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Friday in the Octave of Easter

From the responsorial psalm: “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. Let the house of Israel say, “His mercy endures forever.” Let those who fear the LORD say, “His mercy endures forever.” The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (Jn 21:1-14)

Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way. Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We also will come with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Jesus appears on the shore to the disciples, but at first they don’t recognize him. He asks if they have caught any fish. When they tell him no, Jesus instructs them to cast their net on the right side of the boat, and they catch an enormous number of fish. Recognizing Jesus, John says, “It is the Lord.” Peter then jumps into the water to meet Jesus, and the other disciples follow. As they reach the shore, they find a charcoal fire with fish and bread that Jesus prepared for them. He invites them to bring some of the fish and to have breakfast with him. Recognizing who it is they sit with, no one asks “Who are you?” This is the third time Jesus appears to the disciples after his resurrection. As if to return to daily life, Peter and the others get back to their occupation. In his appearance as the risen Christ, Jesus demonstrates that they can’t go back to where they were, that their lives from that moment on will be anything but ordinary.

God, help me understand where the disciples were after the resurrection of Jesus. They were lost, going back to what they knew rather than incorporating into their lives what they had learned from the teachings and works of your Son, and through his resurrection. Give me the grace to see that Easter is not an event in the past but is the living person of Jesus, alive in the glorified body and present in the Church. John says of their attempt to return to ordinary life: “but that night they caught nothing.” Lord, teach me in the ordinariness of the day to hear your voice and with joyful recognition take heart, saying, “It is the Lord.” From the sequence from today’s readings: “Christ indeed from death is risen, our new life obtaining. Have mercy, victor King, ever reigning! Amen. Alleluia.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Thursday in the Octave of Easter

From the responsorial psalm: “O LORD, our Lord, how glorious is your name over all the earth! What is man that you should be mindful of him, or the son of man that you should care for him? O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 24:35-48)

He said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And he said to them, “Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”

Gathered together in Jerusalem, the disciples who had encountered Jesus on the road to Emmaus share their experiences. Even as they speak, Jesus appears among them. “Peace be with you,” he says to them. The disciples believe at first that they are seeing a ghost, but Jesus assures them of his physical presence and invites them to touch him and see his wounds. As if to further reassure the disciples, he asks for something to eat and eats the baked fish they give him. In his presence and in opening their minds to understand the Scriptures, Jesus reveals how his passion, death, and resurrection are part of God’s plan for salvation. “You are witnesses of these things,” he tells them, reminding them of their identity and commissioning them to proclaim repentance to all the nations.

God, help me throughout the day hear the first words of Jesus as he appears to the disciples: “Peace be with you.” Startled by what they believe is a ghost, the disciples go from terror to being “incredulous for joy and were amazed.” Help me put aside the distractions and worries of the day—figments of the imagination—to see with eyes of faith that you are truly with me at all times whether or not I comprehend it. Open my mind, Lord!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

^{“The risen Jesus appears to the disciples in the upper room” flickr photo by Nick in exsilio https://flickr.com/photos/pelegrino/4669927869 shared under a Creative Commons (BY-NC-SA) license}

The Baptism of the Lord

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mk 1:7-11)

This is what John the Baptist proclaimed: “One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

In Mark’s account of the baptism of Jesus, we see from John’s point of view the revelation of his identity as the Son of God. John preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins to prepare the way for the Savior, who is anointed by the Holy Spirit as he emerges from the water. With this, the three persons of the Trinity are revealed as the Father’s voice from heaven is heard, saying, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” The Father confirms Jesus’ identity as the Son of God, Emmanuel. In the mystery of the Incarnation, God brings heaven to earth; in the resurrection and institution of the Eucharist, Jesus remains with us on earth.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD. As high as the heavens are above the earth so high are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts.” Father in heaven, help me recall your words as I begin a new week. Give me the grace to trust in your power, something I am incapable of understanding. In seeking to do your will, give me the peace of trusting in your strength and mercy. Let me take in the responsorial psalm for its depth and breadth in the result of giving glory to your name: “The voice of the LORD is over the waters, the LORD, over vast waters. The voice of the LORD is mighty; the voice of the LORD is majestic. The Lord will bless his people with peace.”

From the Gospel acclamation: “John saw Jesus approaching him, and said: Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

“We saw his star at its rising.” | The Epiphany of the Lord

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 2:1-12)

After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.

Except for the star at its rising, it is not clear how the Magi became aware of the birth of the newborn king of Israel. “We saw his star at is rising,” they tell King Herod. Trusting in their insight, yet disturbed by what they say, Herod consults with the Jewish religious leaders to gather more information. They determine through the prophecies of Micah and Samuel that Christ was to be born in Bethlehem, and Herod sends the Magi there. Herod lies to the Magi, telling them that he wishes for them to find the infant so that he too may go and do him homage. Although darkness covers the earth, the source of light at its rising is the same light that Isaiah refers to in the first reading: “Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you. . . . But upon you the LORD shines, and over you appears his glory.” To see this happening, Isaiah says, “Raise your eyes and look about.” As the Magi came to recognize as they fall on their knees before the infant Christ, that’s where their journey of faith began.

Loving Father, help me set out today and every day to find you in the midst of darkness. Give me the grace, as Saint Paul says, to become a copartner in the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel. The solemn blessing from today’s Mass makes clear that the aim of this earthly journey is “to behold the beauty of your sublime glory.” From the blessing, let me recall these words: “And so when your pilgrimage is ended, may you come to him whom the Magi sought as they followed the star and whom they found with great joy, the Light from Light, who is Christ the Lord.”

From the Gospel acclamation: “We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

“You are my beloved Son.” | Christmas Weekday | Saturday, January 6

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mk 1:7-11)

It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

John declares that someone greater than him is coming. “I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals,” he says. He emphasizes that while he baptizes with water, the one who is to come will baptize with the Holy Spirit. After the baptism of Jesus, as he comes up out of the water, the heavens open and the Holy Spirit descends upon Him in the form of a dove. As a voice from the heavens, God affirms the divine identity of his Son. In the baptism of Jesus, we see his humility and connection to humanity. The Son of God is like us in every way but sin. In the voice of his Father, we hear how we are to respond to Jesus: “Listen to him.”

Father in heaven, you testified on behalf of your Son so that we might believe him. And the testimony you have given, John says, is this: “God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever possesses the Son has life; whoever does not possess the Son of God does not have life.” Help me today to listen to your Son, to imitate him in my words and actions, in what I say and do and what I stop myself from saying and doing. Give me the grace to realize that I am your adopted son through the life, death, and resurrection of your Son so that you may say to me at the end of this day and at the threshold of eternal life: “You are my beloved son; with you I am well pleased.”

From the first reading: “God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever possesses the Son has life; whoever does not possess the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you so that you may know that you have eternal life, you who believe in the name of the Son of God.” Saint Joseph and Saint André Bessette, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

“You will see greater things than this.” | Memorial of Saint John Neumann, Bishop

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (Jn 1:43-51)

Nathanael said to [Jesus], “How do you know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”

Phillip invites his fellow townsman Nathanael to meet Jesus, but Nathanael initially voices skepticism, questioning Jesus’ divine identity. He is “son of Joseph, from Nazareth,” Philip tells Nathanael. Jesus responds to Nathanael’s skepticism with a display of divine knowledge, revealing that he was aware of Nathanael’s presence under a fig tree, to which Nathanael confesses Jesus as the Son of God and the King of Israel. “You will see greater things than this,” Jesus tells Nathanael. “You will see the sky opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” Aware of the innermost intentions of his disciples, and of all people, Jesus calls each of us by name to follow him and remain with him.

God, I look to you with hope in your mercy that you judge me not by external appearances—as I tend to judge others—but by who I am. You know me more intimately than I know myself. Help me recognize in Nathanael’s first encounter with Jesus that you also know me by name, you call me to follow you, and that faith is necessary to know you and move beyond appearances. What are the tasks you hand to me today? Whatever they are, make clear to me your will; give me the grace to me be a means of your justice and mercy. As Saint John says in the first reading: “Children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth.”

From the first reading: “Now this is how we shall know that we belong to the truth and reassure our hearts before him in whatever our hearts condemn, for God is greater than our hearts and knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence in God.” Saint John Neumann, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” | Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (LK 1:26-38)

The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”

In today’s reading for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Luke tells us in concrete detail about the annunciation. At a specific time and place in history, through the overshadowing power of the Holy Spirit, Mary would conceive and bear the Son of God, Emmanuel. At another specific time and place in history, Mary appeared to Juan Diego. She identified herself to him in relation to God, who transcends all times and all places: “I am the perfect and ever virgin Holy Mary, Mother of the God of truth through whom everything lives, the Lord of all things near us, the Lord of heaven and earth.” God, who entered human history once long ago, never ceases to be present. In the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, we have an abundance of God’s gifts so that we are free to respond by living lives full of grace in the presence of the Lord.

God, just as Gabriel found Mary, you find me in the ordinariness of this specific time and place. Help me realize that you are active in my life, that you are with me, and that through your Son I have all I need to receive the fullness of your grace. I have in Mary the example of life lived in complete abandonment to your will; without the stain of original sin, Immaculate Mary experienced the unobstructed fullness of your grace. Help me see in Mary a model for eliminating the things in this life that prevent me from receiving all of the grace you desire to give me for the sake of your glory. Help me always be ready to say yes to you in recognizing your will.

From the Gospel acclamation: “Blessed are you, holy Virgin Mary, deserving of all praise; from you rose the sun of justice, Christ our God.” Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

“Rise and walk.” | Monday of the Second Week of Advent

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 5:17-26)

Jesus knew the thoughts of the scribes and Pharisees and said to them in reply, “What are you thinking in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”–he said to the one who was paralyzed, “I say to you, rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.”

As Jesus teaches, some men bring a man on a stretcher who is paralyzed. Because of the crowd, they are unable to bring the man before Jesus, so they go up to the roof and lower the stretcher through the roof. Seeing their faith, Jesus says, “As for you, your sins are forgiven.” Knowing the thoughts of the scribes and Pharisees, Jesus poses a question: Is it easier to say your sins are forgiven or rise and walk. As Jesus tells the man to rise, pick up his stretcher, and go home, he stands up immediately and went home, glorifying God. Seized with astonishment, they all glorify God, and struck with awe, say: “We have seen incredible things today.” In response to their faith, Jesus demonstrates that he has authority to forgive sins and by that same authority heal illnesses.

God, open my mind to the truth of your healing power. It is not limited either to spiritual or physical dimensions of the person but has at its source your divine authority as exercised by your Son. Let me see the relationship between sin and overall well-being, ready always to go to the sacraments to receive forgiveness, strength, and spiritual nourishment. Those who witnessed the healing of the paralyzed man were amazed and filled with awe, giving you glory. Help me recall the times in my life when I have witnessed in awe your divine authority as a merciful and saving God who comes to strengthen and restore us.

From the first reading: “They will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God. Strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak, Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not!”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Second Sunday of Advent

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (MK 1:1-8)

And this is what John proclaimed: “One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

At the beginning of the Gospel according to Mark, he tells us how John fulfills what Isaiah had written. Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way. A voice of one crying out in the desert: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” In baptizing the people of the Judean countryside and as they acknowledged their sins, John prepared them for the coming of the one who would baptize with the Holy Spirit, the Messiah. Jesus calls us today to participate in the sacraments of reconciliation and the Eucharist as a way to prepare ourselves for his coming.

God, help me make good use of this Advent to prepare for the birth of Our Savior. Every day is a fresh opportunity to approach you in the sacraments, in prayer, and in being loving and generous with the gifs you first gave us. You call me to hear and do your will, and to do that there are attachments to let go of, arms that need to be emptied to be able to receive you. God, give me the grace to prepare myself for the coming of Christ your Son.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

“Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.” | Saturday of the First Week of Advent

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 9:35–10:1, 5a, 6-8)

Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, “Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.”

To receive without cost is easy; to give without cost, much less so. As Matthew illustrates, Jesus excludes no one in going around all the towns and villages teaching in synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. His love is unconditional, without cost. Then, turning to the disciples, he tells them to do the same—to give without cost. “The Kingdom of heaven is at hand,” he tells them. And he instructs them on their mission: “cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.” For all human limitations and weaknesses, how is this possible? With a word and through his example, Jesus makes it possible, giving them authority to do all of these things—without cost, a gift to be given to others.

God, when I hear the words “without cost you are to give” I feel unable to live up to that command. Yet, with it comes the trust necessary to be obedient. In the first reading from Isaiah, you show how tenderly you care for your people, giving them an abundance of gifts, caring for daily needs and binding up wounds. “While from behind, a voice shall sound in your ears: ‘This is the way; walk in it,’ when you would turn to the right or to the left.” Lord, give me the bread that I need and the water for which I thirst.

From the responsorial psalm: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He tells the number of the stars; he calls each by name. Blessed are all who wait for the Lord.” Lord, teach me to entrust to you my needs.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.