The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, May 11, 2006
Thursday of the Fourth Week of Easter

Scripture from today'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:

Since the days of Adam and Eve, man has struggled to make himself the center of the universe. Christ was aware of our human tendency to do so and thus “warned” or “instructed” us as it is recorded in the Gospel of St. John which we read today. Christ reminds us “no messenger is greater than the one who sent him.” (John 13:16-20) It is a message which we need to hear often.

We are approaching the time of year when we praise people for their accomplishments in graduations. We celebrate weddings and First Communions. It is indeed a busy and happy time of year! Family memories are being captured with the flashing of cameras, but where does GOD fit into those memories? In our busy days we need to recall that it is always God who takes the “first step” towards us in order to allow all these things to happen in our lives. As we are being praised and the cameras are flashing, let us take a moment to say “Praise God!”

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