Thursday, May 1, 2025

Thursday of the Second Week of Easter

(Acts 5:27-33; John 331-36)

Muslim terrorists believe that they are doing the will of God when they kill so-called infidels.  Of course, as Pope Francis often said, no one committing acts of violence is doing God’s will.  When the apostles say in today’s first reading that they “must obey God, rather than men,” they need to verify that they are really carrying out God’s command.

It is not hard to do.  Before his Ascension, Jesus, who is God incarnate, told them to preach pardon of sins in his name to all nations. The apostles were only carrying out this command when they were arrested.    

Terrorism is not exclusively Muslim.  There have at times arisen Christian terrorists as perhaps terrorists of most religious movements.  Terrorists try to impose their will, not God’s, on others.  Perhaps some of us are guilty of forcing our will on others with whatever leverage we have.  We are wise then to do as Jesus proclaims here.  We are to seek pardon for this sin in prayer and with penitence.

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

(Optional) Memorial of Saint Pius V, pope

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

The world awaiting the election of a new pope gives reason to consider the achievements of a former one celebrated today.  Pope St. Pius V was consecrated pope shortly after the reforming Council of Trent.  He led the Church only six years but accomplished much of the direly needed reform envisaged by the Council.  His formation as a Dominican friar strengthened his resolve to undo the courtly excesses that still surrounded the papacy.  He also published a catechism, provided uniformity to liturgy, and prioritized help to the poor.  Pius has been criticized for his excommunication of the English monarch, but on the Eastern front he was responsible for stopping the Turkish intrusion into Europe.

In today’s first reading Peter and the other apostles also show resolve to implement the greatest religious reform ever.  Despite warnings from Jewish leaders not to preach Jesus Christ, they continued to tell all Jerusalem about salvation in his name.  Of course, the Lord assisted their efforts.  Not only were they liberated from prison, but they were also empowered to win the hearts and minds of many Jerusalemites. 

Recent popes have been so successful that the papacy enjoys high stature in the world.  Practically, this means that the one who fills the office has grave responsibilities.  He must seek the reunification of Christian communities, maintain orthodoxy, model holiness, and pursue reconciliation and peace among peoples.  No matter who is elected the 267^th pope, he needs our prayers.

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

 

Memorial of St. Catherine of Siena, virgin and Doctor of the Church

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

As much as any saint, except for Mary, the Mother of God, Catherine of Siena exemplifies the spiritual life.  Her spirituality is firmly rooted in a relationship with Christ, whom she considered her spouse.  The relationship presumes active engagement of the theological virtues.  Since they were not contemporaries, faith enabled Catherine to know the Lord, hope to look forward to his physical presence, and love to exhaust herself in his service.

As strong a personal feeling as she had for Christ, Catherine did not lose sight of the ecclesial dimension of spirituality.  Since the Church is Christ’s body, she dedicated her life to its integrity.  She became famous for her exhortations to the pope, hiding from the messy politics of Rome, to return to the Eternal City.  Perhaps more consequential was her forming a school of followers whom she instructed in prayer and ministry. 

No spiritual life is complete without a dimension of the cross and an outreach to others.  Catherine filled her life with penitence as she pleaded God for the Church.  She also performed both spiritual and corporal acts of mercy life.  She once counseled a condemned criminal to take refuge in the Lord and was well-known for her kindness to the indigent.  

In this time of papal transition, Catherine’s life indicates the Church’s need of a holy, wise, and courageous leader.  We should assiduously pray for the Spirit’s guidance in the papal election.  We also need to support whoever is elected by taking active interest in the Church community.

Monday, April 28, 2025

Monday of the Second Week of Easter

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

A Jewish man had, as a boy, been taken from his parents and imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp. He survived only because a German soldier reached out to him in kindness.  He says that at one point he decided not to be bitter about his experience.  Rather, he would always return to Germans the kindness he had received from the soldier.  Well into old age the man’s countenance reflects his decisions.  He beams with peace.  Whether or not the man was ever baptized, he seems to have been born of the Spirit of which Jesus speaks in today’s gospel.

Jesus is explaining to Nicodemus that people must not follow the ways of the world.  Those ways dictate that people are to “look out for number one”; “get even with those who wrong you”; and follow a hundred other maxims of the dominant ego.  In contrast, Jesus teaches that people must love one another and forgive those who persecute them.  His message may be difficult for those who have undergone significant hardship.  But it leads to a life of everlasting peace for all.

The season of Lent has chastened us, and now Easter graces have been poured out on us.  We can commit ourselves to the hard teachings of Jesus.  Models like the Holocaust survivor exist.  More than ever it is time for us to live in the Spirit.

Sunday, April 27, 2025

SECOND EASTER OF EASTER (Divine Mercy Sunday)

(Acts 5:12-16; Revelation 1:9-11, 12-13, 17-19; John 20:19-31)

Every year, this Second Sunday of Easter is increasingly known as “Divine Mercy Sunday.” Pope Saint John Paul II added the name in 2000 during the canonization of Sister Faustina Kowalska. The saint said that Jesus asked it of the Church. Certainly, the name corresponds to the Gospel today.

Before we look at the Gospel, however, let’s consider the origin of the word mercy. It is derived from three Latin words: misere, meaning need; cor, meaning heart; and ia, meaning toward.  Mercy is having a heart of solidarity toward those in need. Theologians consider mercy together with love as God's greatest attributes. Although He is superior to all, He has continually lowered Himself to ease the burden of His creatures.

God showed supreme mercy or solidarity with humans by sending His own Son to the world to rescue men and women from sin. Sometimes it seems as though our sins don't matter much. People continue to sin without concern, much less repentance. Yet, our sins place us outside of God's friendship. "So what?" some ask. If we are outside of a relationship with God, to whom will we turn in acute need?

Our sins also place us on a path of perdition. This consequence is evident with sensual vices like gluttony and lust, but it also applies to spiritual vices. Greed deceives the sinner into thinking of money more important than human beings. Sloth makes one indifferent to wonderful gifts like nature and literature because they require some effort to unlock.

When Jesus meets his disciples in the Gospel, he has just completed his Father's mission. In fact, his last words on the cross were: "It is finished." The phrase refers to the redemption of the world of its sins. This mission is the "cup" that Jesus said he had to drink from when Peter cut off the young man's ear in the garden.

In today's Gospel, Jesus shows how he brings forgiveness in the world. He breathes on his apostles, saying: "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them..." The apostles are to go out into the world preaching the forgiveness of sin through Jesus' death and resurrection. They will baptize individuals to take away their sins. In time, their successors will dispense the sins committed after Baptism in the Sacrament of Penance.

Does the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the charge of going into the world sound familiar? Yes, it is the same commissioning seen at the end of the Gospel according to Matthew and at the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles. Each evangelist has his own way of describing how the disciples-apostles receive the Spirit that empowers them to preach forgiveness.

Finally, today’s gospel goes on to help us accept the reality of forgiveness in our age of unbelief. It makes two notes indicating that the testimony the Gospel gives is true. First, Jesus pacifies the doubting Thomas with his offer to be touched. And second, it assures that Jesus performed many signs beyond those found in the Gospel so that all people would believe. The passage ends not simply by recommending belief but by naming its desirable fruit.  Those who believe will have “life in his name.”