The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, April 30, 2006
Third Sunday of Easter

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 3:13-15
Psalm 4:2, 4, 7-9
1 John 2:1-5
Luke 24:35-48

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

If you’re feeling the post-Easter doldrums, just check out today’s readings. The scene is Solomon’s Portico just after Peter has cured the lame man. As the man leaps for joy, a very large crowd gathers (later reports put the number at three thousand). Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, declares that it is God who has worked this miracle, and that what they have seen is another proof that the man, Jesus, whom they crucified, was truly God’s Son. We can imagine how those words must have pierced many hearts with terrifying guilt. They were the ones who had cried “Crucify Him!” just a short time ago. Memories of God’s terrible punishments in years past must have crowded their minds. What were they to do?

Peter’s words reassure them. Since they acted out of ignorance, God offers them salvation if they repent and believe. They must be baptized in His Name, and in the Father and the Holy Spirit. And they must spread the Word. This is the mission of every follower of Jesus!

The Gospel for this Sunday is even more exciting. This is Luke’s account of the commissioning of the apostles. "Scene One" takes place in the upper room, where the two disciples to whom Jesus appeared on their way to Emmaus, have just returned, breathless and bursting with the news that Jesus is alive. Even as they speak, Jesus suddenly appears to the whole assembly, throwing them into consternation and fear. With powerful persuasion, Jesus convinces them that he is not a ghost, but a human person, very alive. He asks them for something to eat. They give Him a piece of baked fish which He eats in their presence! From the upper room, Jesus leads them out to Bethany where the crowd had acclaimed Him as King. According to Luke, Jesus ascends from here and disappears into the heavens.

But the miracle is that Jesus’ is still with us — in the Eucharist, in the Holy Spirit that dwells within us, and in our loving encounters with one another. He is here in our sorrows, supporting and strengthening us, keeping us on the journey that will inevitably lead to fullness of life, if only we are faithful.

Let us be Easter people, and may ‘Alleluia’ be our song!

- Msgr. Paul Whitmore
(smartins at frontiernet dot net)

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The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, April 29, 2006
Saturday of the Second Week of Easter
St. Catherine of Siena

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 6:1-7
Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19
John 6:16-21

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"It is I. Do not be afraid."

It is dark. Your small boat is being rocked and cast about in the waves. The wind is brisk and the boat is hard to steer -- it doesn't want to obey the feeble rudder. You row as best you can, but you can't seem to get anywhere. And there are too many of you in the boat. And you are seemingly far from shore.

Out of nowhere someone appears, walking on the water. What can this be? What prodigy is this? What can it mean? Is it a spirit, a ghost, some monster of the water?

No, someone points out it is Jesus. Jesus? Jesus? How can it be Jesus? How can He walk on the water? This is strange and deeply disturbing!

And the Lord speaks, "It's Me. Don't be afraid." Still, a thrill of fear courses through you -- this is something you've never seen before. But, be still and hear him, "It's Me!"

Our lives are often like those rowboats in the dark. We are far from land, so far as we know, and the waves threaten to swamp us. And Jesus appears, walking on the water, as a colleague, a spouse, a child, a neighbor, or even a complete stranger. We're still afraid -- how can this be? But take heart, God answers the needs of those in prayer. God sees our plight and sends comfort. Jesus truly walks across the turbulent waters of our lives to give us solace, comfort and hope.

Do not be afraid. It is Jesus who comes to still the waters and lead us home.

- JuandelaCruz
(sriddle415 at yahoo dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Friday, April 28, 2006
Friday of the Second Week of Easter
St. Peter Chanel, priest and martyr
St. Louis Marie DeMontfort, priest

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 5:34-42
Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14
John 6:1-15

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture. . . .

"There is a boy who has five barley loaves and two fish;
but what good are these for so many?" (John 6:9)

Today's first reading reveals two important events. Gamaliel, a Sanhedrin, saved the lives of Christ's Apostles by reminding the religious authorities that if these men are not of God, they would perish like others before them who made false claims. He warned, however, that if they are of God, we will be fighting against Him. Though the disciples were severely flogged, they persisted in spreading Christ's message. In faith they totally gave themselves to their assigned mission regardless of the cost, more beatings or death.

Our Gospel records a contrasting situation that took place before Christ's death and resurrection, prior to the Holy Spirit having descended upon the Apostles. A huge crowd had followed Jesus into the countryside, and because they hungered, He took pity and told His men to feed them. Although His disciples had witnessed many miracles, they doubted it could be done. Jesus took the loaves and fish from the boy, blessed them, gave thanks to His Father, broke the loaves and fish, which miraculously multiplied, and distributed them to all. They ate their fill yet twelve baskets of scraps were left. The crowd saw they would never hunger if Jesus were made king. Seeing this He withdrew to the mountain, for they hadn't perceived His true purpose, renewing and strengthening their faith in God.

If we read the remainder of this chapter we will see that the feeding of the multitude implies Christ continuing to give Himself to us all as "real food." Each time we participate in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, be mindful that Christ is truly present in the wine and host to imbue us with His everlasting life.

Precious Redeemer, make us mindful that You are always with us, ready to give us Your blessed new life, that we may draw other hungry souls to You for nourishment. Amen.

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

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The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, April 27, 2006
Thursday of the Second Week of Easter

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 Sacred Scripture:

Christians are still feeling joy as they recall the beautiful liturgies of Holy Week. It may seem easier at this time to spread the Good News while we are feeling this way. Think of the apostles. They had just experienced their good friend and Lord crucified, and when He rose from the dead it was with the wound marks still visible. The threat of death for them also was very real, as people knew they were followers of Christ.

In the first reading the apostles are brought into court and questioned about the fact that they continue preaching the Word of God, even though they had been warned by the court officers not to do so. We know historically they continued to do so. The gospel describes why we should adhere to the Word of God, and what will happen to those who do not.

The questions we might ask ourselves from these readings are:

1. Do I really hear -- listen -- to the word of God when it is given by others, both formally such as in scriptural readings, or by casual statements of others?

2. Do I take every occasion that I can, to let others know about the word of God?

3. Do I enjoy and read scripture myself?

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

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The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Wednesday of the Second Week of Easter

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 5:17-26
Psalm 34:2-9
John 3:16-21

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

In our modern world an entire industry has grown that supposes to tell us what love is. We can find the perfect mate on the Internet. We can read countless self-help books to improve ourselves and make ourselves more attractive and lovable. We are pretty much free to practice love in whatever fashion we choose, according to modern society. We can fall in and out of love at a moment’s notice and we can certainly drown ourselves in narcissistic self-love with all the abandon we want. But, is any of this really love? Most certainly not.

True love is giving and not receiving. True love is the willingness to give our all. “God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” This, the complete sacrifice of the best there is to offer, given freely and without holding back is true love. Anything short of this cannot be love in its truest sense.

How well do we practice true love? Do we give it all, or do we hold back some of the choicest part for ourselves? The Father provides the model for us here in the loving gift of His Son. Jesus said the greatest commandments were to love God with all we have, and our neighbors as ourselves. Anything short is not love, but something much different.

- Don Claunch, SFO
(dlclaunch at bresnan dot net)

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The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Feast of St. Mark, evangelist

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 Peter 5:5b-14
Psalm 89:2-3, 6-7, 16-17
Mark 16:15-20

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Today's gospel command to "Go into the world and proclaim the good news to all creation" is going to be difficult if we have allowed ourselves to fall prey to the devil and his many devious snares.

The first reading today warns us to clothe ourselves in humility because God is stern with the arrogant. Observe the material, secular world about you. What do you see? Isn't there a lot of arrogance, pride, a mean spirit that revels in its technical accomplishments as it turns its back on the poor, the elderly, the politically oppressed and even defenseless children still in their mother's womb?

None of us can shrug our shoulders and mumble that it's a demon out of control, something about which we can do nothing. Ohhhhh no! There is plenty each of us can individually do. First we must reform our own lives interiorly. We must humbly pray and beseech God to enter our hearts and teach us wisdom and show us our faults and sins. We desperately need to turn off the vile mainstream media (MSM) bombarding us at nearly every turn and moment of our day. We must be prepared to seek the call to action when the moment is to be seized: to help the poor, the disenfranchised, the defenseless, to correct the evils of big political power in the schools and in government.

There is still hope. And it begins with you wanting to do something.

"We preach a Christ who was crucified;
He is the power and the wisdom of God." (1 Cor. 1:23-24)

- Journeymann

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The Catholic Calendar for Monday, April 24, 2006
Monday of the Second Week of Easter
St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen, priest, martyr

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 4:23-31
Psalm 2:1-3, 4-7a, 7b-9
John 3:1-8

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

In both readings, Acts and the Gospel of John, we come to acknowledge the ignorance of the Jewish people in regards to the words spoken by Jesus, and the apostles. In John, Nicodemus believes that Jesus is of a great nature and beyond human comprehension, however he still fears for his reputation as an authority in his genuine warning to Jesus. He truly wants to believe Jesus is the Messiah, but is unable to be fully open to Jesus' teaching: "You must be born from above." The Jewish authorities fail to understand and believe Jesus' message through the apostles. The apostles lament how the Jews treated God's holy servant Jesus whom He anointed.

We come to realize that the Jewish leaders misunderstood Jesus' mission and message for the world. He did not come to wage war against the Romans and physically deliver them from bondage. Jesus came to unshackle the chains on our souls, to be reborn "from above," to let His love enter our hearts, and then the seed of peace shall grow. The apostles opened their hearts to the Holy Spirit as written in Acts; "and they were filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness."

How have we let our lives be lead by the Holy Spirit? Do we shut Jesus out, or do we try to open our hearts to His love and peace? Do we trust in the power of the Holy Sprit to guide us in our daily lives?

- Alicia

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The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, April 23, 2006
Second Sunday of Easter
(Divine Mercy Sunday)*

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 4:32-35
Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24
John 5:1-6
John 20:19-31

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Now that we’re on the “other” side of Easter, there is a danger that our spiritual life may go into a slump, now that the intensity of our Lenten discipline is past. We mustn’t let it happen!

The readings for the Second Sunday of Easter paint a vivid picture of life in the early Christian community. The Gospel for all three of the liturgical cycles is the same — the story of doubting Thomas. Just as Peter’s first reaction to evidence that Christ was not dead but alive was to doubt, so, too, Thomas doubts what he hears from the other apostles. How embarrassed Thomas must have been when the risen Jesus tells him to put his hand in the wounds of the crucifixion. But then, Thomas fell to his knees in relief and joy to exclaim, “My Lord and my God!” Thomas’ hesitation, doubt, and subsequent joyful faith, must have been the common experience of many other followers of Jesus in those days before Pentecost, and even later.

We get a wonderful picture of the first Christian community in our first reading from the Acts of the Apostles. They shared all that they possessed! How were they ever convinced in their minds and hearts to do this? It was through the gift of the Spirit! The Spirit came upon them and changed their hearts. Remember, whenever Jesus appeared after His resurrection, he gave them the gift of His Peace. A peaceful heart leads to a spirit of unity, overcoming differences, quieting arguments, and silencing doubts. That’s exactly what happened! We know that the early community had lots of differences and many divisions. Why didn’t all this destroy the early Church? Because of that powerful gift of Peace given by Jesus and strengthened through the gift of the Holy Spirit.

We’re much like the Christians of the early Church. Just as their faith grew gradually, so will we come to the perfection of our spiritual life with Jesus through reflecting carefully on these post-Easter readings. They will overcome the negative messages from the media and the secular society surrounding us. As we pray and work during these after-days of Easter, we must call on the gift of the Spirit given to us through our Baptism and Confirmation to stir us to apply to ourselves the words and witness of Jesus. They have the power to heal our divisions and quiet our doubts. Easter isn’t over — it’s just begun!

- Msgr. Paul Whitmore
(smartins at frontiernet dot net)

* for complete info, click--> Divine Mercy Sunday

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The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, April 22, 2006
Saturday in the Octave of Easter

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 4:13-21
Psalm 118:1 and 14-15ab, 16-18, 19-21
Mark 16:9-15

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

“Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.”

What a magnificent commandment! We are to proclaim the gospel to every creature. Not simply every person, they are included, of course. But to every creature.

How do we proclaim the Gospel to a cactus, a wren, an octopus, a coral reef? And if we extend the meaning of creature just a little to encompass its original intent, how do we proclaim the gospel to the rocks and the water of the world? Impossible, you say. But I would say, "Jesus would not tell us to do the impossible." It is our duty to proclaim the good news to every creature--every creature is part of the Easter joy. Just as fallen man dragged all creation down with him, Jesus raised it all up in Himself. And therefore we are required to spread the good news to the entire world.

How do we do this seemingly impossible thing? We live in Easter joy, in the humble, but confident assurance that Our God alone is the font of all salvation and from Him flows all that is worthwhile. We live in the quiet confidence of our friendship and intimacy with Jesus Christ. We share what we have with those who do not have as much, and we willingly accept what we need from the hands of others, neither standing on our own pride nor lording it over others.

We proclaim the gospel to all creation when we grow closer to the small, quiet voice that calls us inwardly. We proclaim the gospel to all creatures when we work hard to use only as much as we need and so extend what is available for everyone. We proclaim the gospel to all creatures in every act of love that issues from the heart touched by grace. We proclaim the Gospel when we unabashedly say, "Jesus Christ is Lord."

O, my Lord and my God,
Savior of all of creation,
what a great gift we have in friendship with you.
May we grow closer day by day
and bring all creation with us.
Thank you for the opportunity of conversation,
and thank you for the love that fixed the world.
Amen. Alleluia!

- JuandelaCruz
(sriddle415 at yahoo dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Friday, April 21, 2006
Friday in the Octave of Easter

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 4:1-12
Psalm 118:1-2, 4, 22, 25-27
John 21:1-14

A reflection on today's Scripture. . . .

"Cast the net over the right side of the boat
and you will find something." (John 21:6)

A most distasteful and difficult lesson we need to learn is obedience. Toddlers torture parents through the "terrible 2's"; adolescents become devious or rebellious to gain their will; adults often retain a childish self-centeredness, using various ways to manipulate or dominate others. In our day this tendency prevails in every part of the world, but has become deadly where leaders and their people are oblivious to God's basic law of love and forgiveness. Our Creator constantly pours out His merciful love on us, yet many remain blind to it, rendering themselves unable to receive or give it.

Obedience to the rules imposed on "self" by genuine love may be costly to the human ego, but they offer us the only way to a peaceful and just world. In every age since Apostolic times, those who dare to speak God's truths inherent in His love, who oppose destructive societal beliefs and practices, can expect to suffer. Today we accuse them of curtailing our freedoms or trying to impose a certain religion on our nation. We do not realize that the law of love is nonsectarian; it is a universal necessity, the essence of God's Life.

Had the exhausted men who fished all night but returned with empty nets not obeyed Jesus telling them to cast their nets once more, they would have denied themselves of God's bounty and withheld food from hungry people. Christ desired His Apostles to become "fishers of men." These may repeatedly cast out the net of God's Holy Word and find it empty, but they (and we) can never abandon the effort to nourish the world with God's Life.

O most generous and self-giving God, imbue our hearts with Your love, that we may be vehicles through whom the world may come to know Your Holy Word, Christ our Lord.
Amen.

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

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The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, April 20, 2006
Thursday in the Octave of Easter

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 3:11-26
Psalm 8:2ab and 5, 6-7, 8-9
Luke 24:35-48

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

The Son of Man really knows our tendencies to question and doubt. Both readings today are full of loving reassurances.

In the first reading, Peter reminds his followers that they are "the children of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with their ancestors." (Acts 3:25) The same can be said of us. We too are the children of the prophets, and the Good News has been passed on to us, to share with the next generation. We too can be used for miracles of a sort, if we really believe, if we have a deep faith.

The second reading is the beautiful, moving scene in which Christ appears to His disciples and dispels their doubts by showing them His wounded hands and feet. He asked the disciples why they were troubled and why they had questions in their hearts. He then sits down and eats a piece of fish that they give to Him. Christ reassures them about His resurrection and reinforces the teachings that He had given them in the past. This is a loving, understanding Christ, not a person rehashing the crucifixion, and full of resentment about their running away from Him at a time of need.

Christ still appears to us with wounded hands and feet, in the form of our needy brothers and sisters in the world. He still asks us for something to eat. Are our hearts still troubled about this, and are we still full of questions? Can we hear Him saying to us, "Peace be to you"?

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

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The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Wednesday in the Octave of Easter

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 3:1-10
Psalm 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9
Luke 24:13-35

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

That very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. (Luke 24:13-16)

What was it that made the disciples unable to recognize the Lord? Was it something supernatural that Jesus had done to prevent their seeing? Or, was it something much more simple and common, perhaps the disciples’ own blindness to what had actually transpired over their months with Him and during the Passover at Jerusalem?

How easy it is for us humans to forget what we have been taught, then become dismayed at the way things turn out. Jesus had told his disciples that He would die and that should have been no surprise to them. However, He also said He would rise again and that death would have no power over Him. This they seemed to have forgotten, even though they had received reports of this before leaving Jerusalem. For years Israel had expected a powerful, political messiah that would free them from occupation and bondage and, even though the Messiah came with a different message, His followers seemed to have still held out hope that Israel would be freed in some political sense.

Jesus’ greatest miracle remains with us in the Eucharist. It was no accident that these disciples could finally see Him after the breaking of the bread, or as the final words of today’s gospel so beautifully tell us, “He was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.” Are there things in our lives that keep us from seeing the Lord? It is through the Eucharist that our eyes are once again opened to Him.

- Don Claunch, SFO
(dlclaunch at bresnan dot net)

The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Tuesday in the Octave of Easter

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 2:36-41
Psalm 33:4-5, 18-19, 20 and 22
John 20:11-18

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

I’m writing this meditation for Tuesday, April 18, on Friday, April 14. It is Good Friday and it's difficult to think about anything else.

Sometimes Holy Scripture focuses us on “the here and now” and at other times on the past and at other times on the future. At least, that’s the impression I get when I read the Word of God. I could be altogether wrong; I don't know.

What I do know is that the great sin of the Israelites was that they forgot the Lord their God and the mighty deeds He accomplished on their behalf. I also know that in another era the people of God failed to understand that there was more than just the moment at hand and they were slow to comprehend the glory prepared for them. We on the other hand, have been instructed that the Kingdom of God is at hand; it is close enough to touch. It is now!

All this leads me to let God's Word speak to me wherever I might be, because it is a timeless Word, a Word meant for all the moments of our lives.

So, for today, this beautiful Good Friday when I am remembering with a saddened heart that my sins crucified the King of Glory, I will also let the words of Tuesday's Holy Scripture have the effect that God wills for me. I won't try and force anything; I will remain silent and receptive and take in the seeming contradictions.

I will remember Christ's anguished "It is finished" and dare to believe Mary Magdalene's "I have seen the Lord."

Faith, Hope and Love! May they be the threads that weave the fabric of our lives.
- Donna Nelson, OCDS
(drn3rd at hotmail dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Monday, April 17, 2006
Monday in the Octave of Easter

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 2:14, 22-33
Psalm 16:1-2a and 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11
Matthew 28:8-15

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

After Jesus' resurrection, the priests and Pharisees feared that word would get out that the body of Jesus inexplicably disappeared. This would be witness to the testimony Jesus gave prior to His death. This fear of losing their power and status led the Pharisees to pay the soldiers who guarded Jesus' tomb to lie. Their love of money and their choice to tell a lie was very damaging and divided the Jewish people.

After Peter received the Holy Spirit, he had the courage and strength to speak the truth freely. Inspired by the Holy Sprit, Peter gave his first homily. The Jews who were assembled in Jerusalem for the Passover celebration heard the truth and the wonders of Jesus' life and death. Peter's message freed those who were transformed by the Holy Spirit; so much so, that over three thousand were baptised.

We too are called to make a difference, to proclaim the truth through word and action. Therefore it is always important to pray to God the Holy Spirit, so that we might reject temptation. Living the Truth in our lives, as was the case with Peter, we too might be transformed and unite those around us.

- Danielle

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The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, April 16, 2006
Easter Sunday, the Resurrection of the Lord

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 10:34a, 37-43
Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23
Colossians 3:1-4 or 1 Corinthians 5:6b-8
John 20:1-9

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Easter is not as “comfortable” a feast as Christmas. We feel much closer to the Infant Jesus than we do to the Glorified Christ! His glorified body does not invite our touching. That stone rolled back can so easily mean that He has vanished from our sight, and we have lost Him! Like Peter we withhold judgment, and like Thomas we have some doubts. Our “alleluias” ring out for the beauty and splendor of what has happened, but too often we let our Easter joy be confined to mere bunnies and Easter eggs!

But the truth of the Resurrection is supposed to transform us. Just as Jesus broke through the rock into the freedom of new life, so this feast is meant to free our souls to the possibilities of sin-free living. Instead of Easter as the conclusion of Lent, it is just the beginning -- challenging us to live a disciplined life, focused on holding firm to habits of prayer and devout living we found so refreshing during these last six weeks. Everything about Jesus’ glorious breakthrough from death has implications for us.

Whatever blocks our narrow vision to holy and creative living can crumble into dust if we only will it. The question is: how close do we want to follow Jesus as a disciple?

The readings for Easter provide a clear record of how the early Church responded to the fact of the Resurrection. In the Gospel passage, Mary Magdalene and John are the only two who give immediate acceptance. When Peter witnesses the empty tomb, his faith lags behind his sight. It will take a few personal appearances of the risen Lord to strengthen it.

The first reading for Easter is from a much later and more mature sermon of Peter’s. In this account, there is firm and unquestioned testimony to this central belief of the Christian faith. And St. Paul, in the second reading, tells the Corinthians that with Christ’s resurrection, they have all died (to sin) and thus, must live lives that are “hidden in God." Obviously, our lives are not hidden from God, but only hidden from worldly esteem. How much does worldly approval really mean to us? If we hold it “in no esteem," then we’re on the road to joy.

Easter should “loosen up” our unwilling tongues to sing, and stir up our energy to live warm, joyful lives. In the words of the Easter Sequence: “Christ indeed from death is arisen, our new life obtaining. Have mercy, victor King, ever reigning!"

Amen. Alleluia!

- Msgr. Paul Whitmore
(smartins at frontiernet dot net)

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The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, April 15, 2006
At the Easter Vigil in the Holy Night of Easter

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Exodus 14:15—15:1
Romans 6:3-11
Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23
Mark 16:1-7

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"He has been raised, He is not here . . ."

Only yesterday the great sorrow, the great crime of humanity, the seeming destruction of all. Imagine the apostles seeing their teacher, their master, their friend taken and hung on a cross for doing nothing. The world has been turned upside down. There never was much justice, but now everything is arbitrary, this man who loved so much and was so much loved is hung out on a cross between two known murderers and rebels.

And today, another crime, or so it seems at first. Someone has stolen even His Body. But no. Not at all. We discover, although we may not yet be able to hear, that He is risen. He is no longer in the tomb. He has broken free from death, and in breaking free has freed us all from death. He is Lord of the living and all who come to Him are the living.

Alleluia! God returns to us! He is gone from death and become the Lord of Life! He is triumphant and we triumph in Him. In His rising is our life, in Him we are secure. His Love pours out upon us and it is time and past time to share it with all of the world. The living know only His love and truth. They serve it to all people and dwell in it themselves, becoming Love itself.

Alleluia! In His victory is our own. We become one body with Jesus as the Head, a living and acceptable sacrifice to the Father, who accepts us gladly, the prodigals returned home through the greatest crime ever committed.

Alleluia! He is Risen! Death is destroyed, sin is crushed! Alleluia!


Easter Vigil Special:
A Reflection on The Exultet *

O happy fault, O necessary sin of Adam,
which gained for us so great a Redeemer!

O happy fault! Even sin is destroyed in the light of this Redeemer King. We rejoice in the faults that gave us the Faultless. Not that we wish to perpetuate them, but that without that first disobedience, we would never have come to know God in the way that we now can do. The necessary sin of Adam brought forth from all eternity the Jesus whose eternal life we begin to celebrate with the Easter vigil.

There is nothing happy in the Death of the Lord, but in the death of death itself is our triumph. And this triumph came through the happy fault of Adam. The necessary sin gained for us a redeemer beyond measure. By His wounds we are healed and in His glorious victory we see sin nailed to the cross and crucified.

O Happy fault that brought forth such a day and such a knowledge! If we had to lose our innocence, God gives back to us innocence and a depth of knowledge that might otherwise never have occurred. In this is our triumph and our redemption, that we know Love and we become love. We descend with Him and on this night we rise again.

O Happy Fault that brought to us such a redeemer
whose excellencies cannot be numbered.

O necessary sin that brought to us the depth
of the knowledge of the love of God.
Amen!

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

- JuandelaCruz
(sriddle415 at yahoo dot com)

* Exultet: Learn more & see it in Latin or English

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The Catholic Calendar for Friday, April 14, 2006
Good Friday of the Lord's Passion

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 52:13—53:12
Psalm 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25
Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9
John 18:1—19:42

A reflection on today's Scripture. . . .

Jesus never took the easy way, but He makes it easy for us. Easy if we do but one simple thing: Love Him more than ourselves.

Therein lies the problem for most of us. We like to think that we love God with our whole heart, mind and soul ... to think otherwise disturbs us ... may frighten us ... and if we're not careful, discourages us.

Why is it so hard for us to do that one, simple thing? The answer to that question can be stated in one word: Pride!

In today's Liturgy of the Word and Veneration of the Cross, we're reminded of Jesus' perfect humility. As we share in the memorial readings of His Passion, after hearing each of Jesus' responses or actions, we might ask ourselves, "Would a proud man do that?"

It can well be said that the underlying cause of all sin is pride. Greater degrees of pride cause nothing more than greater sin. Therefore, the destruction of all sin would have to come from perfect humility.

Even if Our Lord's own Incarnation, Life, Passion and Death were not enough to teach us how imperative humility is for our salvation, we need only to look at Him under the appearances of bread and wine to see the perfect and living proof of His humility.

In the Eucharist, His Mercy humbles Himself to be vulnerable to our mercy - just as He did throughout His walk amongst us - then, and now, until the end of the world. Thank You, my Lord and God!

- Nancy Collingwood

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The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, April 13, 2006
Holy Thursday

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14
Psalm 116:12-13, 15-16bc, 17-18
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
John 13:1-15

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:
Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper:

Often when we think of the last words of Christ, we recall His words from the Cross. Today, let us ponder His words at the Last Supper, the night before He died. They are words we can consider at each Mass, for this day was the institution of the Eucharist.

We recall that Christ stated He had long desired to eat this meal with His apostles. The statement has much more significance than this solitary meal. He longs to come to each of us through the Eucharist. He made a way that we can easily have this personal union with Him. He also stated a desire that we have a union with the Father as He did. Likewise, Christ demonstrated His love for us by washing the feet of His apostles. He concluded by stating that as He had done for each of them we are to do for each other.

St. John summarizes the significance of Christ's words at the Last Supper by stating "He loved His own in the world, and He loved them to the end." (John 13:1) His journey that very night, from the Garden to the Cross the next day, shows us that His words are real. How else could one show any greater love?

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

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The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Wednesday of Holy Week

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 50:5-9
Psalm 69:8-10, 21-22, 31 and 33-34
Matthew 26:14-25

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Today we are in the middle of Holy Week, and the tragedy is now being played out. Judas, one of the inner twelve disciples, a man who had followed Jesus, who saw His miracles, participated in His ministry and knew what Jesus was teaching, betrays his master. He not only turned his back on Jesus, but also gave Him up for thirty pieces of silver. And knowing full well what he was doing, Judas tried to deny his plan as he ate the Passover meal with the Lord.

What drives a man to betray another? Greed or jealousy? Perhaps we will never fully understand. But what we should learn from this is that there may be times we turn our backs on the Lord and betray Him in much more subtle ways than Judas did. There are times when we should be sharing our Christian lives with others and there are times when we should be speaking up or doing something about the mistreatment of others, or the battling, or the injustice in our world, or caring for the poor and sick.

Each time we fail to keep Christ foremost in our lives we betray Him once again and are part of his crucifixion and death. This is what we need to learn from today’s gospel. Let us pray for the strength, faith and discernment that we need to never again turn our backs on Him.

- Don Claunch, SFO
(dlclaunch at bresnan dot net)

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The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Tuesday of Holy Week

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 49:1-6
Psalm 71:1-6, 15, 17
John 13:21-33, 36-38

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

The drama of Holy Week continues with words that disturb and remind us of the agony that Jesus suffered. In today's Gospel we hear how Jesus became “deeply troubled” and then went on to say that one of the Twelve would betray Him.

How blessed we are to have access to these words which tell us about Our Savior, what He experienced, and His capacity to empathize with us in our times of trouble and perhaps, even betrayal.

Human nature seems very quick to identify when it has been offended, but sometimes considerably slower to recognize when it has been offensive -- quick to identify when it has been betrayed, slow to recognize when it has been the betrayer.

Let us take some time today to think about this point. Perhaps it will make us more gentle and patient, less critical of others and determined to be more like Jesus.

"Hail to our king, obedient to His Father;
He went to His crucifixion like a gentle Lamb.”
(verse before today’s Gospel)

- Donna Nelson, OCDS
(drn3rd at hotmail dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Monday, April 10, 2006
Monday of Holy Week

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 42:1-7
Psalm 27:1-3, 13-14
John 12:1-11

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"A bruised reed he shall not break. . ." (Isaiah 42:3)

I recently met a person whose idea of God is one of a severe judge and punisher - a God whose existence is to smother our jollity, cripple us with guilt, oppress us with fear and banish us to the fires of hell if we sin. But today's readings show us that God is quite different from this vengeful, one-dimensional depiction. God is love and only love! God gives us the freedom to move away from His love even at the risk of destroying ourselves. Hell is not God's choice. It is ours!

In God there is no hatred, desire for revenge or pleasure in seeing us punished. God is a merciful God - who offers forgiveness for our transgressions, patiently waits for us to return to Him and unburdens us from the agony of our own sinfulness.

God is a creator God -- who carefully and lovingly made every molecule of our being, our universe and everything in it. God is a healing God -- who conquers death and restores us to life. God is a loving God -- to whom we are precious and beloved. God is a peaceful God -- who comes to us in the stillness of quiet places, in the laughter of a child, in the breath of summer, in the cleansing of a gentle rain and in the tenderness of a good friend.

"In Christ and through Christ, God becomes especially visible in mercy. Christ, in a certain sense, is mercy. . . The person who is the object of mercy does not feel humiliated, but rather found again and restored to value." (Pope John Paul II from "Rich in Mercy")

- Anne
(anne97 at gmail dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, April 9, 2006
Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Mark 11:1-10
Isaiah 50:4-7
Psalm 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-24
Philippians 2:6-11
Mark 14:1--15:47

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

With Palm Sunday, we enter into the most sacred week of the year, celebrating the "Paschal Mystery" of the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

The first reading from the 50th chapter of Isaiah speaks of the Suffering Servant with the well-polished tongue who patiently but boldly speaks the saving truth "to a weary world." How skillfully the Church shows us that, long ago, God foretold the depths of suffering His Son would endure, setting his face "like flint," not flinching, not turning back.

St. Paul's second reading is all about Jesus' "kenosis," the emptying out of His divine glory, that He might become the humble servant, human like us in all things but sin. No wonder every knee must bow at the mention of His name! How the early Church fought to maintain the doctrine that Jesus is both God and man! What a stupendous sacrifice for our redemption!

The Church is a master of drama in the liturgies of this week. In the use of the Celebrant and two readers for the Passion this week, and in the congregation's voice, we all become part of the action. Most feel embarrassed to cry "Crucify Him!" with the palm branches still in our hands. We feel like hypocrites. Yet our sin is what placed us in that position. It helps drive home the crime of deicide! St. Mark presses the question, "Who is Jesus?" all through his gospel. As we watch the heavens darken and hear the thunder, we cry with that centurion, "Indeed this was the Son of God!" We should beat our breasts at the realization of what our sins have done!

The shock of Palm Sunday's liturgy compresses two thousand years into this Year of Our Lord. We have no place to hide. We need to suspend all other activities, quiet our busy-ness, and focus on the events of this week. It's all in the sacred Liturgy, the local penance services, the Stations of the Cross, the Thursday night adoration and the Good Friday veneration of the Cross. All will prepare us for the coming out of darkness into the new fire, the new light, the new saving water of the Easter Vigil - and Resurrection.

- Msgr. Paul Whitmore
(smartins at frontiernet dot net)

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The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, April 8, 2006
Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Ezekiel 37:21-28
Jeremiah 31:10-13
John 11:45-56

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"That one man should die instead of the people. . ."

If Caiaphas had only known that his plea for political savvy was actually a prediction of the greatest action in the history of the world, what might he have done? Think about it--Caiaphas correctly anticipated that if this one man should die, the people would not. He was acting as a prophet despite his own evil inclinations. What would have happened could he have heard his own words?

We are the blessed people who stand in a place to receive his words. We now know that Jesus came so that no one might "die," that is, be eternally separated from God the Father. The true death is the separation from God in the vastness of eternity. God wills that all should come to Him, but so many do not know Him.

Jesus died for all. This week we once again celebrate in history what was enacted in eternity--our Salvation story. We do well to remember the prophetic words of Caiaphas and to let the world know how right he was. God saw the wisdom and the mercy in ordaining One to die that all might be saved. May it be our prayer that the salvific act of Jesus be made manifest throughout the world. May the glory of the Lord shine through us to all the people who do not know Him and through us may His mercy, grace, and blessing come to each of them.

- JuandelaCruz
(sriddle415 at yahoo dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Friday, April 7, 2006
Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent
St. John Baptist de la Salle

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Jeremiah 20:10-13
Psalm 18:2-7
John 10:31-42

A reflection on today's Scripture. . . .

"I have shown you many good works from my Father.
For which of these are you trying to stone me?" (John 10:32)

Most of us accept changes in science, medicine, technology and morals, if the changes bring us more convenience, safety, health, wealth or pleasure. When we become too involved in achieving such comforts while neglecting spiritual matters, God sends us prophets to remind us that our well-being extends far beyond these pursuits. In every age when God sees His people distancing themselves from His love and truth, becoming wholly preoccupied with worldly "goods," He reminds us to obey His law of love for the good of all people. History, extending into this present age, shows that God's messengers are often reviled and destroyed by those challenged to relinquish their selfishness and complacency.

Today we are being increasingly secularized, creating scores of loveless people intent on rejecting rules that they think will curtail their self-fulfillment. These see "freedom" as anything with which they can get away. They invent laws that ignore the moral and ethical truths inherent in God's love; in doing so, they become less than fully human and sink to the level of "survival of the fittest," reduce themselves to forest or jungle beasts.

God made us in His image; these bodies were meant to reflect God's goodness, and in doing so, attract others to share in God's life of peace, joy and self-giving love. Christ came to reunite the two facets of human life, the temporal with the eternal. If we receive Christ, He will give us His new, resurrected life to live in harmony with God and one another. We can accomplish this if we open our hearts to Him, abandon sins that spring from human selfishness and learn to participate in His virtues.

O Saving Lord, infuse our hearts with the desire to truly worship You through obedience to Your love and truth. Help us to make Your salvation known in this needful world. Amen.

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

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.

The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, April 6, 2006
Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Genesis 17:3-9
Psalm 105:4-9
John 8:51-59

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

We live in an era when doubt is cast on statements like "Lifetime Warrantee" when we buy a product. Right away we might question which part of the object is really protected or what is the expected lifetime of the product. We also realize that personal promises are so easily broken as we see in the soaring divorce statistics. As humans we sometimes take our promises lightly.

In contrast, we have the assurances of God to Abraham in the first reading for today. God promises Abraham an everlasting pact. That is sure, in contrast to our "Lifetime Warrantee" statements. Nothing is free, however. God asked of Abraham and the Jewish people, only that they keep His word, that they keep their part of the covenant, as that is what a love bond is about.

The same is asked of us today! Each of us has an everlasting covenant with God through our baptism! What a gift! We are promised eternity if only we keep our end of the covenant. God never turns away from us! It is left to us whether we accept that offer. What a choice!

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

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The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, April 5, 2006
Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent
St. Vincent Ferrer

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95
Daniel 3:52-56
John 8:31-42

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

I remember from my earliest childhood days hearing the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. It seemed that this story was told and taught in every bible class and religious education I attended. The story became as familiar to me as the story of our Lord’s nativity and crucifixion.

Now that I am much older and, hopefully, just a bit wiser, I can see why this story was used so much in my Christian rearing. The story is simply a clear and concise presentation of absolute faith; the men’s complete love and trust in their God and God’s complete love of them. What faith Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego must have had to stand up to the king and chance being tossed into the fire! I wonder if they really thought they would survive. Perhaps they loved God so much that they refused to turn away from Him and worship a false God and would rather have faced certain death instead. Perhaps they knew that God’s saving grace and love was something that worked more than just in our physical world, and meant salvation of the eternal soul. While we will never know what the three men were thinking, it is enough for us to know that they had faith in God, and God did not let them down.

God is a Father that keeps His promises. He promises to love us forever, to care for us and keep us. We learn this story early in life to see how powerful faith and love are and can be.

- Don Claunch, SFO
(dlclaunch at bresnan dot net)

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The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, April 4, 2006
Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent
St. Isidore, bishop and doctor of the Church

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Numbers 21:4-9
Psalm 102:2-3, 16-21
John 8:21-30

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

In today's first reading we hear what happened to the Israelites when they complained against the Lord. It is a good lesson to hear, to be reminded of the times when we have been ungrateful and what the Lord could do to us if He desired.

The difference between our complaining and that of the Israelites may in reality be miniscule. We might not be complaining AGAINST God, but TO Him. However, rather than risk the Lord's wrath which can send down seraph serpents (even the thought of which, scares me to death), I'm going to try to have a more habitually grateful heart.

That doesn't mean I won't share with the Lord my distressing thoughts or the trials of my day, but will instead be mindful of His merciful help and how lost I am without it.

Let us pray for patience and long-suffering in memory of Him who even to this moment restrains His rightful wrath.

- Donna Nelson, OCDS
(drn3rd at hotmail dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Monday, April 3, 2006
Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 or 13: 41c-62
Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6
John 8:1-11

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

In both the first reading and the Gospel for today, we can draw parallels between Jesus' message, and the way in which we live His words today. The Lenten Season gives each one of us ample opportunity to examine our own physical and moral conduct in our daily lives.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation rejuvenates our souls in the presence of Christ. Have we gossiped about our neighbor or brother? Spread false accusations as the two elders did against Susanna (in the First Reading today) in order to gain power, money, or self-esteem? The act of Confession, beginning with the examination of conscience, enables us to acknowledge our weaknesses, reconcile with God, and mend hurt relationships within our own lives.

Another parallel with Susanna and the adulterous woman we read in the Gospel, is that God has mercy on His people. He does not abandon us. For Susanna says; "Yet it is better for me to fall into your (the judge's) power without guilt than to sin before the Lord." God sends Daniel to bring justice to her. In the Gospel, Jesus notes that no one is sinless. Jesus does not condemn the woman; "Go, from now on do not sin any more."

In times of turmoil, sorrow, helplessness, and sin, we can find refuge in the Lord. For He is our Shepherd and will lead us to green pastures if we follow in His path.

- Alicia

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The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, April 2, 2006
Fifth Sunday of Lent

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Psalm 51:3-4, 12-15
Hebrews 5:7-9
John 12:20-33

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

How often we have heard the passage about the grain of wheat: "Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat..." In so many farming areas of our country, we are accustomed to winter wheat being started in late summer. When the cold of winter comes, it seems to die; but the plant is just sleeping until the warm sun of Spring revives it.

There's a line in a wonderful old French song: "Frere Jacques, Frere Jacques, dormez-vous, dormez-vous?" (Are you sleeping, are you sleeping?). That's a good question to ask ourselves on this Fifth Sunday of Lent. Jesus is the seed who died for us, in order that we might come to life and fullness! Well, it's Spring now, here in the northern hemisphere -- time for us all to come to life in the Lord, to realize and renew our commitment to really live the Christian life, to share our faith, to serve our brothers and sisters as the Lord's own hands and feet, His voice and heart.

In these approaching days of Holy Week, when we commemorate Christ's Passion, let our own suffering be offered in union with His suffering, and our heart's love be intertwined with His love. The day will come when our yearly dying and rising in the Paschal Mystery will be transformed into one glorious Resurrection. Then, there will be no more death, no more pain, no more tears. Only the joy of the seed now come to full bloom in eternity.

- Msgr. Paul Whitmore
(smartins at frontiernet dot net)

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The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, April 1, 2006
Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Jeremiah 11:18-20
Psalm 7:2-3, 9-12
John 7:40-53

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"So a Division Occurred in the Crowd Because of Him. . ."

The truth articulated above is the sad truth of much of Christianity. From the Pelagians, to the Arians, to the Protestant reformation, there are always those who are ready to tear away from others on the basis of His name.

Those who are prepared to accept Him at His word and for Who He is, will always follow Him. We say that He is the Christ. But others say that He was a great prophet, a teacher, a good man, a leader of the people, a man who never intended to be God, and so forth.

We live in the society and culture defined by the "division in the crowd" over and over again. We have split so many times that there are more than 22,000 Protestant denominations, with new ones cropping up every week or so.

This division is not from God. It is from us. It is from our deepest selves who fear to follow God as He calls. The division in the crowd can often be found within our own souls. We want to follow God, but we fear what we might be asked to do if it were so. Or perhaps we don't wish to surrender this or that material pleasure. Even today there is a division in the crowd.

But Christ comes to heal ALL division. At His death, the veil in the temple was torn apart--the separation of God from humanity had drawn to an end and the Holy Spirit was sent out to all. With Jesus, all division is brought together, if we will surrender to Him. If not, we continue to wound the body of our Sacred Lord.

Lent is a time to think hard about what we do that brings us together or tears us apart. What part does each one of us play in the body of Christ and how might we aid others in fulfilling their roles? The organs and cells of a body work together, so must it be in the mystical body of Christ.

Let us pray for an end to division--in ourselves, in the world, and in the Body. Let there be no more division amongst us for His name's sake.

- JuandelaCruz
(sriddle415 at yahoo dot com)

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