Monday of the Second Week of Easter
Poor Nicodemus! He never saw it coming. Ask the young rabbi from Nazareth a question like “How can a man be born again when he is old?” and you’re going to get an earful! Not that Nicodemus minded. We can assume that he wanted to bend Jesus’ ear for some time and found an opportunity under the cloak of darkness. An understatement to say, John’s Jesus has plenty to talk about. Most of this week we will hear from chapter three of John. Each day zeros on this all-nighter session between the itinerant teacher from the Galilee and the established, well-known and well-educated Pharisee.
Saturday in the Octave of Easter
It seems that the third time is the charm. In today’s Gospel passage, we read that the apostles did not believe Jesus was alive after being told first by Mary Magdalene and then by the two disciples walking to the country (see Luke 24:13–35). What can we learn from this passage, and how can we apply it to our lives today?
Friday in the Octave of Easter
During the Easter Season, we do not read the first scripture lesson from the Old Testament as is customary the rest of the year, but we read from the Acts of the Apostles. This is partly to emphasize that Jesus’ resurrection has brought about something new. God is doing a new thing in the midst of the old and we emphasize this by reading only from the New Testament. But there is another, perhaps more significant reason to bring in readings from the Acts of the Apostles: we cannot fully realize the meaning and importance of the resurrection without understanding its aftermath.
Thursday in the Octave of Easter
On Easter Sunday night, two disillusioned disciples hightail it out of a Jerusalem fraught with danger. They’d hitched their caboose to the Jesus train (so to speak), and it derailed big time: a faith shattering body blow —- or so they thought. A stranger, the veiled Jesus appearing clueless about the horrible incidents of the last three days, walks beside them. Has he been living under a rock?, they wonder. Their fearful hearts were closed to recognize him.
Wednesday in the Octave of Easter
I am struck by the image of “the Beautiful Gate” referenced in Acts today. There are so many beautiful doorways to God; so many invitations to have our eyes opened and to recognize that we are in the presence of Christ. The disciples on the way to Emmaus walk with Christ, who opens the beautiful gate of scripture, shining the light of scripture to illuminate all that they had encountered in their journey with Jesus and the disorienting events of the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. When they enter the beautiful gate of scripture together, their hearts burn within them. When they press him to stay with them and offer hospitality, they enter the beautiful gate of a shared meal, and their eyes are opened.
As Catholics, we know and experience the power of the seven Sacraments. These sacraments are important gateways in our relationship with God. These Sacraments also point us to the sacramental nature of daily life, what we often call small “s” sacraments. In the first millennium or so of the Church, there were varying numbers of sacraments; Augustine numbered more than a thousand! It was not until the Council of Trent in the 1500s that we officially named the seven sacraments, though by popular understanding, we had moved in that direction.
Today, we understand the power of these seven Sacraments as unique and special gateways to Christ’s presence here and now. We also understand that these seven, point us to the sacramental nature of daily life, the many beautiful gateways to God’s love and presence here and now in material reality. Every time we gather and share our lives and scripture in our homes, on a walk with a friend, this is a beautiful gate, a sacrament of God’s love. Every time we offer hospitality, when we eat a meal sitting together fully present to one another with phones down, this is a beautiful gate.
In Acts today, I am struck by the power of looking someone in the eye. I think of the times when I drive to Mass or work and see someone begging at the exit ramp. When I take the time to look them in the eye or roll down my window and share my name and ask them their name as I hand a granola bar or apple to them. What a beautiful gate it is for each of us to see one another eye to eye, human to human. In this springtime season, when I pause in my rush to the next meeting or task and literally stop to smell the hyacinth, viburnum, or lilacs - what a beautiful gate to God’s love. That is sacramentality. And that prepares us to more fully celebrate the Sacrament of Eucharist with its particular celebration of the Word of God and Bread of Life, Christ present among us!
Today, may we notice the beautiful gates all around us and walk through them with joy!
—Kelly Adamson
Tuesday in the Octave of Easter
Today’s Gospel is one of my all-time favorites, one that I often return to when dealing with difficulties, in my own life or when what’s going on in the world is heavy on my mind and heart. Mary Magdalene, a dear friend and disciple of Jesus is weeping, peering into the empty tomb. I’m sure when she’s asked “Woman, why are you weeping?” it seems a ridiculous question. Of course she’s weeping. Jesus has died, and now she doesn’t even know where his body is. Note that in order to encounter Jesus in her grief, she has to turn around – to stop peering into the dark place of the tomb. I think that’s a very important point. Sometimes we are so caught up by the dark and empty spaces in our lives, or in the world that we can’t see the one who stands behind us. We need to turn around and look into the light.
Even then, at first, she doesn’t recognize Jesus, until he speaks her name. Mary is an example here of one who hears and knows the Shepherd’s voice (Jn 10:4). Only then, when she has turned to the light and has listened to him calling her name, Mary is sent as an apostle to the Apostles. Later, in John’s first epistle, he describes the experience of being entrusted with Good News: “What we have seen and heard and touched with our hands, we proclaim now to you. (1 Jn: 1-3)” The challenge and gift today is to be open in our weakness and proneness to be overcome by the darkness in our world or perhaps the sadness in our own lives. We are called to turn around and look to the light, to listen for God’s loving voice speaking our name, and to speak good news to those around us and to the world God loves.
—Sr. Laura Leming, FMI
Monday in the Octave of Easter
The risen Christ goes ahead of his disciples to Galilee. There they will see him. Back to Galilee where it all began, their lives as disciples begins anew. Galilee is where the first disciples became followers of Jesus. And Galilee was the last place from which the messiah was expected — although it seemed as though there was one on every corner. Galilee was full of fanatics, upheaval, banditry, and rebellion. Brutal Roman domination led to a forest of crosses planted across the blood soaked land. In Galilee hope was of short supply. Back to Galilee?
Holy Saturday
In an article published just last week, The New York Times reported the following: “Roman Catholic Churches See a Surge of New Converts.” Really? I thought church membership and participation had been declining for some years in the US. And that is true. But it turns out that more recently that decline has leveled off.
Okay, so church membership/participation is not in decline at the moment in the US. But a “surge of new converts”? Seriously?
Good Friday of the Lord's Passion
I have somewhat of a “love-hate” relationship with Good Friday. The fasting is challenging (at least for me it is). We’re very close to Easter but aren’t there yet. We have to face the cross first, the suffering. It’s not easy. Yet there’s also the beauty of the cross, the beauty of this mid-point of the Triduum – the liturgy and rituals that the Church, in her wisdom, provides us with in its fullness. We know there truly is no Easter without the Cross, there is no resurrection without death. Yet, I’d prefer to avoid the “death” part, the suffering, not just mine (as minor as it is), but Jesus’ suffering – which, as we read in today’s passion narrative from John, Peter tried to prevent with the sword, and then (very humanly) out of fear and weakness later denied even knowing Jesus.
Holy Thursday
Today is Holy Thursday- the celebration of the Last Supper and the institution of the Eucharist as a central part of our Catholic faith. Jesus takes bread and wine and blesses it to become His Body and Blood. As His disciples, we are also called to become and be the Body of Christ in the world. How can we live out that reality in our daily lives?
Wednesday of Holy Week
Every year during Holy Week or early in the Easter season, I watch one of my favorite religious movies, Mary Magdalene (2018). One of the many things I appreciate about this film is its portrayal of Judas. We know that Judas was one of the Twelve, a follower of Jesus who loves him. We know, too, that Jesus's closest followers did not understand what was about to unfold, or how God’s reign would come. In fact, Peter, armed and ready for war, draws his sword in defense of Jesus in the garden. While it’s easy to assume that Judas was motivated by greed or some other sinister reason, this film offers a different possibility.
Tuesday of Holy Week
The difference between what we are called to be and what we actually are can be pretty stark sometimes. In the first reading, we heard what might sound like a coach’s pep talk before a big game. “It’s not enough for you to be my servant. I will make you a light to the nations!” Then in the second reading, Jesus predicts Peter will deny that he even knows our lord, not once, but three times. Peter, the first Pope, leader of the Church, which is a light to the nations! Whose idea was it to put him in charge?
Monday of Holy Week
The well known tale of the sinful woman who anoints the feet of Jesus assumes that the woman is Mary Magdalene. But the Gospels never claim that. Mary Magdalene never once took an alabaster jar to anoint either Jesus’ head or his feet to the chagrin of guests watching her. Anyone who thinks that needs to go and re-read the gospel passages.
Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Immediately preceding today’s Gospel, John recounts the preeminent sign in Jesus’ public ministry, the raising of Lazarus. As the story unfolds here, we find ourselves at a fork in the road, a critical juncture for Jesus and for us. Will we believe and follow or deny and condemn? Will we embrace life or choose death? Confronted with our Lord, the religious leaders and the people of Jesus’ day had to choose. So do we. Lord, today and always, please give us the grace to believe you, to love you, and to die and rise in you.
Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Game shows like to heighten suspense by asking, “Is that your final answer?” , which potentially psyches out the contestant. Today’s scriptures display a similar kind of suspenseful questioning, but for Christians, these readings will not psyche us out, but give us some faith and hope.
Today’s gospel reading (John 10:31-42) depicts just one of the many times that people have tried to arrest or kill Jesus. Thus far, it seems, Jesus stands as the traditional hero in an action film, capable of pulling stunning disappearing acts and just managing to escape from tight spots to the relief of adoring fans. Jesus is working against evil and going around doing good, and all the while managing to stay one step ahead of his enemies. But as we already know, Jesus’ enemies will one day succeed. Jesus’ own successes will disappear and in their place, his enemies will have appeared to succeed to the point of killing him.
Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent
“Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me.”
Ah, but names can hurt! Names matter. Jesus illustrates this today, in giving himself a new name in our Gospel, “I AM,” the holy name that God revealed to Moses from the burning bush.
Many biblical figures and persons throughout history changed their names or had their names changed for them. In teaching the New Testament, I was compelled (especially with adolescents) to make clear that “Christ” was not Jesus’ surname (in fact it was “Bar Yosef”). The good Ursulines who taught me for 12 years insisted on addressing us by our full baptismal names “because that is the name you are known by God.”
Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
Have you ever wanted to ask God for a sign, but resisted? I have. Sometimes it feels silly, like I’m asking God to perform a magic trick. It’s not magic, though, to ask God to reassure us or to point out the way we should go, to announce God’s desire for our life. It’s a sign of trust in a loving God. I suspect that our reluctance to ask for signs, like Ahaz's, is rooted in fear. It can be difficult to trust the enormity of God’s love for each of us.
Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Today we remember St. Oscar Romero, archbishop of San Salvador and martyr who was assassinated while celebrating Eucharist on March 24, 1980. He was a voice for justice and peace in El Salvador, calling for mercy and reconciliation in a time of conflict. He was killed because he refused to side with the government, and combined charity and compassion for the poor of El Salvador with a passion for justice. Like Jesus, he challenged both religious authorities (fellow Bishops) and the world and continued to speak the truth, knowing this could cost him his life. He gave hope to the people over radio broadcasts, reminding them that they were the church and called to be prophets. Days before he died, Archbishop Romero told a reporter, “You can tell the people that if they succeed in killing me, that I forgive and bless those who do it. Hopefully, they will realize they are wasting their time. A bishop will die, but the church of God, which is the people, will never perish.” In a country of only 5.5 million - over 75,00 Salvadorans would be killed, one million would flee the country, another million left homeless, constantly on the run from the army.
Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent
The accused woman left standing before our Blessed Lord today is representative of those who are condemned by the self-righteousness of others. It has been suggested that the only sin for which Jesus of Nazareth had little patience is the sin of self-righteousness.
Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Some in the crowd who heard these words of Jesus said,
"This is truly the Prophet."
Others said, "This is the Christ."
But others said, "The Christ will not come from Galilee, will he?
Does not Scripture say that the Christ will be of David's family
and come from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?" (John 7: 40-41)
In Jesus’ time, people expected certain things from the Messiah, such as being from Bethlehem and a descendant of King David. Most likely, they also expected him to be a leader who would militarily overthrow the Romans. Jesus, however, was a nonviolent figure from Galilee of seemingly unknown origin (they did not realize he was from David’s family). Likewise, today’s Gospel challenges us to examine our expectations of Jesus.