Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter
I’ll make a bit of a leap and say that it is inherent in our human nature that we are caring individuals. For some it may take more work to emulate Jesus by caring more for others rather than ourselves, but I do believe that, since we are created in the image of God, we are created to care for and love others. I often fall short of this love. Instead, I get caught focusing on my own well-being or caring too much for others rather than letting them grow instead of holding my hand. I’ve learned that in order to love others we must put our faith in God, that our ability to love transcends our own humanity and involves trust to allow God to work through us.
Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter
I love Christ’s image of the vine in today’s Gospel. Assuming he was referring to grape vines, the picture is very Eucharistic. I see a beautiful reminder of the oneness that we enjoy with God. I also find hope in knowing that my fruitfulness as a disciple flows from abiding in the perfection of eternal love. May each of us today awaken to the reality of our abiding, become caught up in the flow of divine love, and naturally become more fruitful in our discipleship.
Tuesday of Fifth Week of Easter
Our first reading today sounds familiar; nearly the same passage was read this past Sunday. There must be something there worth repeating! It’s a very historical reading. Paul travelled here, did this, and then he went there, met with these people, etc. But between the itinerary, we read that Paul was thrown out of the city and stoned, but got up as the disciples gathered around him, and went right back into the city! This is a person without fear! Paul goes on to tell the disciples that “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.” This is what strikes me in the first reading. Paul and the disciples are not delivered from hardships and persecutions, but they are freed from the power that such coercive acts have over normal people.
Feast of Saints Philip and James, Apostles
In true Catholic fashion, the feast of an Apostle is celebrated by choosing a less than flattering reading about him, Philip doesn't get any special treatment. In John’s gospel today we see Philip getting corrected by Jesus. Scripture reads, “Philip said to [Jesus], ‘Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the Father”? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? ... ‘Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these’” (John 14:8-10, 12). If Jesus hadn’t continued talking, I imagine there would have been a long uncomfortable silence in the room after he corrected Philip. I mean Jesus is throwing around some pretty theologically heavy stuff right there and just to add to that, he is calling them far beyond their expectations. He is not only responding to Philip’s request, but also grabbing Philip by the proverbial collar and saying, “That will be enough for you? Do you know what is in store for you! Don’t sell God short!”
Saturday of the Fourth Week of Easter
In today’s gospel reading, Jesus reminds the disciples that He reveals the Father in His life and His works. As disciples of Christ, we are called to follow Jesus in our words and actions, so others will see God is us. Jesus promises that if we believe in Him, He will do great works through us and this will give the Father glory.
Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter
There was only one thing I really hated about college--the pressure of making seemingly life-altering decisions. I changed my major 3 (maybe 4) times and each time it felt like I was holding my whole future in my hands and determining the trajectory of my life. At the time, it felt like a lot of pressure and I clearly remember wishing that someone would just make the decisions for me and tell me what to do. I felt like I did not know where I was going or how to get there. Now, as I journey with students at the University of Dayton who are discerning their own vocations, it is much easier to see that no matter which path one takes, Jesus is with us. It is less about what I do and more about how I do it.
Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena, Virgin and Doctor of the Church
We hear in today’s first reading Paul recounting the story of how God saved Israel and made them into the chosen people. There’s something about humanity that thrives on the stories of how we became who we are today. Who brought you to the Lord? Take time this morning to remember them and the story of how you became a faithful follower of Christ. What conversations and teachings stick with you? What actions and movements of the heart proved God’s loving way is The Way? Was it your parents, or ministers of the Church? Was it a priest or sister or brother? Was it other family members or friends? How did you come to believe, and continue believing?
Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Easter
My friend has a wonderful perspective on discipleship. He regularly reminds us, “this is our generation.” This is our generation to love and serve, this is our generation to proclaim God’s word, this is our generation to receive the Sacraments, this is our generation to evangelize. I love thinking about this concept, as it locates us within salvation history in a deeply meaningful way. We stand on the shoulders of the inspiring saints who have gone before, and we see in our children the hopefulness of the ones being prepared. But this is our generation – our chance to make a difference, our one God-given opportunity to expand the Kingdom of Heaven. Today’s first reading begins, “The word of God continued to spread and grow.” The generation of the early Church did their part. Now it’s our turn to ensure that God’s word continues to spread and grow!
Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Easter
Where are you from? When people ask you that question, what does your answer say about you? Do the favorite foods of your hometown apply? Do cultural stereotypes and weather preferences apply to you? Beyond the surface, what does claiming your hometown say about you? How do you feel when you recall your beginnings there? What elements of that life have most strongly shaped you?
Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter
There are so many options! Jesus is talking about the good shepherd, the Psalm is offering the beautiful images of our longing for God, and in Acts the covenant is being opened to the Gentiles. Amid all of that, I can only focus on Peter’s story.
Saturday of the Third Week of Easter
In today’s gospel many of Jesus’ disciples turn and walk away from Him because they find His teachings too “hard.” Living as a disciple in 2021 is difficult. Without the grace of the Spirit following Jesus would be impossible. St. Peter shows us how the power of the Spirit can not only strengthen our faith, but provide power to bring healing and new life to the world around us.
Friday of the Third Week of Easter
I generally support rational thinking and behavior that is based on logic and reason. I take it as a compliment to be referred to as a “rational person,” especially as opposed to irrational. I appreciate the predictability of math and science and recognize all the ways these disciplines have helped us as a civilization. And yet, today's readings remind me that we are sometimes called to set aside seemingly rational thinking to listen and respond with our hearts, with hearts of faith.
Thursday of the Third Week of Easter
One of the gifts of being a teacher in a Montessori school is witnessing the students being drawn to their work by the things they instinctively know they need to learn. With interest as a guide, the children master appropriate skills when they are willingly and developmentally ready to do so. In other words, they are called forward by the truth. We see a similar theme in today’s readings. It is not we who find God, but God who finds us. In Acts, Christ beckons the Ethiopian eunuch through Philip the Deacon. But, we learn, that God was already preparing the eunuch through his reading of the prophet Isaiah, readying him for the encounter with Christ.
Thursday of the Third Week of Easter
Today’s Gospel reading is part of a masterful account in which John weaves together Jesus’ miraculous feeding of the five thousand with his stunning Bread of Life discourse. John presents us with the opportunity to consider the extent to which we trust Jesus to truly satisfy us in our innermost being. Let’s contrast true satisfaction with transient satisfaction.
Tuesday of the Third Week of Easter
The crowd in the passage from John has a very short memory, makes a lot of demands, and understands little about Jesus. Just sixteen verses ago, they witnessed Jesus turn five small loaves and two fishes into enough food to feed five thousand people. Yet here, they dare to ask Jesus what sign he will give them so that they may believe him. Rather presumptuously, they even tell Jesus what sort of sign they’d like to see. How about some manna from heaven? Couldn’t Jesus give them a sign like Moses delivered to the Israelites in the desert? And if he did, why then maybe they would believe. Poor Jesus! How many signs do they need? When will they get it?
Monday of the Third Week of Easter
Fat babies. That is what I sometimes think of when I hear the word angel. I think of curly hair, chubby cheeks, big eyes, and feathery wings. I think of cute, adorable, docile creatures. But is this what Luke is asking us to imagine when using the words, “All those who sat in the Sanhedrin looked intently at [Stephen] and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.” I think not.
Saturday of the Second Week of Easter
We belong to a culture obsessed with replies. We like to have answers to every question and bumper sticker slogans to every situation. Sometimes that falls short though. For instance, maybe someone faces a tragedy and our first response is, “I don’t know what to say.” Why do we have to say anything? I think that we are so present to one another digitally that we have forgotten the power of real presence, but I think today’s readings remind us of the power of presence.
Friday of the Second Week of Easter
We were blessed to welcome our newest child, Cecilia Ann, to our family almost 8 weeks ago now. Following her birth and arrival home with us a few days later, several friends and colleagues worked together to provide dinner for us a few nights a week as we learned how to be parents of four children. What a blessing! Providing a simple meal for supper was so powerful. Many of those who contributed saw it as a small act of kindness; no big deal; happy to help. Being on the receiving end of this love and support, it does not feel at all small or minor. Our community came together and made a big impact on our little family.
Thursday of the Second Week of Easter
We humans have a tendency to think in binaries. Man and woman. Good and bad. Black and white. We tend toward them because they make what is a very complicated world simple. And that gives us a sense of power over a puzzling and complicated world. But these binaries can be very dangerous. Just think Hitler. Aryan and everyone else. Next thing you know, you have death camps.
Wednesday of the Second Week of Easter
Today’s readings speak to me of liberation, mercy, compassion, and the extravagant love of God for each one of us. I love the Easter season with its emphasis on hope, joy, forgiveness, and love! I hear the Lord inviting each of us to experience the same kind of liberation provided to the Apostles, and to walk in the freedom of knowing we are free from condemnation. Let us approach our texts today with openness and receptivity to the liberating power of God’s love.