As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.

 

Our Scripture readings for this reflection can be found at Fifth Sunday of Easter | USCCB

In our gospel for today we hear the Lord share with us what appears to be a very simple request: "As I have loved you, so you also should love one another." This request of Jesus seems very clear: LOVE ONE ANOTHER! But how often do we really do that in our relationship with one another? We may find it easy to go to church and to fulfill our church obligations each week. We attend Mass, we pray our rosary or other devotions.  We say that we love God and do what appears to be the right thing to fulfill our obligations with God. But yet, what about loving those in your family that may get on your nerves, and you really don't want anything to do with? Or with those co-workers and neighbors that always seem to be pressing our buttons and getting on our nerves? We are called to love them as well. But do we? 

Further, it's so easy to point our fingers at those we know that may not be living their lives in a way we feel they should. We are quick to judge their lives and their motives rather than to try to understand them and love them as Jesus is asking us to do. 

Living out our lives as Christians requires not only complete love of God, but complete love of those that God has placed in our lives. With each person we encounter in our lives, let us, like the Glen Campbell song from years ago says, "Try a little kindness" and then attempt to love them as our Lord asks. It'll be then we can live up to that saying, "They'll know we are Christians by our love."

Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.

 

Scripture readings for today's reflection can be found at Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter | USCCB

In this very comforting gospel, we are reminded by Jesus that no matter what our cares or concerns are we are not to be troubled. All we need is faith in God and in Jesus Christ. By placing our cares and concerns into the loving hands of Jesus Christ, we can find that peace that can only come from Him, through God the Father and the Holy Spirit. It may seem easier said than done, but we are to trust in Jesus’ promise that he will bring us peace and comfort.

In our day and age with a lingering pandemic that doesn’t seem to want to go away; problems with wars and conflict in Ukraine and around the world; and problems with the economy here in the United States, there always seems to be something to worry about. But Jesus reassures us that He’s present even in these difficult times. We need to turn to Him for healing from the effects of COVID, and we need to pray to Him to bring peace to those troubled parts of the world, including here in the United States. Jesus encourages us to place all our cares and problems into his loving hands.

Jesus goes on to tell us that He’s preparing a place for us in the heavenly kingdom, and he will take us to himself. By turning ourselves to him daily in our prayers, and by the frequent reception of confession and Holy Communion, we can look forward to a time when we enter that place that the Lord has prepared for us. By our constant devotion to Him in prayer and sacrifice, we can endure these problems and look forward to a time of peace and comfort with Him in the heavenly banquet.

During these trying time of sickness, war, and economic struggles, let us pray the prayer of St. Teresa of Avila: “Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you, All things are passing away. God never changes. Patience obtains all things. Whoever has God lacks nothing; God alone suffices.” Amen.

“Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

 

Scripture readings for today's reflection can be found at Friday of the Third Week of Easter | USCCB

In our first reading from the Acts of the Apostles we hear of the familiar story of the conversion of St. Paul (formerly known as Saul) on the road to Damascus. Up to this point Saul was working to destroy the church because of his understanding that the early Christians were going against the teachings of the Jewish faith. He sincerely believed that they were blasphemous in believing and teaching that Jesus not only died and rose from the dead, but that Jesus was God. Further, earlier in Acts, Saul was a witness to the martyrdom of St. Stephen, the first martyr for this faith in Jesus Christ. In Acts 8, verse one, we read, “Saul was consenting to his execution.”

So, it’s very understandable that Ananias was hesitant, at the request of God, to go to Saul. He was afraid for his life. But he was obedient to God, and went and prayed over Saul, who recovered his vision and came to faith in Jesus Christ and was baptized.

Ananias was willing to go and pray for Saul and his conversion. Further, St. Stephen as he was being stoned death for his belief in Jesus Christ, prayed for Saul and those stoning him, “Lord, donot hold this sin against them” (Acts 7:60), words that were similar to the words our Lord used from the cross towards those who put Him to death.

As a result of the prayers of St. Stephen and Ananias, Saul came to faith in Jesus Christ Saul would become Paul and would go on to spread the faith that Jesus Christ is Savior and Messiah through his many missionary trips and his writings that now make up most of the New Testament.

Prayer for others is a powerful tool in our relationship with God and with those that we know that may not share our faith in Jesus Christ. We are called by God to pray for them. We may never face martyrdom like St. Stephen, or, like Ananias, be called to go to someone we fear, but we are called to pray for those in our lives that may not have the faith in Jesus Christ that we are blessed to have. Through our silent prayer for those among our families and friends, God can bring others to faith in Him. Pray for those family members and friends in your life that God may touch their hearts and come to knowledge that Jesus is indeed Lord and Messiah.

“This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.”

 

Scripture readings for todays' reflection can be found at Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena, Virgin and Doctor of the Church | USCCB

In the gospel for today we see that the crowd has already developed a loving relationship with Jesus because of the signs he performed for the sick. Because of the care and concern that Jesus showed towards them, along with the healings they experienced, they were able to develop that relationship with God that they never knew or felt before.  And, in his compassion, Jesus was able to bring them food when they were hungry through this wonderful miracle of feeding so many people at one time. They felt the love of God for them through Jesus Christ.

Further, we see that, after Jesus blessed the food and gave thanks to God the Father, He had the disciples distribute it to those who were hungry. In this way, Jesus was able to have the apostles involved in this wonderful miracle. Jesus was working through the apostles to help those in need to get the nourishment they needed. We are to learn from this example of God’s generosity towards all. This miracle reveals the heart of God, who cares about our every need. God also expects us to come to the aid of one another.

Through his actions Jesus reveals how God is towards us: nourishing, caring, lavish, and concerned for all our needs. With this in mind, God also expects us to come to the aid of one another, and to share what little we have. Saint Teresa of Calcutta said about Jesus, “He uses us to be his love and compassion in the world in spite of our weaknesses and frailties.” 

Jesus feeds us spiritually at every Holy Mass with the Eucharist: His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. As we leave each Mass we attend, strengthened by our Lord in the Eucharist, let us, like the boy in this Gospel with the food, and the apostles distributing the food, bring Christ’s love and concern to those around us that they, too, may develop that loving relationship with Christ. In this way they will know of the salvation that comes through Him: Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior.  

The disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.”

 

The scripture readings for today's reflection can be found at Friday in the Octave of Easter | USCCB

In our gospel from St. John for today, we hear of the third time Jesus appears to the disciples after rising from the dead. In chapter 20 of the Gospel, we hear of Jesus rising from the dead on Easter Sunday Morning, and Him appearing first to Mary Magdalene, then twice in a week to the apostles in the upper room.

In the first appearance of Jesus in the upper room, Jesus breathes on them, and they receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the power to forgive sins. In John 20:23 we hear our Lord say to the apostles: “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” Then in the 2^nd appearance, 8 days later, we hear of St. Thomas, the doubter, not wanting to believe in the resurrection of Jesus unless he placed his fingers into the nail prints and wound on His side. Jesus complied, and Thomas responded, “My Lord and my God.” (John 20:28). Then Jesus responded, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John20:29).

Then in today’s gospel, after these beautiful experiences of the Risen Lord, they seem to have forgotten that Jesus has risen from the dead and start going back to their former way of life of fishing. But Jesus came to remind them that He is still present in their lives. First, he commands them to throw a net on the right side and, as a result, catch many fish. With that John proclaims, “It is the Lord.” Peter, anxious to see the Lord, swims to shore to great the Lord. Jesus, always concerned about his disciples, prepares them breakfast.

All throughout our lives, we have experienced the risen Lord during special times in our lives, such as a wedding or a child’s baptism, or in any other special occasion that may bring us closer to God. But then there are those times when we may feel the Lord is not near to us. It may be in those ordinary routines of our life where we are just doing what we need to do that we don’t feel the Lord’s presence. We may not feel the Lord’s presence in our simple day-to-day existence, but today’s gospel reminds us that the Lord is always present to us, no matter what we may be going through in our lives. He’s there waiting for us to rush to Him, as Peter did, and to reach out to Him to be part of our day-to-day existence, even when we may not feel Him present. He’s there just waiting for us to say, “It’s the Lord.”

Let us, like St. Peter, rush to the Lord every day of our lives, and show Him the love and adoration that he deserves. And, like St. Thomas, let us say, “My Lord and my God.” Amen.

The Father is in Me and I am in the Father

 

Scripture readings for today's reflection can be found at Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent | USCCB

In our gospel for today, we see the continued refusal of the Jews to accept Jesus as the Son of God. In their view, Jesus is just a man and is making himself out to be God. All throughout his ministry, Jesus was showing and teaching that he was true God and true Man. With the miracles he performed, the exorcisms he did, and the healing of the many people that came to him, he showed that he was more than just a miracle man. Further, earlier in the gospel of John, chapter 8, verse 58, Jesus tells the Jews, “…before Abraham came to be, I AM.” This phrase of “I AM” was used by God for Moses to use when he went to the Israelites. Moses told the Israelites that God’s name is: I AM. So, in the minds of those who were listening to Jesus, it seemed obvious that Jesus was making himself equal to God, something they considered blasphemy since they viewed Jesus only a man.

Jesus, in word and action, showed that he was indeed the long-awaited Messiah. Further, He was not afraid to speak the truth and to share the fact that he was indeed God. Because of this perceived blasphemy the Jews were ready to stone Jesus to death. As time went on, Jesus would eventually be crucified for what the Jews considered blasphemy.

There will be times when we need to share the truth of what we believe: that Jesus is Lord and God. There will be times when those in our lives will give us a hassle for this belief. They may accuse us of being fanatical. Following Jesus and accepting him as Lord and Savior will not always be easy but it is what we are called to do. We need to remain steadfast in our belief that Jesus is true God and true Man, even when it means facing issues and problems with those in our lives that may not see Jesus the same way we do. We are called to always live out our lives in relationship with Jesus according to His teachings, even when it seems contrary to what society is teaching. We are called, as Christians, to love God with our whole heart and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. By living out our lives in this way, we are showing that we are followers of Jesus Christ. There will be those in our lives that may not accept and share our beliefs, but we are called to bring Christ to the world that needs to know that he is indeed to Lord and God. We are to always to share this truth with all we meet, whether by word or by action, even when it’s not easy to do.

Lord Jesus, help us to be faithful in our belief that you are our Messiah, and help those in our lives to come to know you as we do: true God and true Man. Amen.

Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word

 

The scripture readings for this reflection can be found at Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord | USCCB

Today we commemorate the total giving of Mary to God’s plan for our salvation. Today we commemorate her fiat, her “yes,” to the Will of God in her life. In the gospel, we hear that Mary is at first frightened. Suddenly, the archangel, Gabriel, appears to her in her room, and says, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.” Then Gabriel goes on to tell Mary that she will be the Mother of the Lord, the Messiah.

Mary is at first startled and surprised. She questioned the angel about how this could happen. Once she gets the answer, her love and openness to the Will of God helps her to respond, “I am the Handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Her whole life was that of prayer and love of God, and when the time came to do something so special, she was ready and willing to do it. She was allowing God to work through her to bring salvation to the world.

We are called to have the same courage that Mary had in doing the Will of God in our own lives. Like Mary we are to be open to God and His plan for us and our lives. She was a prayerful person, who always had God at the center of all that she did. We, too, need to have God at the center of all we do. We do this by our daily acts of prayer, the reading of scripture daily to hear what God is trying to teach us in our lives, and we are to attempt to receive our Lord, Jesus Christ, as often as possible in Holy Communion. Further, we are to live always in the presence of God, knowing that in all our actions throughout the day, God is with us.

Mary knew that by agreeing to say yes to God, her life would become complicated, but she also trusted that God would always be present to her as she lived out her life according to His Will. We, too, are all called to bring the salvation of Christ to those we meet each day. We’re not called to bring Christ into the world as dramatic as Mary did, but we are called to bring Christ to all we meet. We are to do so by the treating others with the love and respect that God expects us to give to all in our lives. By showing this love and respect to others, we are bringing Christ to those that most need to know the love of Christ. Like Mary, we will have our challenges in bringing Christ into this world, but it’s what God is calling us to do.

We may not have an angel to appear and direct us like Mary. But we can pray to our guardian angels and walk by faith, not by sight. When faith sustains us, we are confident that God will never let us down. As God calls us to bring Christ into our world, let us with Mary, pray, “May it be done according to your word.”