Friday, May 15, 2026

 

Friday of the Sixth Week of Easter

(Acts 18:9-18; John 16:20-23)

Successful poker players know when to play their hand and when to give it up.  From years of experience, they have a sense when their cards will win and when they will lose.  Similarly, in today’s reading from Acts Paul has an intuitive “vision” what the Lord Jesus wants him to do.  He has developed a firm understanding of his will through years of prayer.  He can say with confidence that the Lord wants him to stay in Corinth to preach the gospel.

Corinth is Greece’s principal port city.  From it ships traverse the Mediterranean, the center of the western world.  Based there, preachers have access to all the known nations.  The city was like a major airport hub city today.  From it preachers can easily reach the places in need of the Word of God.  Probably for this reason, the Lord wants Paul to establish a Christian base there.

In Paul’s vision the Lord assures him of both his accompaniment and his influence.  These advantages are immediately evidenced.  Gallio, the proconsul or governor of Corinth, is such a “friend” of the Lord.  He dismisses the Jews’ charge against Paul as frivolous so that Paul can continue preaching. 

The Lord is with us as well.  We need to develop a close relationship with him through prayer.  Then he will tell us when to proceed on a project and when to give it up as futile.  Paul gives the reason for his confidence in his Letter to the Romans: “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Thursday, May 14, 2026

 

Feast of Saint Matthias, apostle

(Acts 1:15-17.20-26; John 15:9-17)

Today’s reading from Acts gives us hope and a warning.  Peter proclaims, “’The Scripture had to be fulfilled.’”  He is referring to Psalm 41 which says: “Even the friend who had my trust, who shared my table, has scorned me.”  His statement also rings true generally.  Scripture, the Word of God, will be fulfilled.  It includes the good news that God exonerates us from sin when we embrace His grace.  The gospel will likewise alleviate the fear deep within that our sins and shortcomings will ruin us.

Peter’s message implies that those of us who betray Jesus will be punished.  Whether because they do not follow Jesus’ teachings or because they absolutely reject Jesus as Lord, betrayers will be ousted from the community of the saved.  This judgment may sound harsh until we think of all the ways Jesus has favored us.

Do you suppose Matthias was happy to be chosen to replace Judas?  Maybe not!  The apostles were told that they would suffer the fate of Jesus, which meant a violent death. Yet he promised as well that he would accompany them until the end.  That is not death but eternal life.  This promise has become Scripture to be fulfilled.  With Jesus at our side as well, there is nothing to fear.  The bad news-good news we hear from Peter becomes our assurance of reaching our destiny in Christ.

 

Wednesday, May 13, 2026

 Wednesday of the Sixth Week of Easter

 (Acts 7:15.22-18.1; John 16:12-15)

 No doctrine of the Church is harder to grasp than the Holy Trinity.  How the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are both three and one almost defies explanation.  They are not three individuals making up a collective like a three-person volleyball team.  The three persons have but one mind and one will.  The Son, of course, has taken on a human nature, which involves his body in his heavenly presence.  But this extrinsic quality does not explain the real difference among the three.  They differ only by their relationships – one is Father; one is Son; and one is the life or Spirit among them.  In today’s gospel Jesus reassures his disciples with reference to the unique triad and unity of the Holy Trinity.

Jesus underscores the unity of the Trinity when he says that the Spirit will teach only what it receives from him.  In turn Jesus passes on only what he has received from the Father.  One might ask whether only the Spirit would be present to Jesus’ disciples or to Christians today.  No, Jesus has said in this same discourse that all three are present to his disciples.  The Church would formulate the Trinity’s presence in this way: “The Father is present to us through the Son and in the Holy Spirit.”

Although they are one, we can develop a relationship with each of the three divine persons.  To do this daily we can make an examination of conscience with the three in mind.  We can say, “Thank you” to the Father, the source of all things, for any good that we have experienced during the day.  We can say, “Forgive me,” to the Son who died because of our sins for any sins we committed.  And we can say, “Please…” to the Holy Spirit who is sent to help us for any special need we have tomorrow.

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

 

Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter

(Acts 16:22-34; John 16:5-11)

Robert Duvall, the recently deceased actor, made a movie called “The Apostle.”  He played the title role, a flawed but charismatic preacher.  The movie ends with the preacher on a chain gang leading fellow prisoners in a song praising the Lord.  Much like Paul and Barnabas in today’s reading from Acts, he never stopped evangelizing.

Song lifts up hearts.  It is especially helpful when working with children, the aged and the sick.  These people have limited self-preoccupation so that they aren’t embarrassed raising their voices, even if they sing off key.  Asking them to sing praise to God not only evangelizes; it also heightens their hope.

Nevertheless, singing is usually better when done well.  Even those who are inhibited when quality is lacking may be stirred to join in good singing.  In any case, singing praise to God should be encouraged because it gives God added glory.

Monday, May 11, 2026

 

Monday of the Sixth Week of Easter

(Acts 16:11-15; John 15:26-16:4a)

A most disconcerting aspect of the allegations against Cesar Chavez is that he was a representative of the Catholic Church as well as farmworker justice.  Chavez featured an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe on his protest marches.  He also acknowledged Catholic social teaching as a basis for worker rights, and he consulted churchmen on his policies and practices.  He even broke a twenty-five day fast by publicly taking Holy Communion.

Now that he is being discredited, the urgency of Jesus’ statement in today’s gospel that his followers testify to him is underscored.  Like priests’ abusing children, Chavez’ actions will turn people away from Christ instead of toward him.  They will deny themselves the truth and coherency of Christ’s teaching.  They will also be hindered from the benefit of faith in death.  It may be said without pretension that the welfare of the world depends upon good Christian witness.  Chavez unfortunately gave the opposite.

In a way we are in a bind.  We know that, by-and-large, committed Christians are faithful to Christ’s moral teachings.  Yet the exceptions to this rule cause public scandal and resultant harm.  Should we hide our faith so that we do not bring disgrace to Christ?  Of course, this suggestion opposes Jesus’ desire that we give testimony to him.  Rather a much better way of life is to develop virtue by right living when seen and unseen and by asking the Lord to send his Spirit to assist us.