A few years ago Pope Francis decreed that the Monday after Pentecost would be celebrated as the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church. That’s today (5/29/23). Our first reading today comes from Genesis right after Adam and Eve commit the first sin, the original sin. It was the first sin but …
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PentecostActs 2:1-11Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34 (30)1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13John 20:19-23May 28, 2023 Our passage from Acts today begins, “When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled…” We need to realize there are two meanings to this. First, it was time for the Jewish Pentecost. The Jewish feast of Pentecost had been a harvest festival …
“After Jesus had been taken up to heaven the apostles returned to Jerusalem.” There, “they went to the upper room” (first reading for this 7th Sunday of Easter) The upper room is where they had gathered with Jesus after his Resurrection. It is a familiar place. Just before He ascended Jesus had told his disciples …
There is suffering in the world. We wish there wasn’t. We pray for an end to all suffering. We need to seek to do our part to alleviate suffering. Yet, we know the reality is that there is suffering. It might be from illness. It may be job-related. It may be as a consequence of …
5th Sunday of Easter, Year AActs 6:1-7Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19 (22)1 Peter 2:4-9John 14:1-12May 7, 2023 The first half of today’s gospel reading is probably the gospel reading most selected at funerals. It makes sense. Jesus tells us, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” The death of a loved one is a difficult time …
Our first reading today begins with Peter standing up with the Eleven. All of the Eleven were called to be Apostles. As God’s calling, this was their vocation in life. Peter is called to be the first among the Apostles. This is his vocation.. Today, the Fourth Sunday of Easter, we celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday. …
3rd Sunday of Easter, Year AActs 2:14, 22-33Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11 (11a)1 Peter 1:17-21Luke 24:13-35April 23, 2023 When Jesus was arrested, Peter denied him three times. The other disciples fled. Now, Peter stands up and proclaims Jesus. He speaks of Jesus’ mighty deeds. He speaks of Jesus as the one they had killed. …
We are all in need of God’s Divine Mercy. Following the revelation of the Divine Mercy devotion by Jesus to Sr. Faustina, Pope John Paul II declared the Second Sunday of Easter to be Divine Mercy Sunday (cf. my article “God’s Gift of Mercy”). Jesus is our Savior. Jesus reveals Divine Mercy to us as …
Easter Sunday Morning, Year AActs 10:34a, 37-43Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23 (24)Colossians 3:1-4John 20:1-9April 9, 2023 “On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark.” What did she find? The stone covering the tomb had been removed. How could this be? They …
Easter Vigil Year AGenesis 1:1-2:2Genesis 22:1-18Exodus 14:15-15:1Isaiah 55:1-11Romans 6:3-11Matthew 28:1-10April 8, 2023 What we have been celebrating in recent days is nothing short of amazing. On Thursday evening, we celebrated the Mass of the Lord’s Supper where Jesus instituted the Eucharist (and with that, the priesthood). Yesterday, we celebrated the Passion of Jesus. He was …
