April 30, 2016 - Saturday

They traveled through the Phrygian and Galatian territory because they had been prevented by the holy Spirit from preaching the message in the province of Asia.
When they came to Mysia, they tried to go on into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them, so they crossed through Mysia and came down to Troas. (Acts 16:6-8 NABRE)

Have you ever wanted to do something you thought was the right thing to do, but you were met with opposition at every turn? Do you remember how frustrating it was?

I imagine that is exactly how Paul and his travelling companions must have felt. Think about it, they had answered Jesus' call to go out and spread the good news, they had risked everything for this cause, and yet the find themselves blocked from doing what they were convinced was the right thing to do, what God expected them to do.

Often, we pursue our agenda, not God's. It is possible that Paul was doing just that. In fact, we learn soon after this time of blockage that the itinerant preachers are lead west toward Macedonia and beyond.

Oh Lord, help me to remain vigilant in prayer--quiet so that I might recognize the prompting of your Spirit, and discerning so that I will know your will especially when it diverges from my own.


Today, on this Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter, I will remember that He is risen indeed!


Saint Joseph Benedict Cottolengo, who shows us that sometimes it takes years of praying and searching to hear God’s call, pray for us.

April 29, 2016 - Friday

It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. (John 15:16 NABRE)

What a statement Jesus makes to his friends! And it is tucked so neatly in among a range of equally big statements that we might easily overlook it.

Jesus chooses us. He appoints us for his work. And he promises us that whatever we ask the Father in his name will be given to us--no doubt as it relates to his work (not our whims!).


Today, I will find joy in Jesus' choice of me as someone to help bring his good news to others.


Saint Catherine of Siena, virgin, Doctor of the Church, and patron of Europe and Italy, pray for us.

April 28, 2016 - Thursday

Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all the earth.
Sing to the LORD, bless his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his marvelous deeds. (Psalm 96:1-3 NABRE)

Singing is such a visceral activity. We can actually feel the vibrations of our voices in our heads. This somatic experience of pleasure is one of the most beautiful ways to pray. When we sing, it has been said, we pray twice. And so, today, I will join with all the earth singing a song to the Lord! I will allow the experience of feeling the song to be an expression of joy and praise to Jesus!


Today, on this Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter, I will remember that the Lord's name itself is holy, sacred and worthy of reverence.


Saint Peter Chanel, first martyr and patron of Oceania, pray for us.

April 27, 2016 - Wednesday

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.
He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.
You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.
Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. (John 15:1-5 NABRE)

This passage resembles a parable.

For example, Israel is spoken of as a vineyard in Isaiah 5:1–7; Matthew 21:33–46 and as a vine in Psalm 80:9–17; Jeremiah 2:21; Ezekiel 15:2; 17:5–10; 19:10; and Hosea 10:1.

The identification of the vine as the Son of Man in Psalm 80:15 and Wisdom’s description of herself as a vine in Sirach 24:17 are further background for this portrayal of Jesus in this way.

There may also be secondary Eucharistic symbolism here (see Mark 14:25), “the fruit of the vine.”*

All of these references deepen the meaning of Jesus' statement to his disciples. And what does it tell us about living in today's world? After all, most of us do not work in vineyards. For us, it helps to recall Jesus' last statement in today's passage: Without me you can do nothing.

Lord Jesus, thank you for being there supplying my needs, preparing me for those times when I am given the chance to do something--something, that is, to build the kingdom here in my days and in my corner of this world.


Today, on this Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter, I will remain in Jesus by humbly acknowledging my full dependence on him.


Saint Zita of Lucca, patron of maids, domestic workers and servants, pray for us.

April 26, 2016 - Tuesday

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. (John 14:27 NABRE)

In today's passage, Jesus uses the traditional Hebrew salutation šālôm; but his “Shalom” is a gift of salvation, connoting the bounty of messianic blessing.*

It is difficult to imagine what it must have been like to be one of Jesus' friends. During what we now know was their final Passover meal together, Jesus spoke to them in what must have seemed like riddles and vague statements that made no sense.

He talked of leaving them. He blessed them. He washed their feet. He talked about sending another Advocate to be with them after he was gone. Despite what must have caused them to feel some sort of undefined doom or at least concern for his welfare, Jesus talks of leaving them his peace. Not just a greeting, but a deep promise of salvation, as had been promised to the people of Israel for generations.

In some ways, as challenging as it is, following Jesus today might actually be easier than it was for those friends who sat at table with him that night. We have had years to begin to see the fullness of Jesus' promise unfold. And though we still look forward to his return, we rely on his Spirit for now, to help us encounter Jesus in the faces of all those we meet and to prepare ourselves for the promised life to come.


Today, on this Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter, I will be grateful for Jesus' gift of salvation.


Saint Pedro de San José, the first saint to have worked and died in Guatemala, pray for us.

April 25, 2016 - Monday

And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for:
“God opposes the proud
but bestows favor on the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5b NABRE)

What sort of opinion do I have of myself, and who gets the credit? It's a two-part question, and both aspects matter. I have a high opinion of myself, but get very little of the credit! As a child of God and a co-heir with Jesus, my opinion of myself must be that I have worth, that I am valuable. And because it is God himself who created me, Jesus who taught me how to live, and their shared Spirit who dwells in me and guides me, I get very little credit!

As a result, I'm left with a counter-cultural understanding of pride. We're constantly taught to be proud of our accomplishments and to strive for success. I often wonder at the home-run hitter who makes the sign of the cross and points to heaven, how remarkable it is--in their moment of great professional achievement, when success must feel most real, at this time of personal honor before thousands of fans--that he would even remember to be humble, grateful, thankful to God who gave him his strength.

It is something to work toward!


Today, on this Feast of Saint Mark the Evangelist, I will seek to humbly share God's Word.


Saint Mark, who travelled with Saint Paul and wrote the oldest of the four gospels, pray for us.

April 24, 2016 - Sunday

My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. You will look for me, and as I told the Jews, ‘Where I go you cannot come,’ so now I say it to you.
I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.
This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:33-35 NABRE)

At the Last Supper, just after Judas left to betray Jesus, this is how Jesus spoke to the remaining disciples.

It is fascinating (maybe even one of those aha moments for a few who were present) that his new commandment puts Jesus on a par with Yahweh. Actually, the commandment itself is not new. It is a restatement of Leviticus 19:18.*

This admonition to love your neighbor as yourself came to be viewed in Judaism and Christianity as one of the central commandments.  Beyond that, the New Testament urges love for enemies as well as neighbors.*


Today, on this Fifth Sunday of Easter, I will work to act with love toward others.


Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen, whose constant prayer was that you be kept completely faithful to God and not give in to any lukewarmness or apathy, pray for us.

April 23, 2016 - Saturday

The disciples were filled with joy and the holy Spirit. (Acts 13:52 NABRE)

Imagine how it would feel to visit some friends because you had great news to share, the news is so great that word spreads and everyone in town shows up to hear it. Now imagine some of the townspeople become angry at the news, incite others to anger, and soon you are run out of town, lucky to be alive. How would you feel?

Immediately after this happened to Paul and Barnabas in Pisidian Antioch, we are told they were filled with joy!

What a paradox. I think it is a powerful statement of the impact of the Spirit, and the truth of their message. First, no one risks their life for a story they don't believe, so we know with certainty that these men believed in Jesus' resurrection. Second, no one dedicates their life to frustration, rejection, and hardship for a story they know to be false, so we know with equal certainty that they believed the truth of why Jesus suffered and died.

Their joy, like ours today, comes, not from the fleeting circumstances of life, but from faith in the promise of Jesus and the company of God's own holy Spirit dwelling in each of us who invites him in.


Today, I will live joyfully with the holy Spirit, present in me.


Saint George, patron of boy scouts, soldiers, England, Germany, and Portugal, pray for us.

April 22, 2016 - Friday

But God raised him from the dead, and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. These are [now] his witnesses before the people. We ourselves are proclaiming this good news to you that what God promised our ancestors he has brought to fulfillment for us, (their) children, by raising up Jesus. (Acts 13:30-33a NABRE)

Saint Paul had travelled all the way to Antioch in Pisidia, where he preached about Jesus of Nazareth. Wherever he could, he told the story of the Apostles who had witnessed the risen Jesus. He told of his friends who spoke with him, ate with him, touched him. When we hear about these things, we are reminded of the truth of the event.

He is risen indeed!

The theme of the Galilean witnesses is a major one in the Gospel of Luke and in Acts and is used to signify the continuity between the teachings of Jesus and the teachings of the church and to guarantee the fidelity of the church’s teachings to the words of Jesus.*


Today, on this Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter, I will remember those who witnessed Jesus' resurrection from the dead.


Saint Adalbert of Prague, who fearlessly preached Jesus' gospel, pray for us.

Source: Biblestudy.org

April 21, 2016 - Thursday

From now on I am telling you before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe that I AM.
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.” (John 13:19-20 NABRE)

At the Last Supper, just before announcing that someone at the dinner table with them would betray him, Jesus made the bold statement in today's passage. Jesus says he himself is God--using the specific name God gave himself when speaking to Moses.

More than that, Jesus connects us all in one sweeping statement. All who receive the disciples of Jesus receive him, and God who sent him, and will be rewarded accordingly.* We who receive and accept what we are told by disciples, also receive Jesus and the one who sent him, the Father. And as recorded in Matthew's account (Matthew 10:40-42), there is a reward that awaits those who believe.


Today, I will celebrate my faith in Jesus by praying to him the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.


Saint Anselm, one of the Church's greatest theologians and leaders, who received the title "Father of Scholasticism," pray for us.

April 20, 2016 - Wednesday

Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me, and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me. (John 12:44-45 NABRE)

Just after his triumphant entry into Jerusalem, Jesus reminded those who had come to hear him about why he was here and who had sent him. He urged them not only to believe in him, and by extension, the Father; but he explained the importance of acting on his words because they are not just his words, but the words the Father told him to say to us all.


Today, I will be joyful in my faith and seek to follow the words of Jesus.


Saint Conrad of Parzham, who lived a life that attracted others because you were united to God in prayer, pray for us.

April 19, 2016 - Tuesday

The feast of the Dedication was then taking place in Jerusalem. It was winter.
And Jesus walked about in the temple area on the Portico of Solomon.
So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
Jesus answered them, “I told you and you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me. (John 10:22-25 NABRE)

During Hanukkah, Jesus had this particularly direct discussion with those who were listening to him teach in the temple.* It was winter, so Jesus was walking around on the east side of the temple area, on the Portico of Solomon, which offered protection against the cold winds from the desert.* The average temperature in Jerusalem in winter is about 50 degrees farenheit.*

Winter can be a time of desolation, of cold and isolation. It can bring to mind many things which disturb the spirit within us. And it can blot out the promise of spring if we do not focus our thoughts, at least at times, on that pleasant season we know will inevitably arrive.

So too with Jesus. In our human condition, as we struggle through many winters, may we remember that there is a promise that has been made to us. May all who know of Jesus and his promise of eternal salvation, turn to him and find themselves counted among those whom he calls "my sheep." And may we all share our faith with those around us, being witnesses to the ways he enters into our own lives.


Today, I will pray for those who do not believe even after they learn about Jesus.


Saint Gianna Beretta Molla, whose extreme sacrifice, sealed with your life, testifies that only those who have the courage to give of themselves totally to God and to others are able to fulfill themselves, pray for us.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

April 18, 2016 - Monday

As the deer longs for streams of water,
so my soul longs for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, the living God.
When can I enter and see the face of God? (Psalm 42:2-3 NABRE)

There is something in each of us that is unsettled and unresolved. It's been observed that this something is our need for God's presence, something we cannot have in this lifetime. Taking this as entirely plausible, the Psalmist captures this longing vividly by comparing it with a deer's need for water. Indeed, our need for water becomes clear quickly when we have to go without it for any length of time.

We crave it. We turn all our energy to finding it. And what is it in us that drives us to this? How do we instinctively seek it out? This urge is not driven by knowledge or understanding. It is a biological imperative.

So to, our desire for God's company. It is not driven by knowledge or understanding; but rather, like the dear who thirsts, our urge to be in God's personal presence is a spiritual imperative.


Today, on this Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter, I will dwell on my own longing for the personal presence of God.


Blessed James Oldo, who used his time to build up treasures in heaven and to build God’s realm on earth, pray for us.

Source: https://ichapel.wordpress.com/

April 17, 2016 - Sunday

But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep.
My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. (John 10:26-28 NABRE)

I know very little about sheep herding; but from what I read, even in early times, "the duty of shepherds was to keep their flock intact, protect it from predators and guide it to market areas in time for shearing."* It is said that just as we recognize each other's voice, sheep know the sound of their shepherd's voice.

I am grateful to be counted among Jesus' flock. There are times when I need protection and guidance--more often than I'd like to admit. There are times when I need direction and reassurance. There are times when I need rescue. I rely on his Word and trust that he is leading me safely.


Today, on this Fourth Sunday of Easter, I will listen for the voice of my Good Shepherd.


Saint Benedict Joseph Labre, patron of the homeless, pray for us.

Source: https://dailytheology.org

April 16, 2016 - Saturday

It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. (John 6:63 NABRE)

Words of Jesus spoken in the synagogue at Capernaum.

Even as he walked among men teaching and performing miracles, Jesus knew many did not believe what he was telling them. Many of his disciples--other than the twelve--who came to listen, left and returned to their old way of life. They could not believe that Jesus, this man before them, was, as Simon Peter, put it, the Holy One of God.

To be totally honest, I think I would have been like one of the crowd who left. In those days, I wonder if I even would have believed Jesus. His confusing and challenging words might have intrigued me, his many signs and wonders--especially if I had witnessed one personally--might have swayed me, but his expectation that I change and his explanations of eating his flesh and talk of some other-worldly spirit would have probably sent me packing.

And so, what's changed? Jesus has risen from the dead! This one impossible event--witnessed by many, along with his signs and wonders, in addition to his teachings that have been passed down to us today and which explain his role in salvation history all come together as trustworthy. Faith worthy. Action worthy. Truth.


Today, I will remember the Spirit and look beyond things of this world for what is most important.


Saint Bernadette Soubrious, who moved through life, guided only by blind faith in things you did not understand—as we all must do from time to time, pray for us.

April 15, 2016 - Friday

So Ananias went and entered the house; laying his hands on him, he said, “Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came, that you may regain your sight and be filled with the holy Spirit.”
Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. He got up and was baptized. (Acts 9:17-18 NABRE)

So Saul, who we know as Saint Paul, was struck blind for three days as part of his coming to know Jesus. I sometimes forget that story. At first, Paul, like the other disciples, was blind to who Jesus truly is. I think we each go through a process of being blind to Jesus and having our sight restored. What at first seems harsh and difficult, however, I would argue makes our faith stronger in the end. As evidence of that, look at Paul, who suffered terribly for Jesus over many years, who brought faith in Christ to the Gentiles throughout the known world, and wrote much of the New Testament.

Lord Jesus, thank you for filling me with your holy Spirit. And by this same Spirit, may my blindness be healed and my sight restored. May I see you as I walk on the path of my life. And may those whose eyes are still closed to your presence find that the scales fall from their eyes and that they see you with a clarity and conviction they never dreamt possible.


Today, I will pray that my own eyes may be open to the real presence of Jesus.


Blessed Caesar de Bus, whose efforts remind us of the many needs in our parishes, and that it’s up to us to respond by finding ways to fill them or by joining in already established efforts, pray for us.

April 14, 2016 - Thursday

I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” (John 6:48-51 NABRE)

When we celebrate the Eucharist (which comes from the Greek word meaning thanksgiving), we believe that the consecrated bread and wine are actually the body and blood of Jesus, though their physical form does not change.

As faithful believers in Jesus, we trust in the promise of eternal life though him.


Today, I will celebrate the mystical body of Christ as well as the regular opportunities I have to participate in the Eucharist.


Blessed Peter Gonzalez, who, after a conversion on the road to the Spanish city of Astorga in the 13th century, reevaluated your motivations and started down a new path as a priest, pray for us.

April 13, 2016 - Wednesday

Shout joyfully to God, all the earth;
sing of his glorious name;
give him glorious praise. (Psalms 66:2 NABRE)

Boring? Monotonous? Old-fashioned? Wasted time? Stale? Fruitless? If that is how you pray, then stop! If that is how your prayer has started to feel, then stop what you are doing immediately! There is a beautiful fix for this!

Praise God! Praise him by singing, by smiling, by shouting joyfully to him (yes, really)! Say his name out loud as you smile. Make that your sole prayer today! Praising him changes everything. It changes our outlook on our relationship with him. It changes our feeling about our prayer. It even changes our perspective on our personal circumstances! And it opens our heart to his Word.


Today, I will recall the many awesome deeds of the Lord and praise him for all he does!


Saint Martin I, last of the early popes to be venerated as a martyr, pray for us.

April 12, 2016 - Tuesday

“You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always oppose the holy Spirit; you are just like your ancestors.
Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They put to death those who foretold the coming of the righteous one, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become.
You received the law as transmitted by angels, but you did not observe it.” (Acts 7:51-53 NABRE)

Responding to God's call is a high-risk choice! There seems to be something deep in our human nature that resists what God offers us. And this resistance isn't only expressed individually, it is often expressed by society. As Stephen points out, moments before he is stoned to death, this has been the case among God's people since the earliest of times.

And today, those of us who call ourselves believers are wise to learn from our spiritual ancestors' mistakes. Stephen gives us an idea where to begin. I ask myself: How do I recognize my own stubborn opposition to the holy Spirit? How do I see my own reluctance to accept others who act in Jesus' name? How do I admit my own unwillingness to observe God's instruction? And how do we do these things as a society?

Individually, there are several ways to overcome the temptations described. First, by prayer and sacrifice, I can ask for awareness, both of the actions of the holy Spirit in my life and my responses to them. The type of prayer needed does not require memorization or ritual. Rather, prayer of this nature needs only quietness of heart on a consistent basis. Sacrifice is a way to help free myself of the distractions of this life, and many have experienced it as amplifying the effectiveness of prayer.

Second, I can decide each day to pay attention to each moment, to the events, encounters, and issues I face, and to my response to each one. This is a real challenge and takes some effort at first. It can be helpful to keep a tactile reminder in your pocket or desk. Each time you see or feel it, just take notice of your present circumstance, and reflect on your reaction to what is going on. Is it what you want it to be? What would you want to change for next time?

And finally, as a society, each one of us has a share in making this a better world. There are so many ways to do it, but as a simple starting point, consider the Corporal Works of Mercy. They are profound despite their apparent simplicity, and powerful despite their apparent ordinariness.


Today, I will pray for awareness of my own resistance to God.


Saint Teresa of Los Andes, whose focus on prayer and sacrifice led you to write in your diary, “I am God’s. He created me and is my beginning and my end,” pray for us.

April 11, 2016 - Monday

Jesus answered them and said, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled.
Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.”
So they said to him, “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?”
Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.” (John 6:26-29 NABRE)

How can I work for the food that endures for eternal life? What can I do to accomplish the works of God? Where do I even begin?

In my busy day, I have already begun my work because I believe in Jesus. And from such a strong starting point, I turn to the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus sent to be with me today and everyday, to lead me to opportunities for service, for mercy, and for love. And I turn to this same Spirit to help me recognize these opportunities, to discern which are kingdom-building and which are distractions.


Today, I will ask the Holy Spirit to guide me toward the works of God.


Saint Stanislaus, 11th-century bishop, martyr, and patron of Poland, pray for us.

April 10, 2016 - Sunday

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
He then said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” [Jesus] said to him, “Feed my sheep. (John 21:15-17 NABRE)

The threefold confession of Peter is meant to counteract his earlier threefold denial (John 18:17, 25, 27). The First Vatican Council cited these verses in defining that Jesus after his resurrection gave Peter the jurisdiction of supreme shepherd and ruler over the whole flock.*

During this Jubilee of Mercy, Pope Francis encourages each of us to forgive and to live out the other corporal and spiritual works of mercy. Recognizing that our traditions begin and end with Jesus, we do well to look deeply into the heart of the Church rather than, as so many do these days, look only at it's veneer which is a collage of sinners in search of Jesus' mercy and love.


Today, I will begin reading Pope Francis' Apostolic Exhortation on Love in the Family, "The Joy of Love."

Saint Fulbert, strong opponent of overly rationalistic tendencies which extol reasoned arguments above the teachings of the Church and the testimony of the Bible, pray for us.

April 9, 2016 - Saturday

Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."
The proposal was acceptable to the whole community, so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the holy Spirit, also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism. (Acts 6:3-5 NABRE)

Stephen was chosen by the whole community because he was known for his wisdom and filled with faith and the holy Spirit.

Along with six others, Stephen was chosen to serve the community based on his unique talents and abilities.


Today, like Stephen, I will make my time, talent, and treasure available to the community of Jesus' disciples living today.


Saint Mary Cleophas, who stood with Mary at the foot of the cross, pray for us.

April 8, 2016 - Friday

But a Pharisee in the Sanhedrin named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, respected by all the people, stood up, ordered the [apostles] to be put outside for a short time,
and said to them, “Fellow Israelites, be careful what you are about to do to these men.

So now I tell you, have nothing to do with these men, and let them go. For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself.
But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God.” They were persuaded by him. (Acts 5:34-35, 38-39 NABRE)

In a sudden turn of events as the apostles were on trial, Gamaliel, a member of the Sanhedrin, offers examples of unsuccessful contemporary movements to argue that if God is not the origin of this movement preached by the apostles it will perish by itself.*

What a powerful perspective we can glean from his observation! The origin of human endeavors can be from God. Again, not all human endeavors are from God, but it is possible that certain activity is.

My April 6 blog entry discusses truth as having to do with activities we are not ashamed of. The point of that entry is that things we do which are "in God" and not evil represent what is true. And so, I see today's passage as a sort of reinforcement of that concept.


Today, on this Friday of the Second Week of Easter, I will remember that when I work to build God's kingdom, no one will be able to destroy what is done.


Saint Julia Billiart, patron against poverty, bodily ills, impoverishment, poverty, sick people, and sickness, pray for us.

April 7, 2016 - Thursday

When they had brought them in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, the high priest questioned them, “We gave you strict orders [did we not?] to stop teaching in that name. Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and want to bring this man’s blood upon us.”
But Peter and the apostles said in reply, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our ancestors raised Jesus, though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior to grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins. We are witnesses of these things, as is the holy Spirit that God has given to those who obey him.” (John 5:27-32 NABRE)

From the very beginnings of Christianity, preaching and healing in the name of Jesus has been risky business. In today's passage we see the apostles themselves confronted angrily by the Sanhedrin who were the appointed leaders of the local Jewish community.

And to their pointed questions, Peter and the apostles replied that they must obey God rather than men. The conviction in the apostle's hearts that Jesus was indeed God's long-awaited savior for Israel had to have been so profound that they would willingly risk death, repeatedly. They took this risk because they witnessed his resurrection from the dead!

What powerful knowledge the apostles had. Death no longer had power over them. The risen Jesus promised them that. He promises you and I the same thing! Let's never lose sight of what that means. We have nothing in this world to fear.


Today, I will find courage and strength for my service in the certain knowledge of the resurrection.


Saint John Baptiste de la Salle, patron of educators, school principals, and teachers, pray for us.

April 6, 2016 - Wednesday

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.
Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil.
For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed.
But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God. (John 3:16-21 NABRE)

Remember the question Pontius Pilate asks Jesus at his trial: What is truth? Perhaps the answer lies in John's description of our sinful nature. If so, perhaps truth has to do with anything we are not ashamed of, anything we do that is "in God" and not evil.

That said, what a grace it is that Jesus offers us--salvation from our own nature so that we might have eternal life! All we are asked to do is believe. That's it. Everything after that falls into place. We believe and our hearts begin to change. We keep believing and our lives change as well. Our thoughts and our actions begin to conform to God's will as we spend time in his Word and in prayer.


Today, on this Wednesday of the Second Week of Easter, I will seek to think, speak, and act only in ways worthy of the light.


Saint William of Eskilsoe, twelfth-century monastic reformer, pray for us.

April 5, 2016 - Tuesday

The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common.
With great power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was accorded them all. (Acts 4:32-33 NABRE)

In the first days after Jesus' resurrection, the community of believers in Jerusalem grew quickly. Many came to believe based on the testimony of Peter and the other Apostles.

Today's passage is the second summary characterizing the Jerusalem community (for the first, see the note on Acts 2:42–47). This summary emphasizes the system of the distribution of goods among the community. The sharing of material possessions continues a practice that Luke describes during the historical ministry of Jesus and is in accord with the sayings of Jesus in Luke’s gospel.*


Today, on this Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter, I will remember the powerful impact of Jesus' resurrection had on the hearts of those first hearers of the Good News.


Saint Vincent Ferrer, patron of builders, construction workers, and plumbers, pray for us.

April 4, 2016 - Monday

And the angel said to her in reply, “The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:35-38 NABRE)

The sign given to Mary in confirmation of the angel’s announcement to her is the pregnancy of her aged relative Elizabeth. If a woman past the childbearing age could become pregnant, why, the angel implies, should there be doubt about Mary’s pregnancy, for nothing will be impossible for God.*

I admire the complete trust Mary puts in the Lord. Even when she did not fully understand what was said to her, even when the threat of scandal no doubt hung over her thoughts, and even when she was probably frightened by the appearance of Gabriel, the angel messenger of God, Mary's response was one of pure trust. May we all respond to God's call on our lives as Mary did, by saying may it be done to me according to your word.


Today, on this Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, I will pray to Mary and her husband, Saint Joseph, for perfect resignation to the divine will.


Saint Isidore of Seville, patron of computer technicians, computer users, computers, the Internet, schoolchildren, and students, pray for us.

April 3, 2016 - Sunday

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”
Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of [his] disciples that are not written in this book.
But these are written that you may [come to] believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name. (John 20:27-31 NABRE)

Here, at the conclusion of John's gospel, he offers a message of hope for those of us who were never able to see Jesus as Thomas did. We are blessed who believe without having seen him. And more than that, we look forward to having life in his name, now and forever.


Today, on this Sunday of Divine Mercy, I will pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for those in need of Jesus, who know of him but who have yet to accept his free gift.


Saint Richard, thirteenth-century English bishop, confessor and deeply generous soul, pray for us.

April 2, 2016 - Saturday

“What are we to do with these men? Everyone living in Jerusalem knows that a remarkable sign was done through them, and we cannot deny it.
But so that it may not be spread any further among the people, let us give them a stern warning never again to speak to anyone in this name.”
So they called them back and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
Peter and John, however, said to them in reply, “Whether it is right in the sight of God for us to obey you rather than God, you be the judges.
It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.”
After threatening them further, they released them, finding no way to punish them, on account of the people who were all praising God for what had happened. (Acts 4:16-21 NABRE)

Not long after Jesus left them, his disciples were confronted by the religious establishment for curing a cripple in Jesus' name. There is much to consider in this story, but what strikes me most is the acknowledgement that what they had done was a remarkable sign.

In today's hurried times, we are rarely if ever ready to admit when a miracle takes place. And it is a shame really that we prefer to put our faith elsewhere. Miracles happen every day. For the person who willingly decides to believe first and to accept proof second, these ordinary, extraordinary events become remarkable signs of God's desire for us to turn to him.


Today, I will turn to the Lord, recognizing the remarkable signs in my own life, and seeking his Divine Mercy.


Saint Francis of Paola, known as the "man of Lent," for your life of penance, pray for us.

April 1, 2016 - Friday

When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread.
Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.”
So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three large fish. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn.
Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.” And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they realized it was the Lord.
Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish.
This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead. (John 21:9-14 NABRE)

Not long after Jesus had risen, Peter and six other disciples had been out fishing all night with little success--until they came upon Jesus on the shore at dawn. He told them to cast their net over the right side of the boat and they ended up catching so many fish they were unable to pull the net in!

It is amazing how often in my own life that Jesus arrives when I feel most defeated and ready to give up. And when he does, he not only fills my net, he has breakfast already cooked for me!


Today, I will remember Jesus' perfect timing and the endless bounty he prepares for each of us, even me.


Saint Hugh of Grenoble, who was bishop of Grenoble in France for fifty-two years about 900 years ago, pray for us.