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 20060430
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)
____________________
These meditations are also available by email subscription
©1986-2006 The Way, The Truth, The Life
posted by joachim at 4:20 AM
20060429
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)
____________________
These meditations are also available by email subscription
©1986-2006 The Way, The Truth, The Life
posted by joachim at 5:18 AM
20060428
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)
____________________
These meditations are also available by email subscription
©1986-2006 The Way, The Truth, The Life
posted by joachim at 5:07 AM
20060427
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)
____________________
These meditations are also available by email subscription
©1986-2006 The Way, The Truth, The Life
posted by joachim at 4:48 AM
20060426
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)
____________________
These meditations are also available by email subscription
©1986-2006 The Way, The Truth, The Life
posted by joachim at 4:55 AM
20060425
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
____________________
These meditations are also available by email subscription
©1986-2006 The Way, The Truth, The Life
posted by joachim at 5:40 AM
20060424
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
____________________
These meditations are also available by email subscription
©1986-2006 The Way, The Truth, The Life
posted by joachim at 4:18 AM
20060423
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
____________________
These meditations are also available by email subscription
©1986-2006 The Way, The Truth, The Life
posted by joachim at 4:11 AM
20060422
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)
____________________
These meditations are also available by email subscription
©1986-2006 The Way, The Truth, The Life
posted by joachim at 6:09 AM
20060421
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)
____________________
These meditations are also available by email subscription
©1986-2006 The Way, The Truth, The Life
posted by joachim at 4:31 AM
20060420
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)
____________________
These meditations are also available by email subscription
©1986-2006 The Way, The Truth, The Life
posted by joachim at 5:11 AM
20060419
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)
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