The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, April 7, 2005
Thursday of the Second Week of Easter
St. John Baptist de la Salle, priest

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 5:27-33
Psalm 34:2,9,17-20
John 3:31-36

A reflection on today's Scripture. . . .

"Whoever believes in the Son has life eternal." (John 3:36)

A careful reading of Christ's "Sermon on the Mount" in Matthew's Gospel (chapters 5-7) reveals that our God requires His children to abide by a moral and ethical standard far above that practiced by this world. Those who say that the standard set by God is humanly impossible are absolutely correct; for through our own unaided efforts we will surely fail. History proves this when one considers the harm created by the many perversions of God's law engineered to suit selfish desires. The violent hatred now seen in the Middle-East is a case in point.

Our hope is in Christ Who prepared His disciples for His death by promising not to leave them "orphaned." He told them He would remain with them in the Person of the Holy Spirit. Today's readings assert that those who, from their hearts, sincerely proclaim faith in Christ will be given His Spirit to guide them in the knowledge of God's truth and love and also strengthen them in their pursuit of living in the new life Jesus provides us through His resurrection.

In today's Gospel Christ affirms His Divinity by stating He receives God's power without limit so that through His words and deeds He could make God clearly visible in this world. Jesus also tells His disciples that those to whom He has revealed God's truth and love are called to obey Him, God's living Word. He warns those who have seen and heard His Word but insist on disobeying Him, that they will forfeit eternal life. There is no middle ground; we're free to choose between life and death.

Merciful Savior,
pour Your Holy Spirit upon us
to keep us faithful to You, the Word of God.
Give us the humility to see
that without our Lord's aid and guidance
we will fail. Amen.

- Marie Bocko, OCDS
(mlbocko at earthlink dot net)

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