Friday, May 8, 2026

 

Friday of the Fifth Week of Easter

(Acts 15:22-31; John 15:12-17)

Sr. Marie Chin was a Sister of Mercy from Jamaica who became famous as a speaker on the spirituality of mercy.  She told the story of how she discovered mercy with the help of a leper.  When she was in secondary school she accompanied a woman religious to a leper colony.  Knocking on the door of one of the huts, they heard a voice from inside say, “Come in.” Entering, she saw something that repulsed her.  The leper, named Miss Lillian, had a completely deformed face.  When she stretched out her arm, which was little more than a stump without fingers, to the youth, Marie was taken aback again.  “Go on,” Miss Lillian prodded, “put your hand in mine.”  Marie responded, “I can’t; I’m afraid.”  The leper woman said, “Yes, you can.”  Marie said that she did not know where the grace came to touch the rotten flesh, but suddenly she was shaking hands with the leper. The story may help us to understand why Jesus has to command us to love one another.

As anyone over twenty should realize, love is often not easy.  Fyodor Dostoyevsky called love in action “a harsh and dreadful thing.”  Love, after all, requires commitment and often suffering as well.  We could never love everybody, and some of us might never love anybody without Jesus’ command.  We also need Jesus’ help to accomplish the seemingly impossible feat of loving as he loved. 

Let us not worry if we do not feel affection for others.  Affection is not of the essence of love.  We must, however, treat everyone with respect.  Those for whom we feel a particular repulsion we can, at least, pray for.  We pray that they receive God’s grace to become better people and to know His eternal love.

 

Thursday, May 7, 2026

 

Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter

(Acts 15:7-21; John 15:9-11)

The primitive Church community faces a monumental problem in today’s reading from Acts. Should it set aside the Jewish law that has given its members a sense of distinctiveness, rectitude, and stability to accept new members who for good reason cannot abide by the rule?  The Church here is not alone in confronting a dilemma imposed by the law.  In the play Billy Budd, the protagonist -- as innocent a soul as ever existed -- is tried for an infraction that carries a death sentence. Budd did what was prohibited by law, but the circumstances seem to excuse him.

Maliciously accused by an officer of mutiny, Budd’s speech impediment incapacitated him from defending himself verbally.  To protest the lie, Budd struck the officer who fell to the floor, hit his head, and died.  The jury must decide if Budd is guilty of striking an officer.  Similarly in the first reading, the governing body of apostles and presbyters must decide whether God permits willing but uncircumcised men into the community of disciples.  Peter provides the winning argument.  He tells the jury that circumcision, the traditional sign of faith, is not the only sign.  Rather evidence of being moved by the Holy Spirit provides even greater evidence of a person’s faith.  

After James, the leader of the community, indicates agreement with Peter, the leadership decides to allow admittance of uncircumcised men to the community.  In contrast, Billy Budd is hanged for his action.  We are chastened to be very discerning about how we judge.  Rules need not dictate every case.  Rather intent and other circumstances may affect culpability.

Wednesday, May 6, 2026

Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter

(Acts 15:1-6; John 15:1-8)

“Mary’s Meals” sounds like a local church outreach to impoverished homebound people.  The reality, however, is that the organization feeds three million children a day at educational sites in seventeen underdeveloped countries.  The organization was founded by a Catholic Scotsman as the fruit of his devotion to the Blessed Mother.  It exemplifies the abundant fruit on the branches in today’s gospel parable.

Jesus uses the image of a vine and branches to indicate the potential of his love.  Staying connected to Jesus, disciples receive a copious supply of his love.  Nourished by that love, they will do much good.  Disciples are under the Father’s care.  He will prune them of defects that hinder fructification.  But disciples must stay connected to Jesus through Scripture and the sacraments.  If they wander from him, their fruit will taste like bitter grapes.

Sometimes our lives become very busy.  We have a dozen things to do and very little time.  We may have to limit our prayer, but we should never eliminate it.  Quite the contrary, we should pray as we begin to address the demands before us and periodically turn to Jesus in our activity.  Keeping Jesus in mind will make our work abundantly worthwhile.

Tuesday, May 5, 2026

 

Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter

(Acts 14:19-28; John 14:27-31a)

Most Americans are aware of Adolph Hitler’s false promise of peace to English Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain before World War II.  Far fewer realize that the United States government made a similar bogus promise to the Sioux Nation in 1868.  In the Treaty of Fort Laramie the U.S. government promised the Sioux a reservation that included the Black Hills.  Then, after gold was discovered in the Black Hills. Congress unilaterally abrogated that treaty.  The point here is not to condemn the United States, but to show how tenuous peace is among humans. 

For this reason Jesus tells his disciples in today’s gospel that the peace he gives is not like the world’s peace.  His peace is the shalom of closeness to God.  Its surety might be compared to the security a child feels sleeping between his parents.  Jesus can promise this peace because in dying to redeem the People, he carries out his Father’s will.

We should be wary of false promises of peace in our day.  A home in the country, a cruise in the Mediterranean, or a luxury SUV may turn into a nightmare.  But when we put our trust in God, we will not end disappointed.

Monday, May 4, 2026

 

Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter

(Acts 14:5-18; John 14:21-26)

Today’s reading from Acts relates to what Pope Leo XIV told the people of Angola two weeks ago.  The reading tells how St. Paul chastises the people of Lystra for wanting to offer sacrifices to men as if they were gods.  In Angola Pope Leo warned the people of syncretism, the amalgamation of established faith with pagan practices to essentially form a new religion.

Appearing in Christian practice, syncretism corrupts the truth of faith.  When the Lystrians prepare sacrifices for Paul and Barnabas, they are making them gods.  They should realize, before they lose their way to Him, that the true God requires their utmost devotion.  If they dally with other gods, who can give them nothing, they will not develop the sacrificial love that leads to salvation.

We think of syncretism as a practice of unsophisticated people. But individuals in developed countries also practice syncretistic belief.  Burying a statue of St. Joseph upside-down to sell one’s house, for example, combines superstition with the cult of the saints.  Something similar may be said of entering a church for Mass and then refusing to participate in the prayers.  We can depend on God’s love for us.  But our love for God, which is necessary for salvation, requires the truth of faith.

Sunday, May 3, 2026

FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

(Acts 6:1–7; 1 Peter 2:4–9; John 14:1–12)

Each year during the seven weeks of Easter, we hear passages from the Acts of the Apostles. This biblical book narrates the development of the early Christian community in Jerusalem and shows how the Holy Spirit promotes the spread of the Gospel throughout the world. The reading we hear today recounts how the community overcomes a problem inherent in every human organization.

Administrative problems appear in organizations as small as the family and as large as the national government. It is inevitable that, at some point, those responsible for administration will overlook someone’s need or have disagreements among themselves. The early Christian community is no exception. But it is exceptional in that it resolves the problem without resentment (at least as recorded in Acts) and with dependence on God.

Believers follow Jesus by holding close to their hearts certain principles regarding the disposition of material resources. First, no one should be in need. Clearly, the concern here is for the poor. Second, everyone should place their goods at the service of the community. This principle challenges especially the well to do. Typically, they have worked hard to obtain their possessions and do not want to see them wasted. And third, the apostles should distribute goods from the community dispensary according to each person’s need.

However, as the community experiences rapid growth, the apostles are unable to meet the increasing demand. The reading tells us that the widows of the Greek-speaking group are lacking food. They are Jews of the diaspora, who settled in Jerusalem and converted to Jesus. They turn to the apostles for help in sustaining themselves. But, being devoted to preaching, the apostles cannot meet their needs. For this reason, they must find another way to care for the widows.

Their procedure is instructive. Rather than viewing the problem as political, the apostles address it as administrative. That is, they do not dwell on why it is the “Greek widows” who are in need. Instead, they propose a solution that may cost them influence but will, in the long run, benefit everyone. They call the community together to select seven men who can serve as administrators of the communal pantry.

Three qualities are proposed for selecting the seven. Each must be a man of good reputation so that people can trust him. He must be filled with the Holy Spirit in order to guide others in ways of justice. Finally, he must have prudence to manage the common resources. Then the apostles lay hands on them to invoke the Spirit, who grants them the authority to carry out their new ministry.

We might ask how the Holy Spirit comes to the seven. Today’s Gospel gives us the key to understanding the transmission of the Holy Spirit. Jesus says that he goes to prepare a place for his disciples in his Father’s house. We often think of God’s house as being in some heaven beyond the stars. But at the beginning of this Gospel, Jesus associates his Father’s house with his own body. Jesus prepares a place for us in his Father’s house by giving himself over to be crucified and rising from the dead. Baptized into this Paschal mystery, we become members of the Body of Christ, the house of the Father where the Holy Spirit dwells.

The presence of the Holy Spirit within us gives us a new life of grace to live in this world with eternal life as our goal. The seven receive a double portion of the Spirit for their ministry of attending to the physical needs of the people.

We are approaching Pentecost, the feast of the Holy Spirit. More than celebrating the “birthday of the Church,” it is a time to reflect on how the Holy Spirit is guiding us and to ask for the gifts needed to do His will. He will not fail us. He must renew the face of the earth, and He wants us to help Him in this task.

Friday, May 1, 2026

 

Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter

(Acts 13:26-33; John 14:1-6)

In driving out its merchants, Jesus equated the Temple with his Father’s house.  “’… stop making my Father’s house a marketplace,’” he said.  He also likened the Temple to his own body.  “’Destroy this Temple,’” he added referring to his body, “’and in three days I will raise it up.’”  In today’s passage he speaks of going to his Father’s house to prepare places for his disciples. Of course, he is not speaking of tidying guest rooms.  Rather he has in mind making his disciples members of his Body.

He does this, as Thomas understandably does not yet realize, by suffering crucifixion and rising from the dead.  It is a brutal road.  Jesus is the one whose heart should be troubled.  But he bravely underplays his own emotion to take note of his disciples’ anxiety.

As members of Jesus’ Body, we too suffer and rise.  The experience brings us a new intimacy with God and with one another.  Suffering with Christ, we develop a dependence on the Father that magnifies faith.  We also acquire empathy – that virtue which enables solidarity with the poor.  We need not be troubled by Jesus' having gone away, only by our unwillingness to follow.  

Thursday, April 30, 2026

Thursday of the Fourth Week of Easter

(Acts 13:13-25; John 13:16-20)

In John Milton’s epic poem Paradise Lost the great angel Lucifer takes a definitive stand against the Lord God. “I will not serve,” he says.  To emphasize the point, he gives his reason.  It is “better to reign in hell” he says, “than to serve in heaven.”   Then, after distorting the notion of service, he goes off to bring havoc to the world.

For some, service undermines the exalted idea they have of themselves.  It shows them that they are not the force that sets the universe in motion but a small cog in the order of things.  Yet Jesus served -- very visibly the night he took off his tunic to wash the feet of his disciples.  Service then does not demean our stature; quite the contrary, it conforms us to the Lord.  When we serve faithfully and well, we show ourselves worthy of a place in God’s house, a seat at His table.

The reference to Judas in the gospel reading today points to a man who, like Lucifer, refuses to serve.  It is thought – perhaps because he was the treasurer of the community -- that Judas rivaled Peter as head disciple.  In the reading Jesus implies that Judas’ difficulty is that he cannot see himself taking off his tunic, much less give his life, in faithful service.  Thus, he too takes a definitive stand against the Lord.

Wednesday, April 29, 2026

Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena, Virgin and Doctor of the Church

(Acts 12;24-13:5A; John 12:44-50)

To appreciate Catherine of Siena, we might think of Joan of Arc.  Like the Maid of Orleans, Catherine was a young woman from whom older men took orders.  Both were anomalies revered for their bravery in worldly affairs: Joan in warfare and Catherine in both Church and civil politics.

Catherine was raised in a pious family without formal education but with a fervent spirituality.  As a child, she gave herself to Christ with whom she shared spiritual intimacy.  In her teens she deepened her relationship with the Lord by living three years in isolation on her family’s property.  Then at seventeen or eighteen she burst onto the world with a mission to Church, state and “family.”  Her charisma was so enthralling that a diverse group of followers traveled with her and called her “Mama.“  She acted as a peace legate among the city-states of Italy.  Most importantly, she influenced Pope Gregory XI to leave the decades-long papal retreat in Avignon.  And her vast correspondence counseled hundreds of people from prisoners to kings.   

Catherine was eccentric in ways, perhaps most of all in her love for Christ.  As with Catherine, a vivacious love for Christ can spur to accomplish much good.  It may not move us to great achievements, but it can enable us to live for God.

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Easter

(Acts 11:19-26; John 10:22-30)

The Jews want Jesus to reveal his full identity.  They see that he is a capable teacher and prodigious deeds.  But is he the long-awaited Messiah?  “’If you are the Christ, tell us plainly,’” they demand.  Of course, they mean the one who will convert his knowledge into battle strategy and his deeds into victory over their Roman occupiers.

Many today unknowingly ask the same question of Jesus.  Is he the Messiah?  Of course, they do not mean a military hero but one who could assure fulfilment of their desires.  They see their salvation in a meaningful life with challenging work, the benefits of large compensation, and interesting friends.

But these outcomes are not what Jesus promises in the Gospel.  Especially in the version of John, Jesus offers his followers “eternal life.”  For most this means a heavenly placement after death.  And that’s too “iffy” of a proposition to hold their attention.  So, they place their hopes in the expectations from being accepted to a top-tiered university: prestige, connections, even a good education. 

But Jesus’ offer of “eternal life” includes more than out of this world retirement benefits.  It is being part of his flock with him as a sure guide whom they can encounter spiritually.  It is living with the other “sheep” – some of whom exceed us in every way.  It is knowing that the trials, which all lives have, are not obstacles in the way of happiness.  On the contrary, they are facilitators of a closer relationship with the one who conquered death.  How can we not accept him as Messiah?

Monday, April 27, 2026

 

Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter

(Acts 11:1-18; John 10:11-18)

A woman had an executive position with a Church organization.  Yet she put her life on hold to take care of her mother in a persistent vegetative state.  The woman was not looking for admiration, much less to be called a saint or to be paid.  She gave of herself out of love for her mother and for God.  She wanted to please God who, she knew, commanded attention to one’s parents.  This woman was acting like Jesus as he describes himself in today’s gospel.

The gospel completes Jesus’ Good Shepherd Discourse begun in yesterday’s mass.  Where yesterday he identified himself as the “gate for the sheep,” today he uses the more familiar metaphor.  He gives two reasons why the analogy obtains.  First, he will die for his sheep, and secondly, he knows his sheep.  Jesus also knows that God, the Father, loves him for giving his life to save his sheep.

When we pray to God, “…lead us not into temptation,” we are asking deliverance from situations like the woman in the true story or like Jesus.  If we do find ourselves facing a difficult task, there may be alternatives which would cost us less than everything. Nevertheless, we should also pray regularly that if complete self-sacrifice is ever required, we will summon the love and courage to meet the challenge.

 

Sunday, April 26, 2026

Fourth Sunday of Easter

(Acts 2:14.36-41; I Peter 2:20-25; John 10:1-10)

Fifty years ago, some laypeople and clergy objected to referring to the laity as “sheep.” Their argument was that most people associate sheep with incompetence, submissiveness, and fear. They maintained that many laypeople are well educated, articulate, and quite capable of making decisions for their own good.

Without wishing to offend anyone, the comparison can be defended with three observations. First, the Bible—and especially this Gospel of John—refers to the faithful as sheep in need of strong and sensible shepherds. Second, the comparison is not really an insult, since sheep are not as weak as popular opinion suggests. Farmers and scientists recognize the intelligence of sheep: they can recognize faces, find natural remedies for their illnesses, and know how to protect themselves when a storm is approaching.

The third observation is not complimentary to humanity. If sheep can wander off and get lost, many men and women behave in a similar way. Numerous people fall into addictions that they know are harmful. Drugs, high-risk gambling, and pornography are just some of the many vices that ensnare us. Wars, fights, reckless driving, and betrayals give testimony to the human tendency toward self-destruction. Let us now consider these observations in light of the Gospel.

Today’s reading forms the first part of Jesus’ great Discourse of the Good Shepherd in the Gospel according to John. In it, Jesus describes the true shepherd as one who leads his sheep to verdant pastures. Because he cares for them, the sheep follow him; indeed, they recognize his voice and do not follow strangers. False shepherds — the strangers—try to lead the sheep out of the fold in order to take advantage of them.

It is interesting to note that, in this passage, Jesus does not present himself as the shepherd. He reserves that title for the second part of the discourse. Here, Jesus describes himself as the “gate for the sheep,” whose role is to guard the entrance. The gatekeeper allows entry to legitimate shepherds—the apostles and their successors, the bishops, as well as priests, the bishops chief assistants—and at the same time keeps out thieves and robbers who seek to harm the sheep. Who are these evildoers? Jesus regards the Pharisees, to whom he is addressing this discourse, as enemies of the flock. They impose on the people traditions and rules that are extraneous, turning religion into an obstacle rather than a stimulus for a living relationship with God.

Enemies can change over time. One of the most formidable in our own day is a false idea of freedom. For many, freedom consists simply in the removal of restrictions. Certainly, the abolition of slavery and the overcoming of racial discrimination have been great advances in human history. However, removing external injustices is only part of true freedom. We must also free ourselves from internal constraints, such as addictions to drugs and pornography, which not only divert the will from what is truly good but also degrade the person.

The greatest internal restriction from which we must liberate ourselves is ignorance.  We are free from it when we learn and practice what is good, true, and loving. In short, we must come to know and imitate God. Is not a virtuoso pianist freer to produce beautiful music than a beginner? So it is in life: we are truly free when we develop our abilities to reach our true goal which is life with God.

The bishops of the Church are chosen for their above average intelligence and their fidelity to Catholic doctrine. For the most part, they are honorable and kind men, though not perfect. Christ, the gate, has admitted them into his fold. They repeatedly call upon legislators to safeguard authentic freedom for all. More importantly, they promote the knowledge of God through various programs and initiatives. We follow them—especially the Pope—because we trust that they will not lead us astray but rather guide us to God’s eternal pasture.

Friday, April 24, 2026

 Friday of the Third Week of Easter

(Acts 9:1-20; John 6:52-59)

Today’s first reading helps us appreciate the Easter mystery.  Saul, on his way to Damascus, has a vision of the risen Lord.  What does he see?  The passage does not say directly.  It says that there was “a light from the sky” evidently so intense that Saul reacted by falling to the ground in fear.  The peculiarity of this vision should be compared to the oddities of other visions of the resurrected Jesus.

In his appearance to Mary Magdalene in the Gospel of John Jesus cannot be readily recognized.  He looks different: the text says like a gardener.  In the appearance on the road to Emmaus, the two disciples likewise cannot identify their teacher until he breaks bread with them.  Similarly, when the resurrected Jesus invites his disciples to breakfast on the shore of Lake Tiberias, none but the Beloved Disciple recognize him on sight.  This disciple was the one who believed in Jesus from seeing his burial cloths in his tomb.

Upon seeing the light in today’s reading from Acts, Saul is blinded. He is forced to look inwardly to know himself and, more importantly, to recall the Scriptures.  With this introspection and recollection, he can understand what the voice from the sky told him: “’I am Jesus …’”  As this name indicates, Jesus is the one through whom God saves.  He fulfills our deepest longings for truth, justice, and love.  His resurrected body, though indescribable, is God’s verification that his mission has been accomplished.  It begs us, as it did those who saw it, to believe in him.

Thursday, April 23, 2026

 

Thursday of the Third Week of Easter

(Acts 8:26-40; John 6:44-51)

There is a magnificent painting of Christ, the Lamb of God, hanging in the Prado Museum, Madrid.  It has no human characteristics.  Rather the artist, Francisco de Zurbaran, portrays Christ as an unblemished lamb bound and ready for slaughter.  The painting reflects the prophecy of Christ in Isaiah which the official of the candace is reading in today’s first reading.

The court official of the Candace would be interested in this figure as he too is bound and forced to suffer.  Although he is not a poor man, as a eunuch he cannot worship in the Jewish Temple.  Christ, however, died for all so that eunuchs, Africans and people of all stripes suffer no inherent impediment to praising God in him.  Of course, the court official accepts Christian baptism.

Like Christ and like this Ethiopian, we are called to suffer.  We may have a painful disease, burdensome responsibilities, or just periodic trials.  In any case, let us bear them for and with Christ. He endured unmitigated suffering so that our sins might be forgiven.  He now allows us to contribute to the merit of his suffering as members of his Body.

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

 

Wednesday of the Third Week of Easter

(Acts 8:1b-8; John 6:35-40)

The old man laughed to himself as he watched television.  He took delight in the commercials offering luscious foods without mentioning any cost.  “Give me some,” he said in broken English, “I’ll take it.”  Jesus similarly offers desirable food in today’s gospel It is not for the stomach, however, but for the soul.

Echoing a theme of Second Isaiah, Jesus describes himself as the “bread of life” that has come down from heaven.  He will nourish his followers with divine wisdom that, when heeded, brings eternal life.  Being the Word of God that II Isaiah promised, Jesus will not lose any follower.  Quite the contrary, he will save each one.

Does the wisdom Jesus offers come without cost? it is fair to ask.  We might say with the poet T.S. Eliot that it costs “not less than everything.”  Like the pearl of great price in the gospel parable, divine wisdom is worth all we can give.  We should not pass by Jesus’ offer.

Tuesday, April 21, 2026

 

Tuesday of the Third Week of Easter

(Acts 7:51-8:1a; John 6:30-35)

Stephen hardly seems “filled with the Holy Spirit” as he castigates the Jews in today’s first reading. However, it should be remembered that the altercation has grown bitter.  A previous passage reads that Stephen’s adversaries paid people to testify against him with insidious lies.  St. Luke, the author of Acts, wants to show how Stephen imitates Jesus when the latter uttered similar disparagements against the Pharisees.

Stephen also imitates Jesus as he is being stoned to death.  Like Jesus, he asks the Lord Jesus to pardon his executioners and entrusts his spirit to the same Lord.  Something even more significant is in Luke’s mind here.  The evangelist has written that Jesus’ death eventually brought the Holy Spirit upon his disciples to complete his mission in the world.  With Stephen’s execution, Luke presents Saul (i.e., Paul of Tarsus).  This Pharisee will become the principal instrument of Jesus’ message to the non-Jewish world.

Luke shows readers like us that the mission is inexorable.  Whether we join it or not, it will go on because it is propelled by the Holy Spirit.  Nevertheless, it behooves us to join because with it we move along our course to eternal life.

Monday, April 20, 2026

 

Monday of the Third Week of Easter

(Acts 6:8-15; John 6:22-29)

In the “Grand Inquisitor” Fyodor Dostoyevsky presents a searing socialist critique of Christianity.  The inquisitor chastises Christ for not accepting Satan’s invitation to turn stone into bread.  If he had fed the world with that bread, the inquisitor claims, he would have its allegiance forever.  In contrast, he says, all Christ attained was freedom which few people appreciate. 

But, some will object, Christ fed the multitudes as the gospels of yesterday and today attest. It should be clear from both passages, however, that the intention of the feeding was not to win the people’s allegiance.  Jesus worked the miracle as a sign of the Eucharist which is available to the world as the key to full or eternal life.

In the Eucharist we take and consume the Body and Blood of Christ not to satisfy physical but spiritual needs.  In the Eucharist we hear the Word of God which makes us attentive to His will.  Then we offer to Him what we have in gratitude for that gracious Word.  Of course, the greatest gift that we give to God is His own Son.  He, Jesus Christ -- human and divine -- is who the bread, blessed and broken by the priest, and the wine, blessed and poured out, have become.  Ingesting him, we become not only free but also loving as he is.

Sunday, April 19, 2026

 Third Sunday of Easter

(Acts 2:14, 22–33; 1 Peter 1:17–21; Luke 24:13–35)

Each year on this Third Sunday of Easter, we hear the account of an appearance of the risen Jesus. Today we are told of his encounter with two disciples on the road to Emmaus. I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on the nature of the resurrection, both of Jesus and of our own at the end of time. The resurrection is one of the central truths of the Christian faith. However, it is not as easy to understand as is often assumed.

To arrive at a proper understanding, we must clarify some misconceptions about the resurrection. Many people today regard the resurrection as a myth meant to say that Jesus lives on in the hearts of his disciples. Myths are stories without a historical foundation and whose purpose is to express a human truth. The “Tower of Babel,” for example, is a myth that attempts to explain the many languages of the world. This is not the case with the account of Jesus’ resurrection. Its historical foundations are well established: Jesus was crucified by order of Pontius Pilate, governor of Judea, when Caiaphas was the high priest. His resurrection took place on the third day after this event.

According to another mistaken idea, the risen Jesus was a ghost which some people saw briefly. This misconception makes Jesus similar to the prophet Samuel, whom Saul summoned from the dead to gain information about his enemies. But his disciples experienced the risen Jesus as a living person with whom they could share a meal.

A third false idea of the resurrection makes Jesus like Lazarus, whom Jesus resuscitated. But this concept also clashes with what the gospels tell us. Lazarus came back to life with a body like our own.  The body of the risen Jesus, on the other hand, has been transformed.  Jesus can pass through closed doors and appear and disappear suddenly.

There are several common features in these appearances that help us understand their nature. First, the risen Jesus is seen but not readily identified. The disciples on the road to Emmaus do not recognize him at first. When he appears to Paul on the road to Damascus, he is perceived as a bright light. As we said, his body has been transformed and is no longer subject to previous limitations.

Another characteristic of the risen Christ is that he communicates with those to whom he appears. His message can be challenging, as when he reproaches his disciples for not believing the women, according to the longer ending of Mark’s Gospel. But more often, he greets them with the word “peace.” This word in Hebrew is shalom and means much more than “hello” or “good morning”.  Shalom expresses the fullness of well-being. Then Jesus sends his apostles out to proclaim the Good News everywhere.

Finally, Jesus shares meals with those to whom he appears. In today’s Gospel, the disciples recognize him in the breaking of the bread, a gesture that recalls the Eucharist. He is continuing his previous practice of table fellowship as a way of expressing the intimacy of his love.

From all this, we can say that the resurrection represents a new level or mode of human existence.  It is a qualitative leap, similar to, in a sense, the one that occurred when primates evolved into human beings. The Risen One has a transformed body, and his love is no longer limited as it once was. During his earthly life, Jesus was could not reach everyone. Now, in his risen state, he not only reaches all but is able to embrace every man, woman, and child within himself. In this way, a new communion with God and with one another is established.

Our love is limited in more fundamental ways than that of Jesus. We cannot love without some degree of self-interest. This is not wrong until we seek our own satisfaction to the detriment of the other’s welfare. However, in the resurrection, our bodies will be transformed in such a way that the love for which they were created to show will no longer be merely one of sensual desire, or even only of friendship. Rather, our love for others will manifest the complete selflessness that characterizes Jesus’ love for his disciples. We will be able to love all people in a way unlike anything we have ever known.  We will be able to love others like God loves us.

Friday, April 17, 2026

 

Friday of the Second Week of Easter

(Acts 5:34-42; John 6:1-15)

The gospel calls Jesus’ feeding the multitude a “sign.”  It is a fair question to ask, “a sign of what?”  There are at least three levels of meaning for this sign. 

First, the feeding is a sign of human solidarity.  Jesus shares bread with the multitude because hunger hurts and humans must help each other alleviate it.  Second -- as Jesus will make clear in future gospel readings --  the feeding represents the Eucharist.  Jesus will give his body and blood so that his followers may become virtuous in him.  Finally, the feeding signifies God’s love for all.  As the gospel memorably puts it: “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son.”  The Father sent the Son so that humans might not perish because of their selfishness but have eternal life because of his sacrifice. 

The participants of Jesus’ feast want to make him king.  With similar impetus we worship Jesus as Lord.  But Jesus rejects such honors if those who propose them do not try to become like him.  The change requires more than imitation when it is convenient.  It demands following him faithfully so that our love is purified of egotism.

 

Thursday, April 16, 2026

 

Thursday of the Second Week of Easter

(Acts 5:27-33; John 3:31-36)

The words of today’s gospel are given without any indication of who spoke them.  They sound much like those that Jesus said to Nicodemus.  If we check the citation, however, we find that John the Baptist is speaking them to his disciples.  John is echoing what Jesus said in the gospel earlier this week and what the prologue tells us of the Word of God.

Jesus reveals to us the will of God.  He is not concerned with the things most of us bother with.  He does not speak of sports champions or beauty queens, how to make a million or how to get your children into a top-tier school.  Rather he speaks of selfless love willing to make sacrifices for the good of all.  Peter and the apostles exhibit this love in today’s reading from Acts.  They defy the Sanhedrin’s orders, not to rebel against authority but to carry out God’s command.  They risk punishment, even death, so that God’s love for the world in Jesus Christ may be made known.

We too should spread the word.  But at the same time let us reflect on it and live according to it.  No doubt, this means changes in what we think, say, and do.  As the Baptist implies in the gospel, doing so will give us eternal life.  

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

 

Wednesday of the Second Week of Easter

(Acts 5:17-26; John 3:16-21)

Holocaust survivor and Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel entitled the English edition of his memoir of Auschwitz Night. He used the word to symbolize the horror of a human population’s being corralled, isolated, enslaved, and exterminated.  Today’s gospel reveals God’s purpose of sending His Son to the world to save it from such darkness.

As much as “darkness” represents evil, “light” suggests divinity.  God’s first order of creation in Genesis is, “Let there be light.”  At the Bible’s other end, the Book Revelation describes the glory of God giving light to His renewed creation.  in the middle of the saga Jesus Christ, “the Light of the World,” exposes evil and facilitates growth in virtue.

Still basking in the light of the Resurrection, we recommit ourselves to Christ today. His spiritual guidance steers us away from the attractive power of darkness.  His love offered tangibly in the Eucharist nourishes us on the journey through a cloudy world to the fulness of light.

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

 

Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter

(Acts 4:32-37; John 3:7b-15)

“’How can this happen?’” Nicodemus asks Jesus in the gospel.  It’s the same question many would ask of the first reading.  How can people sell their houses and property and donate all the proceeds to the community? 

The Acts of the Apostles tells of Joseph’s generosity to illustrate the power of the Holy Spirit.  Under the Spirit’s guidance people put aside self-interest for the good of all.  It should be noted that the wholesale mutuality of the primitive Christian community is not perfect and does not prevail for long.  The story of Joseph’s selflessness is followed by the sober tale of a believer’s deception out of self-concern.  In the next chapter of Acts, the altercation between Greek-speaking and Hebrew-speaking disciples is related.  It may be concluded that the innocence of human nature is not restored by the Holy Spirit without an inclination to sin.

Christian shortcomings have caused scandal both in the world and within the community.  At the end of the Middle Ages the selling of indulgences by clerics gave rise to the Protestant Reformation.  Today many are reserved about receiving the sacraments because of the revelations of child abuse by clergy.  And certainly, Christians have been guilty of racial and religious bigotry over the centuries.  There is need for investigating these matters lest too severe judgments are made.  Yet repentance and penance are also in order.  It is not that the Spirit has abandoned the Church but that Church members have failed to follow its lead.  We must regularly turn back to the Spirit with sincere hearts.

Monday, April 13, 2026

 

Monday of the Second Week of Eater

(Acts 4:23-31; John 3:1-8)

The daily masses of the Easter season feature a review of the Acts of the Apostles.  Last week it told of Peter’s preaching after Pentecost and how he cured a cripple in the name of Jesus.  As a result, he was arrested and brought to the Sanhedrin.  The court told him not speak of Jesus anymore. Today’s first reading relates Peter’s report of the trial to the community of disciples in Jerusalem.

The community responds with a prayer of support for Peter.  It recalls how foreign nations defied King David as the Jewish leaders are now challenging Jesus’ apostles.  And it asks the Lord to fortify the apostles with “boldness” to continue preaching.  God evidently assents to the request as the earth shakes, which is taken as a sign of the Holy Spirit.

The proclaiming of Jesus to unbelievers has been carried on for two thousand years.  It seems to some today as an old message that is losing traction.  We have family and friends who have stopped going to church.  However, not only are there masses of people being baptized in Africa, but many serious thinkers are rediscovering the wisdom and relevancy of Christ. Two weeks ago, for example, Vice President J.D. Vance published a book about his conversion to Catholicism.  Christianity will not pass away because Jesus Christ is the eternal God.

Sunday, April 12, 2026

 Second Sunday of Easter – Divine Mercy Sunday

(Acts 2:42–47; 1 Peter 1:3–9; John 20:1–9)

The Gospel calls Thomas “the Twin.” No one knows why, or whose counterpart he might have been. Perhaps he is our twin, insofar as, like him, we too have harbored doubts in faith. For that reason, we would like to address him with the following questions.

Thomas, why do you not believe your companions when they tell you that Jesus has risen? Did he not hint at His passion, death, and resurrection several times in your presence? When he spoke of the Good Shepherd, did he not say that he would lay down his life for his sheep (John 10:11)? Did he not also say that he had the power not only to lay down His life but to take it up again (10:18)? And did he not tell you and others that he would be lifted up from the earth to draw all people to himself (12:32)?

Above all, do you not remember what happened at the tomb of Lazarus? When Jesus asked that the stone covering the tomb be removed and Martha worried about the stench because Lazarus had been dead four days, did you not see the dead man come out walking?

Why do you want to be like the Sadducees, who tried to trap Jesus with the ridiculous story of the woman who had seven husbands because they did not believe in the resurrection? Does it not disturb you to sound like many people of the twenty-first century who doubt everything and, in doing so, gradually lose the values necessary to sustain a stable and meaningful life?

Remember the story of Abraham, who left his land, his people, and his father’s house out of faith in God’s word. Was God not faithful to His promise to this patriarch? Recall also Jeremiah and the other prophets, who suffered disgrace and punishment for proclaiming God’s word as true and inviolable. Do you think they preached in vain?

Also, look to the future. See how the disciples live in perfect harmony, as described in the Acts of the Apostles. Is this not the fruit of the resurrection of Jesus and the coming of the Holy Spirit? Notice also what happens years later, when Peter urges Christians to remain steadfast in hope even in the midst of suffering. Does this not convince you of the centrality of faith in the resurrection?

Yes, it is true that faith requires sacrifice, especially when we live among people who do not seek God’s justice but material satisfaction. We feel like strangers, as though something essential were missing, until we discover the true source of fulfillment. It does not come from passing sensations, but from the awareness of living according to God’s will.

No, Thomas, doubt no more. Accept the presence of Jesus who stands before you. He is not present only in the human body with which he walked on earth. He is also present in the poor who live according to the commandments of love. He is present in the sacraments that offer us His forgiveness, strength, and grace. And he is present in the ordained and women religious who represent the Church. They are not always perfect, but they teach us the ways and commandments of the Lord.

More than that, stop insisting on seeing the mark of the nails in His hands and putting your finger into His side. Be a model for all of us when our faith weakens. Help us to say with you, with full confidence before the Lord Jesus: “My Lord and my God!”

 

Friday, April 10, 2026

 

Friday within the Octave of Easter

(Acts 4:1-12; John 21:1-14)

You might think that the Beloved Disciple recognizes Jesus before the others because of keener eyesight.  But this is not the case.  He knows that the figure on the shore is “the Lord” because of his great faith.  Just as he believed that Jesus had risen from the dead when he saw the burial cloths in the tomb, he identifies Jesus on the shore based on the huge catch of fish Jesus just engineered. 

Faith is a deeper way of seeing.  With the support of tradition, faith enables people to transcend appearances to discern deeper, spiritual realities.  Jesus remains an obscure figure to the other disciples until their faith is engaged by his invitation to “Come, have breakfast.”

It is the same meal to which Jesus invites us in the Eucharist. At it we review the tradition in the reading of Scripture.  Then we sense his presence as we eat the consecrated bread and drink the transubstantiated wine.

Thursday, April 9, 2026

 

Thursday of the Octave of Easter

(Acts 3:11-26; Luke 24:35-48)

During the years of Communist rule in Russia the peasants were controlled by local commandants.  Once the commandant of a village gathered the people for a lecture on the truth of atheism and the benefits of Communism.  After speaking for an hour or so, the commandant gave the parish priest an opportunity to say something in response.  He told the priest that he might speak no more than five minutes.  The priest said that he wouldn’t need so much time.  Standing before the people, the priest said, “The Lord is risen.” The people responded in unison, “Yes, he is truly risen!” The priest sat down after making a more than satisfactory rebuttal to the commandant.

In today’s first reading Peter speaks in a similar vein to the people who witnessed the cure of the paralytic.  He says that the man was not healed by any inherent power of his but through invoking Jesus’ name.  He then boldly accuses the people of delivering Jesus for execution.  But, he says, they may be forgiven the sin if they too invoke Jesus’ name. 

The Lord is waiting for us to call on his name in faith.  He will come to our aid when we are in need.  Even more importantly, the invocation of his name in faith will prepare us for eternal life.

Wednesday, April 8, 2026

 

Wednesday in the Octave of Easter

(Acts 3:1-10; Luke 24:13-35)

In the depths of sorrow and in the heights of satisfaction, people tend to forget God’s mercy.  In today’s gospel the two disciples are so dejected they do not notice that the risen Jesus has come to is accompany them.  He must remind them of all that he foretold about his passion, death, and resurrection.

He comes in the Eucharist as well. He tells the story of liberation from both tyranny and sin.  More than that, he invites his listeners to a supper of bread turned into his body and wine converted to his blood.  He does not want anyone to despair that their prayers are not heard or their deeds are worthless. 

Right now, wars wage in the Ukraine and Gulf region, nations are at a loss to deal justly with immigrants, and men are losing their souls to pornography.  We must both pray and act, act and pray.  We pray that the Holy Spirit, which raised Jesus to new life, may charge the minds and hearts of world leaders to establish peace with justice for all.  We perform voluntary acts of kindness and goodwill as tiny steps toward the universal common good.

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

 

Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter

(Acts 4:32-37; John 3:7b-15)

“’How can this happen?’” Nicodemus asks Jesus in the gospel.  It’s the same question many would ask of the first reading.  How can people sell their houses and property and donate all the proceeds to the community? 

The Acts of the Apostles tells of Joseph’s generosity to illustrate the power of the Holy Spirit.  Under the Spirit’s guidance people put aside self-interest for the good of all.  It must be noted that the wholesale mutuality of the primitive Christian community is not perfect and does not prevail for long.  The story of Joseph’s selflessness is followed by the sober tale of a believer’s deception out of self-concern.  In the next chapter of Acts, the altercation between Greek-speaking and Hebrew-speaking disciples is related.  It may be concluded that the innocence of human nature is not restored by the Holy Spirit without an inclination to sin.

Christian shortcomings cause scandal both in the world and within the community.  At the end of the Middle Ages the selling of indulgences by clerics gave rise to the Protestant Reformation.  Today many are reserved about receiving the sacraments because of the revelations of child abuse by clergy.  And certainly Christians have been guilty of racial and religious bigotry over the centuries.  There is need for investigating these matters lest too severe judgments are made.  Yet repentance and penance are also in order.  It is not that the Spirit has abandoned the Church but that Church members have failed to follow its lead.  We must regularly turn back to the Spirit with sincere hearts.

Tuesday, May 5, 2026

 

Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter

(Acts 14:19-28; John 14:27-31a)

Most Americans are aware of Adolph Hitler’s false promise of peace to English Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain before World War II.  Far fewer realize that the United States government made a similar bogus promise to the Sioux Nation in 1868.  In the Treaty of Fort Laramie the U.S. government promised the Sioux a reservation that included the Black Hills.  Then, after gold was discovered in the Black Hills. Congress unilaterally abrogated that treaty.  The point here is not to condemn the United States, but to show how tenuous peace is among humans. 

For this reason Jesus tells his disciples in today’s gospel that the peace he gives is not like the world’s peace.  His peace is the shalom of closeness to God.  Its surety might be compared to the security a child feels sleeping between his parents.  Jesus can promise this peace because in dying to redeem the People, he carries out his Father’s will.

We should be wary of false promises of peace in our day.  A home in the country, a cruise in the Mediterranean, or a luxury SUV may turn into a nightmare.  But when we put our trust in God, we will not end disappointed.

Tuesday, April 7, 2026

 

Tuesday of the Octave of Easter

(Acts 2:36-41; John 20:11-18)

Invoking the Christmas song “White Christmas” now may be the jarring necessary to appreciate Jesus’ resurrection.  “White Christmas” became a hit during World War II when G.I.’s longed to be back home with their loved ones.  A white Christmas also represented Christian social values of faith, family, and community.  Going home for Christmas resembled what Jesus refers to in today’s gospel as ascending to “’my Father and your Father … my God and your God.’”

In Sunday morning’s second reading, the Letter to the Colossians exhorts Christians to “seek what is above, where Christ is seated …” and not what is on earth.  “What is above” is, of course, “’My Father and your Father.’”  It might be also expressed as the virtues which God engenders.  The heavenly virtues can also explain why Jesus tells Mary, “’stop holding on to me,.”  Mary and all Christians are no longer to seek earthly goals but heavenly ones.  Rather than pleasure, power, and prestige, they are to strive for peace, joy, and evangelical love.

The campus of our striving is where we live, work, and meet one another.  We endeavor not just to get to heaven but to make a heaven of  these habitats.  Such effort in the end will bring us to the place that has prepared for us.

Monday, April 6, 2026

 

Monday in the Octave of Easter

(Acts 2:14.22-33; Matthew 28:8-15)

The first Christians had various kinds of evidence for Jesus’ resurrection. There was the testimony of the apostles to Jesus’ empty tomb and to his appearances.  As conclusive as these types of confirmation seem today, there was another, equally important source of belief.  Fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy gave gravity to the Christians’ argument.  This is seen in Peter’s initial sermon after receiving the Holy Spirit in today’s first reading.

Peter addresses Jews from around the Mediterranean world in Jerusalem for their Feast of Booths.  He makes his case for Jesus as the Messiah based on Jesus’ fulfillment of Psalm 16, quoted in the reading.  The psalmist, considered to be David, speaks of being saved from the throes of death. Because David’s tomb was known, Peter refers the passage to Jesus, David’s descendant and heir, whom God raised from the dead.

Peter is appealing to Jews to believe in Jesus as the Messiah.  We should hear him urging us to believe in Jesus’ resurrection from the dead and something more.  He wants us to adhere to Jesus’ teachings in a world agnostic to the claims of faith and traditional morals.

Sunday, April 5, 2026

 

Easter Sunday: The Resurrection of the Lord, Mass of the Day
(Acts 10:37–43; Colossians 3:1–4; John 20:1–9)

Who is “the other disciple” who believes in Jesus’ resurrection before anyone else? Biblical scholars do not agree on his identity. For centuries, the common opinion was that “the beloved disciple,” as he is called, is John, the son of Zebedee. But now some scholars ask why his name is not given, since he is one of the most prominent disciples in the other Gospels.

Some experts today have proposed an interesting answer to this question. They say that he is Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead. We recall that the Gospel says Jesus loved Lazarus along with his sisters. However, it seems strange that the evangelist would call him by name in the story of his resurrection and then refer to him only as “the other disciple” or “the disciple whom Jesus loved” throughout the rest of the Gospel.

One of the most perceptive biblical commentators of the last century offered another solution. He said that “the disciple whom Jesus loved” is indeed a disciple, but not one of the Twelve Apostles. This scholar wrote that the Beloved Disciple did not have the prominence in the early Church that Peter and John had. Nevertheless, he left his testimony to the Christian community that produced the Gospel according to John.

We tend to think that the Beloved Disciple reaches Jesus’ tomb before Peter because he is younger. But the Gospel never describes him as young. Is it not possible that he arrives first because of his great love for Jesus? This love is shown in his closeness to the Lord at the Last Supper.

It is said that love is blind. This may be true of romantic love. Romantic lovers often overlook one another’s faults to satisfy their burning desire. However, the love that matters most—the love that seeks the good of the other without expecting anything in return—is not blind. On the contrary, this love, with which God loves us, sees in the beloved virtues that not everyone can see.

Robert and Priscilla Colby had been married for nearly fifty years when Priscila developed Alzheimer’s disease. Roberto had to care for her, a task he carried out with dedication. He said that he loved Priscila even more than on their wedding day. He credited her with the good upbringing of their three children. He recalled that when their youngest daughter began getting into trouble, Priscila recognized that the root of her difficulties was the company she kept. She then forbade her from going out with that group of friends. Naturally, the girl resented her mother, but in time she earned a doctorate and worked at a leading research university.

The Beloved Disciple values Jesus with this same kind of love. He recognizes Jesus as the best of all men and, indeed, as the Son of God. He is willing to sacrifice himself for the Lord by being the only male disciple present with the women at the foot of the cross. Because of this great love, he does not hesitate when he sees the empty tomb and the folded cloths to  believe that Jesus has risen as He said He would. He does not need to see the risen Lord to believe as Mary Magdalene and Peter do.

This love has been poured into our hearts through Baptism. We believe that the Lord Jesus has risen without having seen Him. Let us not allow our love for Jesus to remain only at the level of belief. Rather, let us sacrifice ourselves for others, so that they too may believe and have eternal life.

 

Saturday, April 4, 2026

 Holy Saturday, April 4, 2026

According to the Big Bang Theory, almost fourteen billion years ago the cosmos contracted to a tiny point of extremely high density and temperature.  It then exploded, beginning the universe as it exists today.  An event of rival import occurred nearly two thousand years ago.  Jesus, the Son of God, lay in his tomb after dying on a cross.  Then, in a flash of wonder, he burst forth with new life far surpassing the physical life that he had known.  He had promised that his resurrection from the dead would be awarded to his faithful followers.

Now we, his followers, wait to celebrate that moment of new creation.  Tonight, the Paschal Candle will be lit signifying that Jesus Christ has risen and is radiating God’s grace throughout heaven and earth.  Our hopes -- not just to live more virtuously but also to enjoy eternal life in the company of passed loved ones -- will be renewed.  And we will join Christians through the ages giving glory and praise to God.    

Friday, April 3, 2026

 

Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion

(Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Hebrews 4:14-16.5:7-9; John 18:1-19:42)

Every Good Friday we read the Passion according to John.  This account of the death of Jesus differs dramatically from the others.  Unlike those of Matthew and Mark Jesus does not suffer the worse of deaths imaginable – cruelly tortured and completely isolated.  Nor does Jesus continue performing acts of kindness until his dying breath as in the Passion of Luke.  In John, Jesus dies triumphant having outclassed his adversaries and transcending any pain.

We see this victory in the garden where the Roman soldiers fall to the ground when Jesus identifies himself as the great “I AM.”  He shows his authority again before the high priest Annas.  When Annas questions him about his orthodoxy, Jesus tells him truly that he has always talked openly and no one has faulted his doctrine.  With Pilate Jesus is absolutely masterful.  When he is threatened by the governor, Jesus tells him that the only power that Pilate has over him was given to him by his Father.  God granted Pilate this power so that the Father’s love might be shown when His Son is crucified to justify sinners.  As he dies, Jesus declares that his mission is complete.

This is not the time for sorrow as if we have lost a loved one.  Rather it is a moment of awe and gratitude.  Jesus Christ, the Lord, who became our brother, has won for us the promise of eternal life.  We were doomed to sin and damnation, now we can live in righteousness and hope.

Thursday, April 2, 2026

 

Holy Thursday – Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper

(Exodus 12:1-8.11-14; I Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-11)

The Holy Thursday Eucharist begins the triduum of liturgies that celebrates Jesus’ achievement.  It foreshadows his death and resurrection and allows us to hope for the same end for ourselves.

Today’s first reading from the Book of Exodus gives context to the second and the gospel.  It describes both the origin of the Passover and the liturgical meal which recalls that historical event.  God punishes Egypt for abusing His chosen people; then saves the Israelites from both the horrific plague killing all first-born and from the siege by Pharoah’s army.

St. Paul writes of Jesus celebrating the Passover with his disciples the night before he died.  He tells of how during the meal Jesus reinterpreted the historical event.  For his followers it no longer refers primarily to God’s victory over Egypt but to his triumph over sin and death.  The bread and wine he blesses become his Body and Blood that will be sacrificed to atone for the sins of the world.

The gospel shifts attention from the food to the meaning of the meal.  Like most festive meals, the Lord’s Supper expresses the host’s love for his guests.  The degree of Christ’s love is signified by his removing his outer garments to wash his disciples’ feet. As he stripped himself of divinity to become human, Jesus now strips himself of all status so that he might serve all.  His action symbolizes Baptism which forges a relationship between the soon-to-be crucified and glorified Christ and those who follow him.  This relationship, in which we share, will lead us past our sins and beyond death to eternal glory.

Wednesday, April 1, 2026

Wednesday of Holy Week
(Isaiah 50:4–9a; Matthew 26:14–25)

The four “Servant Songs” of Second Isaiah constitute the Old Testament readings on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday of Holy Week. Although today’s passage does not mention a servant explicitly, it is so similar to the others that it belongs with the group. Some commentators identify the servant with Jeremiah the prophet, a contemporary of Second Isaiah. However, for all the trauma described in the poetry -- his back beaten and his face buffeted -- he clearly resembles to Jesus.

One of the great indignities that Jesus suffered is Judas’s betrayal. Judas is an intimate disciple, trusted with the community’s treasury according to John. After spending at least a year listening to Jesus and watching him dispense mercy, delivering him to his enemies is as unconscionable as spitting in his face.

The drama of salvation is ready to unfold. Tomorrow, we remember Christ forging a New Covenant, his Blood given to drink. On Friday, we witness how Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross brings about our justification. And on Saturday, we experience his passage from death to life so that we may share in the fullness of life.

Tuesday, March 31, 2026

 

Tuesday of Holy Week

(Isaiah 49:1-6; John 13:21-33.36-38)

Jack was a senior in college when he was diagnosed with cancer.  He battled the disease for two and a half years.  At the same time Jack embraced the Catholicism of his youth.  Whenever he could, he attended daily mass.  He studied the Bible and theology, watched apologetic videos, and participated in faith-sharing groups.  Jack’s reinvigorated faith lifted the hearts of everyone with whom he came in touch.  Even other cancer patients in the hospital where he was treated were affected by his message of hope. Jack’s serene death in the middle of the night with family and hospital staff around him made all ponder God’s ways.  How could something so terrible as death become such a glorious blessing to others?

The answer, of course, is Jesus Christ.  In today’s gospel Jesus anticipates his death the following day.  He is troubled not so much by that fact as by his unerring intuition that one of his trusted friends will betray him and another will deny him.  Night is closing in on Jesus.  Yet he does not speak with his disciples of doom but of glory. His death will atone for sin and bring about eternal life.  Many will then lift their voices to God, his Father, in praise and thanksgiving.  In turn, he too will be blessed and exalted. 

Monday, March 30, 2026

 

Monday of Holy Week

(Isaiah 42:1-7; John 12:1-11)

There is a rabbinic saying that contextualizes Mary’s anointing Jesus in today’s gospel. It goes,  “Good ointment spreads from bedroom into the dining room, but a good name spreads from one end of the world to the other.”  Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, is remembered throughout the world for her gracious deed.

Mary is even better known as the woman in Luke’s gospel who sits as a disciple at Jesus’ feet.  She carefully listens to his every word.  It would be a mistake, however, to brand Mary as solely contemplative.  As a true disciple of Jesus, she also serves.  Burying the dead has always been considered a Corporal Work of Mercy. Here Mary takes the first step of the process.

Our names may spread throughout the world as well.  Ironically, this takes place not when our good deed is recorded on a video that goes viral, but when we do it so that only God sees it.  God, who is everywhere, will take note and bless us in return.

Sunday, March 29, 2026

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord
(Isaiah 50:4–7; Philippians 2:6–11; Matthew 26:14–27:66)

It is said that the crucifixion of Jesus is the most frequently depicted scene in art. It is certainly deeply engraved in the minds of Christians. Unfortunately, we tend to remember the events of the Passion as if they all appeared in all four Gospels. But this understanding is not correct. The events of one Gospel are not necessarily found in the others. For example, there is no mention of the scourging or the crowning with thorns in the Gospel of Luke. This fact should not diminish our faith in the Gospel. The crucifixion was such a profound experience for the apostles that no one version could fully express its meaning.

Since today we read the Passion according to Saint Matthew, let us focus on four events that are unique to this Gospel. Our purpose is to gain a deeper understanding of the death of Jesus from Matthew’s perspective.

When Jesus arrives at Gethsemane, he withdraws to pray alone. Matthew says that he “fell prostrate (on his face).” He is in anguish. He feels defenseless before the combined forces of the Jewish leaders and the Roman Empire. Overwhelmed, he asks his Father that, if possible, this trial be taken away from him. We see Jesus as truly human, facing a traumatic situation. At the same time, we have a peek of his divinity in his trust in the Father’s will.

After the Sanhedrin condemns him to death, Matthew interrupts the story of Jesus to tell what happens to Judas. Feeling shame for his betrayal, Judas repents and tries to return his reward money to the chief priests. Then he goes and hangs himself. Judas is not the only one who regrets having treated Jesus badly. Simon Peter, who once proclaimed him “the Son of God,” denies knowing Jesus. He also repents of his sin, but instead of despairing, he weeps bitterly. All of us offend Jesus in one way or another. When we become aware of our sin, which disciple do we want to imitate? The one who despaired or the one who wept?

Matthew recalls Jesus’ Roman trial through two key actions: Pilate’s wife reporting her dream about Jesus and Pilate’s attempt to wash his hands of Jesus’ blood. The woman provides another divine testimony to Jesus’ innocence, since in Matthew’s Gospel God often communicates through dreams. Pilate attempts the impossible: he cannot hand Jesus over to be crucified and at the same time remain innocent of handing a just man over to death. We should recognize that we cannot justify a wrong action by performing gestures that make us appear righteous.

Along with the Gospel of Mark, Matthew portrays Jesus’ death as a moment of profound abandonment. God allows his Son to experience complete isolation. Although he continues to trust in God, Jesus dies without immediate relief or consolation. It is a death that would seem fitting for a ruthless criminal. Yet Matthew, Mark, and Luke also testify to the positive effects of his death. They report that the veil of the temple is torn in two, signifying that Christ’s sacrifice has replaced the temple sacrifices for the forgiveness of sins. They also report that a pagan centurion recognizes Jesus’ innocence.

However, only Matthew recounts an earthquake that opens the tombs of the righteous. The shaking is so intense that some of the dead rise. More than an historical event, this moment connects Jesus’ death with victory over death. It is Matthew’s way of showing that Jesus’ suffering produces immediate fruits.

Each Passion narrative is deeply meaningful. None is merely a report of events. Each offers a unique and profound understanding of the mystery of the death of the Son of God. This year we have had the opportunity to contemplate this mystery through Matthew’s Gospel. It is not a pleasant story, but through his suffering we have been justified.

 

 

Saturday, March 28, 2026

 

Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent

(Ezekiel 37:21-28; John 11:45-56)

When the high priest Caiaphas tells the Sanhedrin “’… one man should die instead of the people,’” he does not know half the truth he is expressing.  Caiaphas thinks he is making what might be called a utilitarian argument – better that one man dies than one million.  However, his words have a more profound spiritual meaning.  He is saying that one man, namely Jesus, will die to save not only the Jewish nation but the entire world from sin and death.  Since Caiaphas is high priest, his words carry God’s sanction and special import.

It is likely that when we say, “God loves us” or “Jesus saves us,” we likewise do not know the half of it. God loves us so much that he allows His own son to be humiliated, tortured, and crucified to redeem us from our sins.  Jesus saves us not just from sin and meaninglessness but from extinction.  As we begin Holy Week tomorrow, these realizations should permeate our minds and hearts.  In this most sacred time, we should want to offer God all the glory and honor that are His due.

Friday, March 27, 2026

Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent

(Jeremiah 20:10-13; John 10:31-42)

Today’s gospel looks forward to next Friday when the Passion of the Lord will be commemorated.  Its action takes place on the Feast of the Dedication, known as Hanukkah today.  The Jews are celebrating the rededication of the Temple altar that was defiled in Antiochus Epiphanes’ effort to crush Jewish culture. As grievous a crime as that was, John the Evangelist sees the Jews attempting an even more serious offense in trying to kill Jesus.

The Jews harass Jesus because he has called himself the “’Son of God.’”  They rightly conclude that making such a claim Jesus is equating himself to God.  Jesus defends himself by observing that Scripture itself calls “’gods’” some who have received the word of God.  He claims an even greater right to the title because he is the word made flesh whom the Father has sent.  Jesus’ argument only infuriates the Jews more.  He must leave Jerusalem and Israel until the moment comes for his sacrifice.

 Although we await the annual celebration of Jesus’ paschal mystery, we celebrate the same event in the Eucharist today and every day. In the Eucharist the altar replaces the cross as the locus of Jesus’ perfect sacrifice.  Our sins are forgiven, and we receive a foretaste of eternal life.  We do not need any church structure, much less the Jewish Temple, to realize these benefits.  All that is necessary are bread and wine, the words and actions of a priest, and our faith.

Thursday, March 26, 2026

 

Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent

(Genesis 17:3-9; John 8:51-59)

Today’s gospel is difficult to understand.  It may be profitably seen as a trial with Jesus in the witness stand.  He has been accused of diabolical possession because he claims to have seen Abraham, the patriarch.  When Jesus suggests that he is divine with his testimony, “’I AM,’” the Jews find him guilty of blasphemy and try to execute him. 

At the trial Jesus gives as evidence the testament of Abraham.  The first reading provides background information on the patriarch.  Abraham’s faith in God gained him the honor of becoming the father of many nations.  His numerous descendants will possess the land of Canaan. 

Just as the first readers of John’s Gospel, we see God’s promise to Abraham fulfilled in Jesus Christ.  As his legacy grew immensely with non-Jews accepting Jesus, it continues to expand today.  Throughout the Global South and especially in Africa, the number of Christians is increasing.  The promise of “the whole land of Canaan” becoming the possession of his descendants is fulfilled as well.  We are not talking about real estate here but of the same “land” destined to the meek in the Beatitudes. Let us hope and work to be counted among its recipients.

Wednesday, March 25, 2026

 Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord

 (Isaiah 7:10-14.8:10; Hebrews 10:4-10; Luke 1:26-38)

 One scene will always stand out in the film classic, “Boys’ Town.”  A young boy enters the office of Boys Town founder, Fr. Flanagan, with an even younger child on his back.  With the priest’s face looking astonished, the boy tries to put him at ease.  “He’s not heavy, Father;” he says, “he’s my brother.” The wonder of today’s feast can be described with these words.

 The Annunciation commemorates more than the angel’s announcement of Mary’s divine motherhood.  More importantly, it celebrates God’s taking on human flesh.  It might be said that on this feast the Church praises God for becoming a brother.  God does so not that He might understand better the human experience.  After all, God knows all.  Nor is God looking for human praise.  He has no need for that. Rather, God becomes human so that humans might know how much He loves them.  Like the child being carried by his older brother, humans now have experienced directly God’s infinite care.

 God’s becoming human links us more closely to one another as well.  He is not just a common bond but also a constant reminder that we have to care for one another.  Remembering Christ’s promise of blessing to those who care for the needy, we should say with Mary, “May it be done to me according to your word.’”

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

 Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent

(Numbers 21:4-9; John 8:21-30)

The Pharisees in today’s gospel ask Jesus, “’Who are you?’”  Christian faith rests upon this question.  If Jesus is only the son of Joseph and Mary, a powerful preacher and healer, and the organizer of a small community of disciples, then there is scant reason to conform our lives to his. He would be like many other celebrated humans of history.  Conversely, if Jesus really is what he hints at being in this passage --the great “I AM” of biblical tradition, the Lord of heaven and earth -- then we would be foolish not to give him full allegiance.

The two principal readings indicate why we should adhere to Jesus.  In the first, the Israelites are roaming in the desert.  They should remind us of many people today in search of health and happiness.  As the Israelites find their salvation in looking at the saraph serpent mounted on a pole, we find peace in this reckless world around us by praying to Christ on the cross.  More importantly, in the gospel Jesus says that he is going where the Pharisees cannot come.  He is referring to his home with the Father.  Later in the gospel (John 14:2), he tells his disciples that he will prepare a place for them there.  The Father’s home is beatitude, eternal happiness and our destiny.

Within the next two weeks we will be celebrating Jesus’ death on the cross and Resurrection from the dead.  Like the well-worn paths of Christian holy places, these liturgies will mark us as Jesus’ faithful followers.  They will shuttle us closer to our eternal home.