30, 2019

   The community of believers was of one heart and mind….   

One of the greatest tensions in the spiritual life is between individual concerns and communal needs. Given our modern secular culture, we tend to the former. Continue reading →

Monday of the 2nd Week of Easter
Acts 4:23-31  +  John 3:1-8
April 29, 2019

“Do not be amazed that I told you, ‘You must be born from above.’”

Today’s Gospel passage shows Jesus teaching Nicodemus a lesson about the Holy Spirit.  The First Reading shows the members of the early Church living this lesson. Continue reading →

Divine Mercy Sunday [C]
Acts 5:12-16  +  Revelation 1:9-11,12-13,17-19  +  John 20:19-31
April 28, 2019

   “I hold the keys to death and the netherworld.”   

On this Sunday’s solemnity of Divine Mercy, the Church calls us to rejoice that the Sacrament of Confession, and the peace flowing from it, are the “first fruits” of Jesus’ Resurrection.  In the Old Testament, the People of God—Israel—gave to Him the first fruits of their harvests, as precious and life-giving as they were.  But in the New Testament, God turns this around.  It’s God who gives to His People—the Church—the first fruits of the Resurrection from the dead of His most precious Son. Continue reading →

Saturday within the Octave of Easter
Acts 4:13-21  +  Mark 16:9-15
April 27, 2019

   I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.   

Throughout the Blessed Virgin Mary’s life, humility marked her relationship with her Lord. Humility is not a virtue that one can ever spiritually outgrow. Whatever graces God gives us, they are given for the unfolding of His plan, which often remains to us a mystery. Even as we apply these graces in our lives, we must do so with humility, as day by day, another aspect of the mystery of our vocation is shown to us. Continue reading →

Friday within the Octave of Easter
Acts 4:1-12  +  John 21:1-14
April 26, 2019

   He revealed Himself in this way.   

What does St. John the Evangelist mean when he reports to us that the disciples “dared” not ask Jesus “Who are you?” After all, the Beloved Disciple had told Peter that this was the Lord. Today’s Gospel passage suggests some unresolved ambiguity. While the miracle of catching 153 fish convinced the disciples who He was, they still needed to ask His identity. His miracle convinced them, but His appearance did not. Continue reading →

Thursday within the Octave of Easter
Acts 3:11-26  +  Luke 24:35-48
April 25, 2019

   Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.   

It is only in “the breaking of the bread” that the disciples come to know Jesus, and it is only in this that they become more than disciples. Only in the Eucharist do we share in the Sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross, and become members of Christ’s Body. This is the goal of our lives as Christians: not merely to learn about Jesus, but to enter into His life and saving mission. Continue reading →

Wednesday within the Octave of Easter
Acts 3:1-10  +  Luke 24:13-35
April 24, 2019

But they urged him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.”

Easter Monday we heard the chief priests and the elders respond to the news of the Resurrection by covering their tracks with lies.  Yesterday, we heard Mary Magdalen respond to Our Risen Lord when He called her by her name.  She cried out, “Teacher!”  Yet we are called to recognize in Christ much more than simply a teacher. Continue reading →

Tuesday within the Octave of Easter
Acts 2:36-41  +  John 20:11-18
April 23, 2019

Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand persons were added that day.

On the day of Pentecost, Peter boldly proclaims to the Jewish people:  “Let the whole house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”  The response of these Jews is pretty easy to guess.  Acts tells us that “when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and they asked Peter and the other Apostles, ‘What are we to do…?’”  You can almost imagine what they, in their fear, expect Peter to reply. Continue reading →

Monday within the Octave of Easter
Acts 2:14,22-33  +  Matthew 28:8-15
April 22, 2019

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed….

During most of the liturgical year, the First Reading at Holy Mass comes from the Old Testament.  But Easter is different.  During Easter, we hear first from Acts of the Apostles.  Why is this?  There are plenty of apostolic letters that could be proclaimed:  Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, 1 John, Jude, and so on.  These New Testament epistles preach about the Resurrection.  So why do we hear, each and every day of the Easter Season, from Acts of the Apostles? Continue reading →