The Catholic Calendar for Monday, May 31, 2004

Feast of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary

Scripture from Monday’s Liturgy of the Word:
Zephaniah 3:14-18
Isaiah 12:2-6
Luke 1:39-56

A reflection on today’s Sacred Scripture:

We learn from scripture that Mary, while pregnant with Jesus, travelled a long distance to visit her aged cousin Elizabeth who was now pregnant with baby John, later known as “The Baptist.” At this meeting the Holy Spirit filled Elizabeth with such joy that she sang forth:

Blessed are you Mary, among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
But who am I that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

And Mary responded with her now-famous Magnificat:

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my savior,
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant....

This miracle of God’s grace reminds us of the marvelous action of the Holy Spirit at work both then and now. We should know too, that Satan has been given free reign to test humanity to the limit of it’s endurance. So-called “Choice” (for abortion) used to be considered politically correct. But now, real choice--choosing life--is what today’s young people clearly know to be the honest and loving decision before the Lord.

Mary’s visit to her aged kinswoman was a sign of her respect for Elizabeth, one who had been so obedient to the Lord. Both of these women, so blessed by God with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, are examples for us and signs of the Holy Spirit’s powerful presence in the world--to prepare and enliven all who seek to love God for eternity.

Don’t you just want to shout ‘Amen!’?

- Joachim

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The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, May 30, 2004

Pentecost Sunday

Scripture from Sunday’s Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 2:1-11
Psalm 104:1,24,29-31,34
1 Corinthians 12:3-7,12-13
John 20:19-23

A reflection on today’s Sacred Scripture:

Today is the wonderful Feast of Pentecost, the pouring out of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and the Church. The impact of this marvelous event can best be appreciated by the contrast of the effects of the Spirit vs the effects of human willfulness and sin. Perhaps there are no greater contrasts in life except between absolute good and absolute evil and yet it is in each that we see the fruits they engender.

In today’s First Reading we hear about the ancient story of the Tower of Babel and how human pride caused the destruction of human potential. Such sadness - a state of affairs that never should have happened! Yet when all seems lost and without any remedy, God sends to us His promised Holy Spirit to repair all that was lost by sin.

Think of it, all that is wrong has a remedy in God and through the outpouring of His Spirit made known to us in the person of Jesus. All shall really be well again when we allow that same Holy Spirit to regenerate us, mend all that is damaged and injured by sin.

All we need do is open the locked doors of our hearts that God might come in and begin anew in us. Cry out to the Lord, cry out constantly and fervently. Come Holy Spirit, come and enkindle in us the fire of Your Love. Send forth Your Spirit and renew the face of the earth! He will come, He has promised!

- Donna Raye Nelson, ocds
(drn3rd at hotmail dot com)

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©1986-2004 The Way, The Truth, The Life

The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, May 29, 2004
Saturday of the Seventh Week of Easter

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 28:16-20
Psalm 11:4-5,7
John 21:21-25

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

“The disciple whom Jesus loved...” (see John 21:20)

This image of the tender intimacy extended by Jesus with the soul who desires Him completely and seeks Him in all is awe inspiring, full of beauty and grace. John gifts each of us as he tenderly recalls the most awesome realizations. I am beloved by my Jesus. I find rest on the heart of my Lord. Contemplating this love gives pause to the soul that grows in understanding just how truly beloved each soul is to Jesus.

The evangelist John portrays himself with these wondrous and awesome descriptors of the relationship between himself and our Lord Jesus. It is this recalling in his own mind that moves him and each of us who embrace The Word. We identify who we are in the Lord’s eyes when, like John, we experience the intimate love of Jesus throughout the course of each day. The immeasurable awe we feel when we realize how intimately involved He is, how beloved we are to Him, compels us to reflect upon and present that semblance to others. We too describe ourselves with how His love is manifest to us. As we begin to speak the innumerable ways He loves us, we draw the same conclusion as the beloved John: “...if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written.” (John 21:25)

Be loved. Be Love to others.

This is the good news.
We are so very loved.
May we be veritable Love to others.

Amen

- Mary Williams
(wlmsconsul at pdq dot net)

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The Catholic Calendar for Friday, May 28, 2004
Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter

Scripture from Friday’s Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 25:13-21
Psalm 103:1-2,11-12,19-20
John 21:15-19

A reflection on today’s Sacred Scripture:

The first reading today narrates the intense determination of the Jewish leaders to either assassinate Paul themselves or have the Roman authorities put him to death. Because of Paul’s status as a Roman citizen, and the puzzlement of the Romans as to what exactly Paul has done to deserve death, the imprisonment goes on two years in Caesarea and then for some time in Rome. Jesus had foretold all this: that his followers would be brought before kings and governors!

Love is the reason! The Gospel shows how intensely Peter and John really love Jesus. And the question we must ask ourselves is: who are the lambs and the sheep in my life that I feed? They’re right in front of us, the ones that inconvenience us for a little of our time and attention, the ones crying out for a word of hope that we can bring. And time; Jesus Himself begs us for more time talking and listening to Him rather than letting the mesmerizing attraction of the media absorb our lives.

How our Lord longs to hear us say, “Jesus, I’m really crazy about you. I can’t get enough of you. Here is my heart. Take it--it’s completely yours!”

- Msgr. Paul E. Whitmore
(smartins at twcny dot rr dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, May 27, 2004
Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter
St. Agustine of Canterbury, bishop

Scripture from Wednesday’s Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 22:30; 23:6-11
Psalm 16:1-2,5,7-11
John 17:20-26

A reflection on today’s Sacred Scripture:

I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in me through their word. . .

Jesus wasn’t praying in time when He spoke these words. He was praying in the throneroom of the Almighty. The Apostles were charged with the grace of being able to overhear this intimate conversation between Father and Son, but they didn’t really know what it meant.

We do. We have seen the sending of the Holy Spirit; we have the advantages of 2,000 years of study and interpretation. Jesus was praying for our unity with one another. “May they be one as I am one with the Father.”

St. Thomas Aquinas taught an extremely important truth about God. God is simple. That is, God has one nature that does not and cannot contradict itself. More importantly, something that is simple cannot abide the presence of what is not. The simple does not like the dual-spirited. Remember when Jesus said, “You cannot serve two masters because you will love one and hate the other?” This is dual-spirited. God is only love. Not love and vengeance, not love and anything. Simply and wholly love; Father, Son, and Spirit, are one nature of Divine Love.

We are to live that divine nature. We are to become simple, single spirited, single focused. We are not to quibble and fight over things that do not really matter. But we must uphold the essential truths of the faith in the face of the world, and we must do so as one voice, one people, one nature, one Body of Christ serving the world.

And to do this we must start by loving God as He loves Himself and as He loves us. This is the only way to have one nature. This is the only way to become simple, and it is the only way to truly serve His people in earthly exile. Love God with all that you are and all that you have. Everything else follows from that. Love God.

- JuandelaCruz
(sriddle415 at yahoo dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, May 26, 2004
Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter
St. Philip Neri, priest

Scripture from Wednesday’s Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 20:28-38
Psalm 68:29-30,33-36
John 17:11-19

A reflection on today’s Sacred Scripture:

How very powerful is the Word of Scripture! It is all useful for teaching, for direction, for admonishing (ourselves, first of all!), and for consolation and strengthening of our spirit. We find the presence of God as we read, and the piercing of our hearts and minds if we are listening.

It is the Holy Scripture that is truly the soul’s armour against the criticism which is bound to come to the faithful follower of Christ. His Passion becomes our passion, and vice versa. God is constantly testing the true follower of Jesus. That criticism which hurts and causes us to bleed, is also the occasion for us to humbly accept it, to reflect on it, and to grow from it.

Avoiding problems is unhealthy; facing them causes us to discover how the strength of Jesus doubles the power and efficacy of our own gifts. Alone we can do little or nothing, but with Jesus, all things are possible.

Let us live in the hope and the joy of the Resurrection, as the power of Pentecost permeates and transforms our souls for the witnessing of the Gospel.

- Msgr. Paul E. Whitmore
(smartins at twcny dot rr dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, May 25, 2004
Tuesday of the Seventh Week of Easter

Scripture from Tuesday's Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 20:17-27
Psalm 68:10-11,20-21
John 17:1-11

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Now this is eternal life,
that they should know you, the only true God,
and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ. (John 17:3)

What is it to know God or to know Jesus Christ? It can be quite easy to follow a routine prayer life and live a somewhat orderly existence and still not know Jesus. Knowledge of another in any relationship demands intimacy, a baring of oneself, warts and all. We cannot know Jesus unless we foster an intimate relationship with Him--baring our souls to Him, exposing our darkness to be healed in His presence.

Knowing Jesus demands putting a searchlight on ourselves, recognising our vulnerability and ineptitude in most of the things we hope and want to achieve in this life. Jesus tells us in the Gospel that no servant is above its master--so knowing Jesus also means suffering the same inequities and wounds that Jesus Himself suffered in the name of love. And why would we want to know Jesus? Because he is the home of our souls--the source of love, peace, joy and eternity. In him we find eternal rest.

- Cliodhna Doyle
(clia at cliadoyle dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Monday, May 24, 2004
Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter

Scripture from Monday’s Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 19:1-8
Psalm 68:2-7
John 16:29-33

A reflection on today’s Sacred Scripture:

“Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived when each of you will be
scattered to his own home and you will leave me alone.” - John 16:32

Isn’t it amazing how Jesus could see right through His disciples? They just think they have it all figured out when Jesus sees what is really in their hearts and points out to them that upon His arrest they’ll flee and deny Him, leaving Him totally alone.

And so it happened that when the real test came they indeed fled. The Lord faced the ordeal entirely alone. But did He?

“But I am not alone, because the Father is with me.” (John 16:32)

Jesus trusted completely in the Father and accepted His will in it all. This is a great lesson for us, too, that we accept the will of God in all things. This may mean facing some hardships, making some sacrifices, enduring some persecution. Some of us may even face death for our faith. But we are also not alone, just as Jesus was not alone on His way to the cross.

Praise be to Almighty God, who never abandoned us!

- Don Claunch, sfo

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The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, May 23, 2004
Seventh Sunday of Easter

Scripture from Sunday’s Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 7:55-60
Psalm 97:1-2,6-7,9
Revelation 22:12-14,16-17,20
John 17:20-26

A reflection on today’s Sacred Scripture:

Today’s Gospel is an exquisite discourse by Jesus as He speaks eloquently of how much He and God love us.

Certainly Christ’s dramatic death on the Cross showed the depth of His and the Father’s love, but today’s gospel puts it into words. In it, we’re told that God loves us as he loves Jesus (can you imagine?) and all that the Father has given to Jesus, He also gives to us.

The concept of that amount and kind of love is beyond our understanding, inconceivable.

To think that God loves us (me) as much as He loves Jesus is incomprehensible. After all, Jesus is pure and sinless and has never caused the Father a moment of disappointment or grief. I on the other hand, so often fail to do the smallest things that would give Him a little joy.

In light of God’s immense love and our relative lack of in-kind response to such love, what shall we do? The devil would like us to be discouraged and give up trying altogether. Let us not submit to despair, but resolve to make frequent acts of love that they may become ever more a habit of our existence. Breath by breath, heartbeat by heartbeat may we learn to say, “I love you Jesus, thank you Father.”

- Donna Raye Nelson, ocds
(drn3rd at hotmail dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, May 22, 2004
Saturday of the Sixth Week of Easter
St. Rita of Cascia, religious

Scripture from today’s Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 18:23-28
Psalm 47:2-3,8-10
John 16:23-28

A reflection on today’s Sacred Scripture:

“The Father Himself Loves You” (John 16:27)

The gift of God’s love completes our joy, as Jesus so lovingly expresses: “Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.” (John 16:24) The love between the Father and the Son is the love we become--as sharers--when we love Jesus, believing that He came from God. “The Father Himself loves you, because you have loved me and have come to believe that I came from God.” (John 16:27) Our simple love in return for the love given so freely to us, unites us in communion with God. This is our perfect joy.

Jesus explains that we may communicate with the Father in His name. We’re assured that whatever we ask the Father in the name of Jesus, we will receive, so that our joy may be complete. This direct communication is the gift Jesus makes possible for us. We’re united with the Father through our love for, and belief in, Jesus. Our union in Christ with the Father completes our joy.

- Mary Williams
(wlmsconsul at pdq dot net)

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The Catholic Calendar for Friday, May 21, 2004
Friday of the Sixth Week of Easter
St. Christopher Magallanes, priest, and martyr companions

Scripture from Friday’s Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 18:9-18
Psalm 47:2-7
John 16:20-23

A reflection on today’s Sacred Scripture:

In the Acts of the Apostles, we’ve been hearing the exciting adventure story of the growth of the Church. The bravery of Paul and Barnabas is quite remarkable. When they enter a town, they are never sure how they will be treated. Public acceptance is fickle. One crowd will accept them with joy; later, that same crowd will beat or stone them. They risk their lives constantly for the sake of the Good News. The early bishops, priests and deacons are truly heroes.

But so, too, are the unsung men and women who evangelize from the workplace, like Lydia. She dealt in expensive purple goods, yet took time from her business to house Paul, and to give considerable financial help to the early church. Then, there are Priscilla and Aquila, tent makers like St. Paul. They were an active part of the ministry, as was Lydia and many others.

Today, we need to hold up these laypersons as models for today’s Church. With far fewer priests than we have been accustomed to, many like them will hold the Church together, providing continuity, instruction, service, and financial help.

Will someone someday refer to me as a modern-day Lydia or an Aquila?

O Holy Spirit,
keep the Church vigorous and alive,
a sign and a witness
to Divine Presence and Power in our world!
Amen

- Msgr. Paul E. Whitmore
(smartins at twcny dot rr dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, May 20, 2004
Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord
(Holy Day of Obligation - check local regulations)

Scripture from Wednesday’s Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 1:1-11
Psalm 47:2-3,6-9
Ephesians 1:17-23
John 15:9-11

A reflection on today’s Sacred Scripture:

“Behold, I am sending the promise of my father upon you. . .”

This day the Lord ascended into Heaven to take his due and proper seat at the right hand of the Father. There ever to love the Father and through their mutual love in some mysterious way to send forth the Holy Spirit upon the entire world.

God blesses us through the obedience of His son, and gives us great merit by our own obedience. Just as the apostles were told to wait in the Holy City until “you are clothed with power on high.” What joy after such sorrow. What sorrow after such joy! Once again to be parted from their friend, their Lord, their savior.

But this time they trusted. This time they knew and understood the importance of obedience and hope. They loved Jesus and so part of their heart ached with an ache beyond telling and yet they were filled with great joy. In this moment they are the examples for all of us in times of sorrow.

And they went on, through the power of the Holy Spirit to found a church rooted in love, in faith, and in the hope that came to them through the resurrection. Jesus Christ taught them the meaning of hope. The Father and the Son taught the meaning of love through the descent of the Holy Spirit.

That same Holy Spirit is with us today. We await the day of Pentecost to celebrate that anniversary, but since that time, the world has been filled with the Holy Spirit and each person has had personal access to Him, as He dwells within.

All from one simple act of obedience. All from the wellsprings of love. Thank you Father for the obedience of a loving Son that has so blessed us with the Holy Spirit.

- JuandelaCruz
(sriddle415 at yahoo dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, May 19, 2004
Wednesday of the Sixth Week of Easter

Scripture from Wednesday’s Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 17:15,22--18:1
Psalm 148:1-2,11-14
John 16:12-15

A reflection on today’s Sacred Scripture:

When he comes, being the Spirit of truth
he will guide you to all truth. (John 16:13)

Today’s readings illustrate a frequent problem faced by those proclaiming God’s Word. St. Paul tells us,”we live and move and have our being” in Him, our God; but despite His nearness, relatively few are willing to suspend their disbelief and receive Him in faith. In Athens when Paul spoke of Christ he encountered many who relied entirely on either tangible evidence or what they could rationally accept about the Son of God; when they heard of His resurrection from the dead, these walked away. Had they been sensitive to the presence of the Holy Spirit, they would have listened with their hearts, realized that Christ’s rising was a promise of new life for them and the world.

Our Gospel emphasizes to Christ’s disciples the Holy Spirit’s importance to their proclaiming His good news. His departure would not leave them alone nor helpless; for He would send them His Spirit, God’s loving power enabling them to understand and faithfully communicate our Lord’s teachings. Only God, working in and through people, can draw humanity to Himself. Too often, eloquent sermons draw attention to the speaker, not to God’s living Word; they tell us what we want to hear, not challenge us to change. True conversion requires two things: God’s Word made known in the loving power of His Spirit and Christ being welcomed into receptive human hearts.

Loving and giving God,
gentle our hearts and enlighten our minds,
that we may discern Your loving truth
and fully accept the conditions
that lead us to salvation.
Amen

- Marie Bocko, ocds
(mlbocko at borg dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, May 18, 2004
Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter
St. John I, pope, martyr

Scripture from Tuesday's Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 22-34
Psalm 138:1-2ab,2cde,3,7c-8
John 16:5-11

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

There are many times in our lives when we stop and wonder why we’re in the situation or place that we find ourselves. Some of these times we wish we could be elsewhere and our situation other than what it is. Both the first reading and gospel of today remind us of that reality.

In the first reading, Paul and Silas are in prison being harmed and an earthquake occurs; however, they don’t go free despite great damage to the prison. As we learn the entire experience leads to the conversion of one of the jailers.

In the gospel, John describes Christ’s awareness of the apostles’ grief over the realization that He wouldn’t be remaining with them much longer. Christ shared that He needed to leave, to ascend to the Father, so that the Advocate could come to all of us.

In both readings, those involved must have had some mixed feelings; yet, in doing what they thought best, they were able to help others. The readings serve as a reminder that where we are in life on a day-to-day basis, has a purpose. By our being aware of that reality we can try to avoid missed spiritual opportunities for ourselves and others.

- Joan of Jesus, ocds
(jmurphy at utica dot edu)

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The Catholic Calendar for Monday, May 17, 2004
Monday of the Sixth Week of Easter

Scripture from Monday’s Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 16:11-15
Psalm 149:1-6,9
John 15:26--16:4

A reflection on today’s Sacred Scripture:

In today’s gospel reading, we hear the Lord telling us about the coming persecution. He tells us that things will get so bad that we may be killed by those who think they are worshipping God doing so. Pretty graphic tale, isn’t it?

In this reading the Lord was addressing the Apostles and telling them of the coming of the Holy Spirit who would minister to them. But this is one of those teachings that applies to Christians of all ages. Since the beginning of the church there have been martyrs. We have them to this day as lay and religious both are murdered simply because they follow The Way.

Here in North America we may not have many martyrs. But that day may yet come as the church comes under more and more persecution by those who claim that good is evil and evil is good. But no matter what the persecution we suffer, we can rest in peace knowing that His Spirit is with us, ministering to us constantly.

- Don Claunch, SFO

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The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, May 16, 2004
Sixth Sunday of Easter

Scripture from Sunday’s Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 15:1-2,22-29
Psalm 67:2-3,5-6,8
Revelation 21:10-14,22-23
John 14:23-29

A reflection on today’s Sacred Scripture:

In today’s First Reading we get a glimpse of our newly born Church and learn that right from the beginning there were matters of controversy and dissension that had to be addressed.

It’s somewhat reassuring to recognize that bumps in the road (or so it seems) are not an aberration of our times, but sometimes a sign of growth - a time to rely not on human wisdom, but the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Poured out on the apostles and preserved for us in our own age, this same Holy Spirit enlivens and guides the present Church as we honor the apostolic authority bequeathed to her until the end of all time.

How important it is for us to trust that the Holy Spirit will preserve our beloved Church even when all odds seem against her. Let us then place all our concerns and willing obedience into hands larger and more capable than ours by clasping our own in prayer.

- Donna Raye Nelson, ocds
(drn3rd at hotmail dot com)

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©1986-2004 The Way, The Truth, The Life

The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, May 15, 2004
Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter
St. Isidore

Scripture from today’s Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 16:1-10
Psalm 100:1-3,5
John 15:18-21

A reflection on today’s Sacred Scripture:

Obeying The Spirit of Jesus

The Church grew stronger in faith and increased in number as Paul and Timothy traveled from city to city sharing decisions from the apostles and presbyters in Jerusalem. Paul and Timothy demonstrated their careful obedience and faithful proclamation of the authority and teachings of Lord. The result of their faithful sharing was the growth of the Church.

Paul and Timothy considered many places to reach out to bring souls the Good News but the Spirit of Jesus wouldn’t allow them. Instead, they obeyed the prompting to travel immediately to Macedonia.

Like Paul and Timothy, we listen to the Magisterium and faithfully propagate the Good News, the traditions and teachings to those whom we’re called to evangelize. This is one of the ways God’s Church grows. Also, we listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit to discern where He leads us to proclaim the Good News.

We can be certain those souls that He leads to us--our spouses, children, extended family and neighbors--are designated to us from the Lord. Additionally, other souls who come into our lives daily are another instance of His “travel at once” kind of prompting. May we be obedient and faithful to the Spirit of Jesus so that He may grow His Church. Amen!

- Mary Williams
(wlmsconsul at pdq dot net)

The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, May 15, 2004
Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter
St. Isidore

Scripture from today’s Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 16:1-10
Psalm 100:1-3,5
John 15:18-21

A reflection on today’s Sacred Scripture:

Obeying The Spirit of Jesus

The Church grew stronger in faith and increased in number as Paul and Timothy traveled from city to city sharing decisions from the apostles and presbyters in Jerusalem. Paul and Timothy demonstrated their careful obedience and faithful proclamation of the authority and teachings of Lord. The result of their faithful sharing was the growth of the Church.

Paul and Timothy considered many places to reach out to bring souls the Good News but the Spirit of Jesus wouldn’t allow them. Instead, they obeyed the prompting to travel immediately to Macedonia.

Like Paul and Timothy, we listen to the Magisterium and faithfully propagate the Good News, the traditions and teachings to those whom we’re called to evangelize. This is one of the ways God’s Church grows. Also, we listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit to discern where He leads us to proclaim the Good News.

We can be certain those souls that He leads to us--our spouses, children, extended family and neighbors--are designated to us from the Lord. Additionally, other souls who come into our lives daily are another instance of His “travel at once” kind of prompting. May we be obedient and faithful to the Spirit of Jesus so that He may grow His Church. Amen!

- Mary Williams
(wlmsconsul at pdq dot net)

The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, May 15, 2004
Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter
St. Isidore

Scripture from today’s Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 16:1-10
Psalm 100:1-3,5
John 15:18-21

A reflection on today’s Sacred Scripture:

Obeying The Spirit of Jesus

The Church grew stronger in faith and increased in number as Paul and Timothy traveled from city to city sharing decisions from the apostles and presbyters in Jerusalem. Paul and Timothy demonstrated their careful obedience and faithful proclamation of the authority and teachings of Lord. The result of their faithful sharing was the growth of the Church.

Paul and Timothy considered many places to reach out to bring souls the Good News but the Spirit of Jesus wouldn’t allow them. Instead, they obeyed the prompting to travel immediately to Macedonia.

Like Paul and Timothy, we listen to the Magisterium and faithfully propagate the Good News, the traditions and teachings to those whom we’re called to evangelize. This is one of the ways God’s Church grows. Also, we listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit to discern where He leads us to proclaim the Good News.

We can be certain those souls that He leads to us--our spouses, children, extended family and neighbors--are designated to us from the Lord. Additionally, other souls who come into our lives daily are another instance of His “travel at once” kind of prompting. May we be obedient and faithful to the Spirit of Jesus so that He may grow His Church. Amen!

- Mary Williams
(wlmsconsul at pdq dot net)

The Catholic Calendar for Friday, May 14, 2004
Friday of the Fifth Week of Easter
St. Matthias, apostle

Scripture from Friday’s Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 1:15-17,20-26
Psalm 113:1-8
John 15:9-17

A reflection on today’s Sacred Scripture:

It was necessary for the early Church to fill the place in the Apostolic College left vacant by the death of Judas. But we might think it strange that they chose to elect Matthias “by lot” instead of through a process of discussion, discernment, and then through a vote of the entire assembly--or at least, by a vote of the Eleven. Instead, they left it entirely to the Holy Spirit. Perhaps they remembered that Jesus had said to them that they had not chosen Him, but that He had chosen them. By the same process, Matthias was chosen by the sole vote of the Holy Spirit, after much prayer and penance on the part of the Apostles.

Do I reflect often enough on the truth that God Himself called me to discipleship? Whether to the ordained ministry as priest or deacon, or whether to the wider call of the priesthood of the laity, I have been chosen by the Spirit of God to holiness, to spreading the Kingdom of God through prayer and example, and to further the work of the Kingdom of Justice, Truth, and Mercy.

When I sometimes doubt my worth, or my accomplishments, or my talents, let me turn my thoughts to this great truth. Whatever my past history of achievement as a follower of Jesus, I leave that to the judgment of my Lord. Whatever my future story shall be, I leave it to the quality of my love, my dedication, and the grace of God.

Loving Lord Jesus,
with grateful heart, I accept your Call,
and promise to be faithful until death
in carrying out the mission you have entrusted to me.
Amen.

- Msgr. Paul E. Whitmore
(smartins at twcny dot rr dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, May 13, 2004
Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter
Our Lady of Fatima

Scripture from Thursday’s Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 15:7-21
Psalm 96:1-3,10
John 15:9-11

A reflection on today’s Sacred Scripture:

“Remain in my love. . .”

This, in four words, is the goal of Christian life. To remain always, at every moment and in every way in the love of Jesus Christ. We go through all sorts of difficulties and maneuvers to figure out precisely how to do this, but He tells us.

If you love me, you will keep my commands. Very simple, very direct, but oh so hard to actually do. The human spirit is wayward. Too often, what I want to do is not what Christ would have me do. I fail through my own fault and weakness.

But here’s a secret--as I strive to remain in Him, He strengthens me to do so. The longer I will to remain, the more His grace strengthens me. There will be trials, temptations, and tests. But if my heart is firmly centered in Him and I want Him above all other things, He will see to it that I have everything necessary. In other words, staying in Him inclines my soul and my will to remaining in Him. The more I practice it, the more it becomes the fundamental principle of my life.

If I love Him, He surely will not abandon me. So if I heed His commands, He will draw me to Him and we will talk as friends. As I talk to Him, I will learn how to remain in Him.

Talk to Him. Tell Him you want to do as He asks. Open your heart to the possibility, and He will make it reality.

- JuandelaCruz
(sriddle415 at yahoo dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter
Sts. Nereus and Achilleus, martyrs
St. Pancras, martyr

Scripture from Wednesday’s Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 15:1-4
Psalm 122:1-5
John 15:1-8

A reflection on today’s Sacred Scripture:

“He who lives in me and I in him will produce abundantly.” (John 15:5)

Today’s readings touch opposite ends of the religious spectrum. In the Acts of the Apostles, we see the danger of clinging to traditions that may become an impediment to the development of a deeper, universal faith. Circumcision was required of Jewish males, setting their race apart from others, an outward sign of being consecrated to God and in the service of making Him known to the world.

With the coming of Christ this sign was rendered unnecessary; for the outward, fleshly circumcision was now replaced by the inward, spiritual circumcision of believers’ hearts through the work of the Holy Spirit in them. We receive a constant inflow of Christ’s Spirit, the very life of God, if we abide in Him in the same way as a branch abides in a vine to remain alive. This is the essence of our Gospel reading; that the branches remaining firmly attached to Christ, the true Vine, will bring forth a plentiful harvest of fruit, God’s loving goodness, generosity and truth.

In keeping with last Wednesday’s theme, Christ asserts that barren branches will be cut off and burned. Those who truly abide in Christ are required to produce and provide spiritual food for the life of the world.

God of all good,
may the fruit we bear as a result of Your life within us
serve to stimulate the world’s hunger for You.
Amen.

- Marie Bocko, ocds
(mlbocko at borg dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, May 11, 2004
Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter

Scripture from Tuesday’s Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 14:19-28
Psalm 145:10-13,21
John 14:27-31

A reflection on today’s Sacred Scripture:

“Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid”

Recently, I have seen a lot of people become upset and afraid over “End Times” discussions. Some people actually become obsessed, completely losing perspective, and focus of their faith. People become consumed with thoughts of tribulations and speculation on when this or that sign, warning, or miracle will appear or take place. Some stockpile food, etc.

It is important that we take Jesus’ advice and concentrate on our relationship with God. We must not let ourselves become distracted in our quest to grow closer to God each day, and work to fulfill His Divine Will. That is, in essence, the key to our salvation, and everlasting life. When we follow Christ with all our hearts, we have nothing to fear.

As we see all that goes on in the world around us, let’s be strong in our faith and trust in God. For no matter what happens, we can always count on Jesus to take care of us and protect us.

- Steve Shawl

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The Catholic Calendar for Monday, May 10, 2004
Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter
Blessed Damian Joseph of Moloka'i

Scripture from Monday's Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 14:5-18
Psalm 115:1-4,15-16
John 14:21-26

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

During this Easter time we have the opportunity to see how the disciples must have felt in the days following our Lord’s crucifixion. For a period of two years, or so, they followed Him everywhere, were taught by Him and probably received most everything they had through Him. Suddenly, He was gone - crucified and put in a tomb. Then, when they went to minister to the body even it was gone! To say they were afraid is probably a great understatement.

Jesus knew this would happen and He attempted to prepare them as we hear in today’s gospel: “The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name--he will teach you everything and remind you of all that (I) told you.” So it was, that on the day of Pentecost this promise was fulfilled at the outpouring of the Holy Spirit which ministered to the faithful and nursed the infant church to maturity.

We too, can relate to the fear the disciples had when we feel alone, abandoned and without hope. But we do not have to await Pentecost for help. The Holy Spirit is with us always. Jesus paid the price for us, opening up a direct connection with the Father, and as a gift He gave us His Holy Spirit so we shall never be alone.

Alleluia!

- Don Claunch, sfo

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The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, May 9, 2004
Fifth Sunday of Easter

Scripture from Sunday’s Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 14:21-27
Psalm 145:8-13
Revelation 21:1-5
John 13:31-33,34-35

A reflection on today’s Sacred Scripture:

“Such as my love has been for you,
so must your love be for each other.”

With these words Jesus tells His apostles the way--the only and most excellent way--to love. Having been with Him for three years they witnessed how He loved them; though it wouldn’t be until after the coming of the Holy Spirit that they would comprehend with greater fulness the depth and breadth of the love of Christ.

Like them, we have been witnesses to God’s love through His Son’s example and the direct and powerful goodness manifested in the love that others have born for us and in the opportunities He has given to us to be Love for one another.

Let us not waste the chances that God gives us to love as He has loved. It means doing little things joyfully, carefully with the intent on being just as Jesus would be.

Loving as Jesus, or doing as Jesus, is not a trite little contemporary phrase or one that is meant to be tossed about lightly, but a thought-provoking challenge to imitate Jesus who we love and who first and forever has loved us.

“I give you a new commandment,” Jesus said, “love others as I have loved you.”

- Donna Raye Nelson, ocds
(drn3rd at hotmail dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, May 8, 2004
Saturday of the Fourth Week of Easter

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 13:26-33
Psalm 2:6-11
John 14:1-6

A reflection on today’s Sacred Scripture:

Empty is so Fulfilling

Jesus explains to the disciples (and to us) in today’s Gospel that what we experience, see and know of Him, Jesus, is also the Father--present and speaking through Jesus, the Son.

He personifies emptying of self to be filled with “the One greater than ourselves.” This is our filial joy and inheritance as members of the body of Christ. It is also what we return, compounded as trustees of His estate. Our treasure, our wealth is His love. When the coffers of self-love are emptied, the true presence of perfect treasure--our Father’s love--can be received. We share this love generously with other souls, just as Jesus did. What others come to experience, see and know of us is the Father present in us through the Son.

The entire example of Jesus’ life consists of His passionate love for and union with the Father and His ceaseless desire to do the will of His Father. He shows us the way to the Father through Him is unending prayer, fasting from self-will and audacious service -- even to death. Jesus said that whoever believes in Him, will do the works He does and in fact, will do greater ones than these to the honor and glory of the Father. Jesus is going to the Father. We pray in His name and are confident our prayers will be granted to the glory of the Father through Him.

- Mary Williams
(wlmsconsul at pdq dot net)

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The Catholic Calendar for Friday, May 7, 2004
Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter

Scripture from Friday’s Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 13:26-33
Psalm 2:6-11
John 14:1-6

A reflection on today’s Sacred Scripture:

The Scripture readings after Easter reveal the explosive nature of the Christian religion. For centuries, Judaism had been an exclusive Covenant between God and Abraham, God and David, and God and His people. The risen Jesus challenged his Apostles to preach a revolutionary message, then empowered them to action. As a result, these weak and shaky followers were transformed into bold and courageous messengers of the Word. Having been shocked themselves into belief, they in turn shock and challenge their Jewish brothers and sisters to alter their convictions to include Jesus in the line of prophets, and, even more, to profess Him to be their Lord and Savior, equal to God, the Son of God.

Although most of us are “born” into belief, we must still, after many years in the Faith, act as newborns, always eager to adapt our thought concerning our world picture, expand our hearts to include more and more brothers and sisters, and speed up our activity in applying our new vision with ever-more fervent hearts.

Jesus never said it would be easy to be His follower. He said exactly the opposite. Are we willing to do it with alacrity, enthusiasm and joy? Let us pray for that grace today.

- Msgr. Paul E. Whitmore
(smartins at twcny dot rr dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, May 6, 2004
Thursday of the Fourth Week of Easter

Scripture from Wednesday’s Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 13:13-25
Psalm 89:2-3,21-22,25,27
John 13:16-20

A reflection on today’s Sacred Scripture:

“I know those whom I have chosen. . . “

Jesus knows each of us by name. He is present to us and He loves us. He tells us “No slave is greater than His master.” In so doing He tells us directly two things, one about Himself and one about Us.

The first thing He tells us is that He is not greater than the Father who sent Him. In these terms He is equal to the father and still the servant of All. He is at once slave and master, servant and the one served. In His earthly role He was fully God and fully man, and while it lay in his power to come to a different end, He did not choose to override His Father’s will to obtain His own end.

The second thing He tells us is that we cannot be greater than He is. Whether I wear a crown or lead a nation, even were I to sit at the very apex of His Church as His own Vicar, I am not His equal nor even close to His equal.

Now, why would He think that this needed to be said? Too often, I know that I attribute sometimes accidentally, sometimes with purpose, those things that He has accomplished through me, to myself. I think my prayers have done thus and so. I think that I have served in the soup kitchens and have helped the poor. The reality is, that were He not within me moving me every step of the way, I would have done nothing. Of myself, I am nothing and He is my All. I can write the greatest poems, sing the most wonderful songs, compose the greatest music, paint and sculpt the greatest canvases, liberate the entire world from poverty and hunger, and still, I am a frail thin shadow. What I have, comes from Him alone.

And so He speaks to me, “I know those whom I have chosen.”
And my humble prayer is, “Lord, let me be among them.”

- JuandelaCruz
(sriddle415 at yahoo dot com)

The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, May 5, 2004
Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Easter

Scripture from Wednesday's Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 12:24--13:5
Psalm 67:2-3,5-6,8
John 12:44-50

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

“Whoever does not accept my words...
it is that which will condemn him. . .” (John 12:48)

Today’s Gospel shows that there are two distinct sides to salvation--God’s and ours. On one hand the Father has given us His Living Word, Christ, who came into the world to be our light, to reveal God’s truths to all humanity. On the other hand, to make salvation ours, we must accept God’s Word and live in the light of His truth with the same self-giving love Christ showed for us by dying on the cross to expiate our sin.

Some insist they are “saved,” but haven’t any notion that Christ’s death on the cross is to be a life-changing event for them. Jesus died to restore us to friendship with God, but to remain in His friendship we must also assume Christ’s cross, actually make those sacrifices needed to live in His Word. It would be hypocrisy for us to count ourselves “saved” while continuing to live in sin, conducting our lives in the same way as we did before our encounter with Christ.

Christ tells us He did not come to condemn us; we condemn ourselves if we refuse to be spiritually, morally transformed in the very image of Christ by allowing the Holy Spirit to mold us in the likeness of our heavenly Father’s One Son. Only those will be welcomed into God’s eternal kingdom whose souls bear within them Christ’s image.

Redeemer God,
imbue us with a repentant spirit
and the desire to reform our lives
in keeping with Your loving will.
Amen.

- Marie Bocko, ocds
(mlbocko at borg dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, May 4, 2004
Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Easter

Scripture from Tuesday's Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 11:19-26
Psalm 87:1b-3,4-5,6-7
John 10:22-30

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

We’re still celebrating Easter! The reference is to the fourth week “of” Easter, not the fourth “after” Easter. It’s a time when we think of the paschal lamb as symbolic. The gospel of the day pulls up the imagery of Christ as the “Good Shepherd” in that Christ states that “My sheep know my voice”. It’s a question that we can ask of ourselves. Do we recognize the voice of Christ in our lives? If Christ had first appeared to any one of us in the garden after His rising, would we have recognized His voice as He called us by name?

One might ask the reasonable question: “How does one hear the voice of Christ?” The answer is a simple one, maybe too simple for some people, just “be still” and “listen.” Christ is always waiting for us to knock on the door of His Heart. Until we get used to His voice we need the stillness. In time you will hear Him in the midst of a noisy storm, but not at first. Christ first appeared in the innocent stillness of an early morning. That is how we will first find Him in our soul.

Enjoy!
Alleluia!

- Joan of Jesus, ocds
(jmurphy at utica dot edu)

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The Catholic Calendar for Monday, May 3, 2004
Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter
Saints Philip and James, apostles

Scripture from Monday's Liturgy of the Word:
1 Corinthians 15:1-8
Psalm 19
John 14:6-14

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

“By the grace of God, I am what I am...” (1 Cor. 15:10)

The words of the Apostle Paul hold great promise for all of us. For if we think about it, Paul instigated the murder of one of the first Christian martyrs. He may not have actually committed it, but we are certain that at the time, he approved of it.

What does that tell us of the grace of God? Well, I suspect few of us have gone so far as to murder members of the church. (Although we may have done so in our hearts). But here is Paul, guilty, at least in part of murder and persecution, and he is granted a seat among the apostles.

We do well to remember at the beginning of the day, and at all times throughout, that we are what we are through the grace of God. What we seem to have and to own, our talents, our treasures, our belongings, even our bodies, all of these are lent to us by the most gracious of Lords, the King of Kings. We are, of ourselves, nothing. By our own work we can accomplish nothing. Everything we have, everything we do is done through the love of Jesus Christ for us. Let us remember that love and that grace, and let us dedicate ourselves to living out what we are in a very substantial way.

- Juandelacruz

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The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, May 2, 2004
Fourth Sunday of Easter

Scripture from Sunday’s Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 13:14,43-52
Psalm 100:1-3,5
Revelation 7:9,14-17
John 10:27-30

A reflection on today’s Sacred Scripture:

“My sheep hear my voice.”(John 10:27)

We have heard this Gospel story many times and know from countless homilies about the relationship between a shepherd and his sheep. Each time I am reminded that it is a relationship between those who are very familiar with one another--and involves the kind of loyalty which is experiential.

God desires that we experience the depth and breadth of His creative and redeeming love, and has gone out of His way to prove it. Let us consider, then, that first of all we’ve been chosen by God (shepherds choose their sheep--not sheep their shepherd) and in choosing us He has invested in us and made us His own. Think next what shall be our response? Shall we stay close and be the recipients of His protection or shall we foolishly stray away?

The fearsome choice with all its consequences is ours and even so we are reminded what kind of a Shepherd the Lord really is--He is ready to defend us, to rescue us. The wonderful words of today’s Gospel remind us that the Lord is no ordinary Shepherd... “there is no snatching out of His hand.”(see John 10:25-29)

- Donna Raye Nelson, ocds
(drn3rd at hotmail dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, May l, 2004
St. Joseph the Worker
(or: Saturday of the Third Week of Easter)

Scripture for St. Joseph the Worker:
Genesis 1:26--2:3
Psalm 90:2-4,12-14,16
Matthew 13:54-58

Scripture for Saturday, Third Week of Easter
Acts 9:31-42
Psalm 116:12-13,14-15,16-17
John 6:60-69

A reflection on readings from Saturday, Third week of Easter:

“To whom shall we go?” (John 6:68)

Jesus reveals to us, “The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.” We understand our need to consume and be consumed by His Word if we are to sustain true life.

Much can lead us away from true life in God as we easily disconnect our will, actions or thoughts from God and sin enters in. That peace which comes from Him alone is replaced with anxiety, worry and fear. We taste true death and deep anguish when we separate ourselves from His love.

As a “wandering away” child earnestly searches for the no longer visible parent, we desperately refocus our minds, hearts and souls to find our loving Father. Like a beacon atop a hill, we find Him always recollecting us through His unceasing and merciful gifts of grace.

Jesus explains, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father.” We’re awesomely gifted to be chosen, desired and sustained in ‘true’ life with God our Father. When so much would tempt us away throughout the day, we need simply listen to Jesus’ words asking us, “Do you also want to leave?”

We find our only reply is truly, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”

- Mary Williams
(wlmsconsul at pdq dot net)

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